Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion

This is the thread for the discussion of Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur.

I'm reading this one also now. About 80% done. Looking forward to reading what you guys think

I read this many, many years ago and no longer have the book. But I'm eager to see what you all think of it.

I picked this up from the library after seeing this thread. It has been on my tbr for awhile. I'm 11% into the book (middle of Chapter 2). First impressions are that I am taken aback by the level of police brutality and violation of civil rights that is taking place. Even if only a fraction of it is true. Also, the purported neo-nazi/authoritarian bent of the force is truly stunning and not in a good way...

I wish that I still had my copy, but from what I remember, it's pretty accurate. Those were difficult times.

Wilhelmina wrote: "I wish that I still had my copy, but from what I remember, it's pretty accurate. Those were difficult times."

I remember when reading the book that the description of police brutality was true - they were just vicious in eradicating anything they deemed to be Black radicals.

And it was all proudly reported in the newspapers in a very biased way.

I've just finished reading this as well. My question is do you guys think that there's a big difference in the way reporting is done now vs. then. What about police/FBI tactics?

I'm a late 70s baby, so this was just a hair before my time, but many of the same issues that are covered in this book are present now :/ I'm sure it was "worse" back then, butttt (cutting this off before it drifts into political territory ha)

I'm getting through this slowly. I am about 30% in (Chapter 4). What sticks out to me at the moment the interweaving of the chapters between her childhood and her time in captivity showcasing where her resolve came from and how it is a basic part of her character. I love her grandmother and her resistance to submissiveness.

The book starts out quite disorienting. Smack dab in the middle of police misconduct and abuse. It is hard to understand the incarceration and the attitudes of the prison guards and the powers that be in context. We know she has been accused of killing a cop, but how society has arrived at this conclusion at the moment is unclear. I know Assata Shakur is the most wanted woman in America and that her alleged crimes have to do with her participation in Black Liberation Army which has likely been demonized by the media and the establishment government, but so far I don't have context. In the writing of this, Shakur assumes baseline knowledge of events. Though I'm a not so young student of history; I don't have enough background to put this in perspective so far. I was a small child during these events.

there were a few times during the first half of the book when I wanted to put it down. I think that you might get through the 2nd half of the book much faster. I think that she clears up a lot off questions there.

Honestly I had many questions about her character during the first half.

Just finished chapter 10 where the young Assata has a brush with the young educated black generation. Now Assata has some 20 years on me, but I'd swear we encountered the same group of people. The characterizations it would appear are timeless. And Lindor, you are right! As I get further into the book I'm impressed with her innate intelligence and independence. Uneducated or rather educated by life experiences, she has a keen, razor sharp intelligence and intensity.

did anyone ever finish reading Assata? Wondering what your thoughts were at the end

I finished it and enjoyed it. My review here. I found Assata to be a great intellectual but I thought her autobiography omitted a lot.