Tupac Shakur‘s godmother and step-aunt, Assata Shakur, passed away in Havana at the age of 78. She had sought political asylum in Cuba after escaping from a New Jersey prison. In a short announcement from the Cuban Foreign Ministry, it was revealed that she died on Thursday from “health ailments and her advanced age” (via CNN).
Shakur’s daughter, Kakuya Shakur, also confirmed her mother’s death. Shakur was a member of the Black Liberation Army and was sentenced to life in prison in 1977. In November 1979, she escaped prison with the help of her fellow members of the BLA (via PBS News).
These members, posing as visitors, stormed into the New Jersey Clinton Correctional Facility for women. They took two guards hostage and went on to escape with Shakur in a prison vehicle that they commandeered.
For years, she disappeared from the eyes of U.S. law enforcement. In 1984, she appeared in Cuba. By giving her asylum, the international relations between the U.S. and Cuba worsened. President Donald Trump demanded her return during his first term in office.
What Was Assata Shakur Charged With?
Assata Shakur, born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, was an outspoken member involved with the Black Liberation Army. She was convicted for her involvement in a 1973 shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, where a state trooper, Werner Foerster, was killed. She was wounded in the fire exchange. Another officer was wounded while one of Shakur’s companions was also killed during the operation.
Later, she claimed that the FBI targeted her for the assassination as part of a campaign against black militant organizations in the ’70s. She claimed that she was pursued for crimes that she did not commit. Shakur maintained in her later writings that she didn’t shoot anyone and that she had her hands in the air.
Eventually, she was charged with murder, armed robbery, and other crimes. She was already wanted on several felonies, including bank robbery, at the time of her involvement in the gunfire.
In 2013, Shakur entered the FBI’s most wanted terrorists list, becoming the first woman on the list. The state of New Jersey increased the reward for her capture to $2 million.
All You Need to Know About Tupac Shakur’s Godmother’s Family
Assata Shakur was the godmother to Tupac Shakur. The late singer referenced Assata in his songs and saw her as a symbol of Black resistance. She is also the sister of Tupac’s stepfather, Mutulu Shakur. Mutulu, a Black Liberation activist, was in jail for a long time til he was released in 2022. A year later, in 2023, he died from terminal cancer.
Assata has a daughter, Kakuya Shakur. She was born when Assata was facing the murder trial. Her father is Kamau Sadiki, who was also a co-defendant in the murder case. Assata described how she raised her daughter while in exile in her writings.
In her memoir, Assata: An Autobiography, she also mentioned another short-lived marriage (via Business Upturn). She was married to fellow student activist Louis Chesimard. However, they had to part ways due to their differing views on gender roles.
What do you think of the late Assata Shakur and her actions? Let us know in the comments below!
