Black August 2024
“Settle your quarrels, come together, understand the reality of our situation, understand that fascism is already here, that people are dying who could be saved, that generations more will die or live poor butchered half-lives if you fail to act. Do what must be done, discover your humanity and your love of Revolution. Pass on the torch. Join us, give your life for the people.”
– George Jackson
I didn’t grow up observing Black August, actually. Kwanzaa, yes, and my upbringing was a wonder of blackness, diasporic and deeply political in outlook. My people had me singing “Lift Ev’ry Voice” and taking African dance classes basically as soon as I could walk; Black August, however, I didn’t find out about until much later, and I’ve never fully personally opted in to it, until now. But last year I was deeply moved by Jacky Alcine’s observance of it, between that and my personal history + political history, and given the larger going-ons in the world these days, I figure it’s time for me to respond to Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack’s plea: “be real Black for me.”
A quick rundown:
"First established in 1979 by the Black Liberation Organization, Black August has since become an important period of remembrance in the African American community. In many ways, Black August mirrors Black History Month, with a focus on honoring those who have sacrificed for the advancement of civil rights.
[. . .] To understand the significance of Black August, it is important to explore the origins of this observance. Black August was first established in the 1970s by incarcerated Black activists who were fighting against systemic racism and oppression in the United States. These activists wanted to create a month-long tribute to the Black freedom fighters who had come before them, and to draw attention to the ongoing struggle for Black liberation.
[. . .] Some key Black August facts include the fact that it is often marked by fasting and other acts of self-discipline, as well as by community events, educational programming, and artistic expression. It is also closely linked to the principles of Black nationalism, pan-Africanism, and anti-colonialism, and it often emphasizes the importance of solidarity and mutual aid within the Black community.
THE ORIGINS AND PRINCIPLES OF BLACK AUGUST: UNDERSTANDING ITS SIGNIFICANCE
"Started behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison in California in August 1979, Black August served as a month to mourn, honor, and reflect on the lives of incarcerated Black activists including Khatari Gaulden, who died August 1, 1978, and George L. Jackson, who died August 21, 1971. Gaulden suffered an accident that occurred while he was playing football in the facility’s prison yard; many believe he died due to the neglect of prison guards, who did not get him immediate medical assistance for his head injury. Jackson was shot and killed by San Quentin prison guards during an escape attempt. The outrage surrounding Jackson’s death helped inspire the Attica Uprising of September 1971 in upstate New York, arguably the most well-known prisoner-led rebellion in the history of the United States.
Both men were known for their leadership, their organizing for better prison conditions, and their deep commitment to the Black Power Movement. The incarcerated organizers of the first Black August in 1979 took a multifaceted approach to commemorating the deaths of Gaulden, Jackson, and other Black political prisoners. As Mama Ayanna Mashama, cofounder of the Black August Organizing Committee and the Bay Area chapter of the Malcolm X grassroots movement has recalled, participants studied a variety of Black revolutionary texts. Many folks also wore black armbands on their left arms, abstained from drugs and alcohol, refrained from watching television or listening to the radio, exercised, and fasted from sunup to sundown, drawing inspiration from incarcerated Muslims who observed Ramadan."
Black August Celebrates the History of Black Resistance in the U.S.
Like Kwanzaa, Black August has guiding principles that are meant to shape how participants spend the month, but unlike Kwanzaa there’s only 4 principles: study, fast, train, fight. Here’s my plans for how I will practice these principles throughout the rest of the month:
Study.
Cheating a bit on this one – I’m nose deep in a work project throughout this month, a work project that has to do with Blackness, which means 1, I won’t have the time to dedicate to non-related reading as I otherwise might, and 2, I’m thus gonna count the research that I’m doing with this project as Black August reading, lol. There’s certain texts that I am making it a point to re/read, namely George Jackson’s work and the writings of prisoners in general, but yeah hopefully next year the reading list can be longer. I’ll be posting/sharing notes from my readings + any thoughts I have in response via this here newsletter versus sharing on my usual social media channels, for reasons that lead me to the next principle,
Fast.
Here’s the thing. I’m not gonna get into a whole biography of trauma right now, but me fasting or radically limiting my food intake or habits is not a good idea for me right now, or probably ever, outside of some very specific contexts; this ain’t one of them. So while I understand and respect the reasons why the OGs made fasting a thing, I’ma fast from something other than food, mainly and namely: social media. And my larger feelings about the current state of social media is a whole thing that I’ll tease out elsewhere, but in the short term it’ll be healthier for my brain, my psychology, my emotional state, and my physical health to take a step back from my extremely online practices. I’m also really really wanting to develop new writing habits; I think channeling my usual regular spewing into the void via a newsletter versus those wretched platforms will help to rewire some neural pathways.
Unforch I can’t step back from social media completely this month. I need help paying this month’s rent and making it through till the next paycheck. My friend needs help paying her medical bills through the end of the year. I’ve got a couple people in my inbox asking for help with their fundraisers too. My networks of support and care are still very much online, my work is very much based online, and while I’m generally okay with that and love that even! I’m sadly not financially autonomous enough to fuck off into the sunset and as long as I have some kind of platform I believe in doing what I can with it to help folks.
I’ll stick to the general guidelines of the fast for the most part: fasting from sundown to sun up, meaning I can still hop on during certain hours, and I’ll limit myself to only reposting/updating the fundraisers throughout the day. But other than that, and especially with the current state of the world, I’m okay with directing my attention and focus elsewhere.
(and not for nothing, the astrology of the month encourages a break from social media too, so!!!)
Train.
I actually have a whole workout regime that I started on last year, that got completely derailed when I caught COVID back in January. I’ve been lowkey terrified of working out ever since because I do not want to wind up with Long COVID, but I think now would be a good time to gently ease my body back into regular movement. It’s an at-home workout routine that uses resistance bands and BFR training, but I’m gonna start by aiming to making the 8 brocades a daily practice. Again I’ve got work stuff so I’m not gonna hold myself to a standard of THIRY MINUTES A DAY OR ELSE because why set myself up for failure, but increasing my daily range of motion and getting some strengthening in sounds good.
Ideally I’d have been training Muay Thai like I’ve wanted since 2022, but nobody wants to mask so you know. At home stuff it is.
Fight.
Mannn the way I feel like I’ve been fighting to keep my black ass mind and my black ass life from fragmenting into a million pieces for most of this year…….and that’s why you fight WITH folks, so you’re not in the fight alone and they’re not either.
In the spirit of the “friend[s] of my mind,” as Toni Morrison put it, I’ma be letter writing to imprisoned Black trans and queer folks and Black political prisoners, and sinking myself back into ancestral veneration work. Cause the fight is psychological/emotional/spiritual/metaphysical as well as material.
I’ll sign off by pointing to Jacky’s blog again as he has some resources to look into if you’re interested in honoring Black August in any kind of way yourself.
Towards black liberation.......