The short version
- Black August originated in California prisons during the late 1960s as a response to targeted violence against Black inmates by white supremacist groups and sympathetic guards.
- The observance involves fasting, meditation, exercise, and study, aiming to restore humanity and resist systems of racial capitalism and imperialism.
- Modern celebrations extend beyond prison walls, featuring community events in cities like Oakland, Durham, and Tallahassee that highlight art, education, and political prisoner advocacy.
Across the United States, organizations are mobilizing communities for Black August, a month-long observance dedicated to Black liberation through study, meditation, fasting, and physical discipline. While the practice has expanded significantly since its inception, its core principles remain tied to the historical struggle against state repression and racial violence. The commemoration serves as both a memorial for those lost to systemic brutality and an active framework for contemporary political engagement.
The origins of Black August trace back to California in the 1960s and 1970s, a period marked by intense radical energy and severe backlash. During this era, the Black Panther Party organized members to combat police brutality, while Governor Ronald Reagan and other officials worked to suppress the group’s growing influence. Simultaneously, incarcerated Black men faced extreme danger within the prison system. Members of the Aryan Brotherhood, along with sympathetic guards, assaulted and murdered several young activists.
In response to these threats, a group of incarcerated men formed the Black Guerrilla Family (BGF) to defend themselves. This Marxist-Leninist prison organization included figures such as WL Nolen and George Jackson, who founded a prison chapter of the Black Panther Party. The group suffered significant losses in their early years. Nolen was killed by guards in January 1970, Jonathan Jackson died in August 1970, George Jackson was killed in August 1971, and Khatari Gaulden was murdered in August 1978.
Jalil Muntaqim, a community organizer and former member of the Black Liberation Army, explained that the BGF decided to commemorate these deaths by organizing what became known as Black August. The group recognized the significance of the month, noting a convergence of historical events related to Black resistance and liberation. This included Emancipation Day celebrations in Caribbean nations on August 1, the start of the Watts uprising on August 11, Nat Turner’s rebellion beginning on August 21, and the Haitian revolution starting on August 23.
The month also marks the birthdays of prominent figures such as Marcus Garvey, Fred Hampton, and Chokwe Lumumba. Historian Gerald Horne noted this striking confluence of births, deaths, and events as significant to Black history. The BGF members viewed the month as requiring particular acknowledgement due to its almost divine alignment with themes of resistance and freedom.
The practices associated with Black August include fasting, exercise, study, and reflection. Muntaqim stated that the primary objective is to restore the capacity for humanity and the ability to resist systems of white supremacy, racial capitalism, colonialism, neocolonialism, and imperialism. By promoting these disciplines, the observance has grown from a prison-based initiative into a national and international institution.
Today, Black August is commemorated by both incarcerated individuals and those in the free community. Organizations use the month to activate local communities through various forms of engagement. In Tallahassee, Florida, the Dream Defenders host an annual showcase. Durham, North Carolina, holds Black August in the Park, which combines music, dance, film screenings, and educational opportunities. Oakland features the Black August Arc of Liberation Commemoration, honoring the legacy through art.
In Brooklyn, the Free Black Women’s Library has created a reading challenge and hosts events throughout the month, utilizing the tenets of the original commemoration. These activities reflect the evolution of Black August from a defensive prison strategy to a broader cultural and political movement. The observance continues to emphasize education and community building as tools for liberation.
A central focus of modern Black August remains the advocacy for the release of Black political prisoners. Many individuals associated with radical organizations from the 1960s and 1970s are still incarcerated, now in their seventies and eighties and often in failing health. Notable figures include Mumia Abu-Jamal, Thomas Gaither, and Veronza Bowers Jr. Horne described the commemoration as a way to talk about freeing these prisoners generally.
The movement acknowledges that many others have died in prison within recent years. The observance serves as a protest against injustice, linking past struggles with present-day demands for freedom. By maintaining the disciplines of study and resistance, participants aim to honor the legacy of those who were killed while continuing the fight against systemic oppression.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- The Guardian US↗This Black August, Americans will study, meditate, fast, exercise – and read – for Black liberation
