Assata Shakur, originally named JoAnne Deborah Chesimard, was a Black American political activist and member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). She was born on July 16, 1947, and was known as a radical figure involved in militant activism for Black liberation. In 1977, she was convicted for the murder of a New Jersey state trooper during a 1973 shootout but maintained her innocence. Shakur escaped from prison in 1979 and became a fugitive. She was granted political asylum in Cuba, where she lived in exile until her death in 2025. She was also a former member of the Black Panther Party and became a symbol of resistance for many activists. Shakur's life and activism are detailed in her 1988 autobiography, "Assata: An Autobiography," where she reflects on her experiences, political ideology, and the systemic racial injustice she faced and fought against. The FBI placed a $2 million bounty on her for capture, labeling her a terrorist, but for supporters, she remains a powerful figure in the struggle for racial justice and Black liberation. She passed away at age 78 in Cuba in 2025.