Her Name Is Angela Davis

By Mumia Abu-Jamal, Prison Radio

09 February 16

er name, Angela Davis, is known to millions still after the 60s era uproar over her sensational trial and subsequent acquittal. For people of a certain generation, she is remembered for rocking and outrageous afro - her fists raised in naked defiance of the system. For many years, she taught at UCal Santa Cruz and worked in the prison abolition and social justice movements. Now today, thanks to Haymarket Books, you can read her recent speeches and interviews. Speeches that address the Black Lives Matter movement, the failure of black politics, and gender struggles that are bubbling up from below.

It is vintage Angela. Insightful, curious, observant, and brilliant. Asking and answering questions about events in this new century that look surprisingly similar to the last century. The new book, hot off the presses, is Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement. The title draws on a heartbreaking dirge from a negro spiritual some many many years ago in her native south, the long unrelenting struggle for freedom, one that still animates her. The title also reminds us of former Black Panther Kilu Niasha who hosts a show on public radio by the same name. At times, history lesson, political education, world studies and gender theories, Angela Y. Davis gives us all a lot to ponder. It is a slim volume (158 pages) but well worth the read, so check out Freedom Is a Constant Struggle at Haymarketbooks.org by Angela Y. Davis. From in Prison Nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.