I had no idea that the month of August is also known at 'Black August.' And no, that's not a second Black History Month.
Instead, 'Black August' is a month to honor Black freedom fighters. These are people who were killed defending black lives. And I can certainly see the relevance today with nationwide protests over systemic racism and the murders of Black people at the hands of police. (i.e., George Floyd, Breyonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, etc.)
I found it even more interesting that 'Black August' actually started in 1971 and was established after a brother by the name of George Jackson died in a California prison. Jackson was 18 years-old when he was sentenced 1 year to life in prison for allegedly stealing $70 from a LA gas station.
While Jackson was in prison, he educated himself on racism in the criminal justice system. He eventually went on to become an author and a revolutionary. And later led the Black Guerrilla Family - that was started by the Black Panther Party.
A movie, "Black August", about his life was produced in 2007. Jackson's fate was met with a violent end. He and two other prisoners became infamously called the Soledad Brothers after they were accused of killing a Soledad prison guard. Jackson was killed while trying to escape.
He was 30.
