The Roots of Black August | Activist History

Black August is an annual commemoration dedicated to Black political prisoners and freedom fighters in the United States and beyond. Black August originated in the California prison system in the 1970s to honor the deaths of Jonathan and George Jackson, two Black revolutionaries, who were murdered by the carceral system. While Black History Month tends to focus on achievements and progress, Black August is a time for remembrance and resistance, where the focus is on acknowledging the ongoing struggle for Black liberation and commemorating the leaders who have made it possible for us to survive and build in our present moment.