The
historic events and themes gently came
together in poetic power. The memorial
service for Assata Shakur was held
recently at Riverside Church. The space
was electric, but warm with love. It is
the site where Dr. Martin Luther King,
Jr. delivered his controversial speech
on the Vietnam War one year before his
assassination. Cuba, the tiny island
that gave refuge to Assata, is under
increased threats by the U.S.
government. Repression, racism, and war
are features of imperialism that have
consistently raised their ugly heads
under the trump administration.
Assata
Shakur is a beloved revolutionary who
escaped from a New Jersey prison in
1969, where she was being held on
trumped-up charges of murdering a state
trooper and other unfounded charges. In
1984, she was given political asylum by
then-President Fidel Castro. Despite a
$2 million bounty on her head by the
FBI, Assata lived the rest of her life
in Cuba as a free woman until last fall,
when she died of natural causes. Until
Assata’s death, she maintained her
innocence as well as her biting critique
of U.S. imperialism.
For
many younger activists and radicals,
Assata is an elusive symbol, a martyr, a
legend. In a poem I wrote, “I Wish You
Could’ve Known Her,” I lamented the new
generation’s embrace of her popular
quote-turned-chant. That’s all they
know, but she was so much more. If we
are to follow her charge to “carry on,”
we must understand the role of U.S.
imperialism, particularly in Cuba.
Since
1958,
Cuba has faced the wrath of the
United States due to its
commitment to building a
socialist society. With its
sights faced inward to take care
of its people, preserve its
history and culture, the country
struggled under the financial,
cultural, and political
isolation imposed by Western
nations. The trump
administration has threatened
regime change and taken actions
that further destabilized the
economy, making daily life
increasingly unbearable for
Cubans. With an unreliable power
grid, the country has been left
in darkness both literally and
figuratively.
Dr.
King tried to warn the world about the
U.S. tendencies to plunder, exploit,
terrorize, and steal resources and land.
Many believe his 1967 speech on Vietnam
is what got him off the fluffy dream
bench into the international arena with
a target on his chest. Dr. King had
gradually realized that his own country
was the hand that perpetuated racism,
poverty, and war all over the globe.
The
spirits of Assata and Dr. King converged
in the sanctuary of Riverside Church on
May 30, 2026. They both paid a price for
standing up against the imperialist
actions of the U.S. government. Cuba has
held fast to its sovereignty. It is
paying a price for fighting for its
fierce determination and working in
solidarity with other peoples, including
Black liberation in the U.S.
Cuba
kept Assata safe from the clutches of
the U.S for over four decades. Those of
us in the belly of the beast must fight
against any U.S. military action against
Cuba. Yes, it’s time for the big
payback.
