The Mind of an Angry, Black Woman: Rest in Peace Assata Shakur

Black women matter. Black women in history have always been seen as “other,” or the other. She can’t be both a woman and Black. With that, she is placed at the bottom of the oppressed. As a woman, she’s expected to learn her home before her mind, find her husband before her heart, and have children—completely hindering her childhood to give new life what she couldn’t have.

She does it all with what she has and what she works her ass for. All in silence. Determination. And audacity. Never did she ask for a handout or for understanding; she just asked that you open your eyes to her pain. See through her eyes—her anger and her agency.

Black women throughout time have always been, and continue to be, seen as less and treated far worse. We tend to be the first at the scene and the last to leave. As Black women, we are born leaders—born women and born Black. Throughout history, we are seen as both the most influenced and the strongest. The phrase “strong Black woman” is normally associated with activism. In our perspective, these women come in many different shades of brown and vast personalities.

Strong Black women. Women who care. Women who expanded what it means to be a Black woman in the revolution—addressing issues such as education, health care, and the development of youth. Black women are natural nurturers. While challenging racism and sexism, they never lost sight of the passion that was the end goal: Black liberation and freedom for all.

Assata Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, is one of the greatest political activists in history. A revolutionary and member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, the late Assata Shakur is who I would correctly define as a beautiful, Black, “angry” woman.

On May 2, 1973, Shakur—then a prominent member of the BLA—was involved in a horrific shootout with New Jersey State Police, which resulted in the death of State Trooper Werner Foerster and fellow member Zayd Malik Shakur. In 1977, Shakur was imprisoned. A normal day in May turned into the start of a never-ending journey with no destination for a long time—chaos filled with death, fear, and imprisonment.

In 1979, Shakur escaped prison and fled to Cuba under political asylum. Through her autobiography, she goes in depth about what she went through. She stresses her time in the BLA as well as her early experiences being incarcerated—the treatment cruel and unforgettable. This Black woman spent much of her young life in prison, unaware that this particular crime would be permanently linked to her. Her fight for freedom turned into a fight for survival for over 50 years, as she was hunted for the rest of her life.

She became the first Black woman ever placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, with a $2 million bounty announced in 2013. In her autobiography, Assata Shakur explains how it is our duty to fight for our freedom, no matter what.

“No movement can survive unless it is constantly growing and changing with the times. If it isn't growing, if it's stagnant and without the support of the people, no movement for liberation can exist, no matter how correct its analysis of the situation is. That's why political work and organizing are so important. Unless you are addressing the issues people are concerned about and contributing positive direction, they'll never support you. The first thing the enemy tries to do is isolate revolutionaries from the masses of people, making us horrible and hideous monsters so that our people will hate us.”

Leading through her struggles in life, and now in death, we celebrate this strong Black woman for her fight against injustice. That is why we say her name:

Assata Shakur.

Breonna Taylor.

Sandra Bland.

Tanisha Anderson.

Korryn Gaines.

Michelle Cusseaux.

Kayla Moore.

Rekia Boyd.

And to the many more beautiful, “angry” Black women whose lives were ruined by racism.

Truth Over Perversion: Following Christ v. Christian Nationalism

Is a country built on hypocrisy and deception capable of standing as

“One nation under God”? 

This question lingers in my mind daily as I continue growing into a self-liable citizen. Christianity sits as America’s predominant religion. As much as I’d love to believe it to be purely out of discipleship, the truth is quite the opposite. This country’s foundation, as some may know, is based on the Discovery Doctrine, a common practice of conquest and conversion. With conquest comes power above all else– above religion and above the people. Today, this system has rebranded itself as Christian Nationalism, a political ideology that works to fuse Christian religion and national identity together. This is the same driving force that has used the bible to justify disposition of indigenous peoples, slavery amongst nations, and authoritarian governments.

Now, how could such an entity be one “ordained by God”?

Surely, the Lord of love and mercy would say otherwise. As stated by Jesus and written in scripture, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules” [Matthew 15:9]." These same words hold up today, largely through a country pushing this nationalist agenda. 

1 Timothy 1:15 states, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. 

When Christ walked this earth, his mission was to save lost souls, not governments or regimes– but people. If we take a look at America, we could easily note how difficult our leaders have made it for everyday people, who are often overlooked. This in itself contradicts the teachings of Christ. 

Here’s a little about Jesus: he was born a refugee who fled from persecution, came up humbly working as a carpenter, and was most importantly, a radical leader– spending his time with and educating the marginalized groups of the world (e.g., the impoverished, sex-workers,  and Gentiles). In doing so, he paved the route and showed us the true meaning of “loving thy neighbor”. This entails looking past race, ethnicity, and class, because through his power, love surpasses worldly identity. 

Allow me to insert two facts about myself– I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I am also a Black Woman in America. In addition to these two facts are two others about this country– In its true form, America is a western stagefront– manufactured to conquer above all else, hence my previous mention of the Discovery Doctrine. This country is also a system that prides itself on and under God. But how can the two coincide with each other? Is it even possible? 

In 1791, the First Amendment, [located in The Bill of Rights], incorporated the concept of separation of church and state. This, in simplistic terms, was meant to prevent the government from enforcing its own church. The amendment also created a sense of neutrality in regards to religion. For this, I am thankful. I have been able to express my religious customs freely, all while being able to walk into areas where others and their theologies have room to take up space. But even stating this as a lived experience, sits generally false.

Every day, we hear stories of marginalized groups in congregations, targeted in the nature of propagandic teachings, bigotry, and so much more. Just last month (September 2025), a white supremacist threatened to actively kill and terrorize practicing muslims at a mosque in Dearborn, Michigan. This is only scratching the surface to some of the extremities hate has taken to silence the voices of other religions. 

Furthermore, these same acts have been seen immensely throughout the Black Christian Church. The 1963 KKK bombing of Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church, which killed four little girls, has haunted generations as a silent reminder of our enduring exclusion in this country. I could go on endlessly about these instances, but the recurring pattern is one of domination and the relentless pursuit of power in the name of white supremacy. 

This notion of supremacy often overlaps with nationalist ideologies, using Christianity and economic fears to justify the “purification” of the nation (as seen with Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Groups like Turning Point USA further reinforce this, targeting youth and grooming them into the ideology of Western “Christian” conservatism. The impact of this harm continues to produce mentally unstable and neo-Nazi-minded young people. These influences pacify their terroristic desires and tell them that they’re justified through God, just as this country's Founding Fathers. We’ve seen this with religious center threats, bombings, school shootings, and cyber attacks. With the authority of Christian Nationalism, we’re starting to see this with ICE agents and political leaders. Through the continuation of this agenda, we will see a growth of domestic terrorists in places of enforcement and power. 

So what are followers of Christ to do in this reality? 

When Jesus walked this earth, it is historically recorded what he did and how he acted upon his call to reconcile people with God. Christ guided and educated disciples in their youth. The disciple John was likely a teenager when he was called to Christ, while the others’ ages spanned from adolescence to Peter, who was thought to be in his late twenties or early thirties. Jesus knew to reach the youth because that is undeniably where the future starts– but he didn’t do so in the way many leaders do today. Instead of teaching the ways of a religious agenda, Jesus showed his followers how to live and educate radically against worldly agendas. In Christ’s movement, there is no space for confusion, no room for political agenda, and absolutely no capacity for hate. 

Just as Jesus intended us to live by love, so shall we do, as followers in today’s world. Before, it was Jesus condemning the religious leaders for living hypocritically and against outward appearance. Today, it is we who must denounce the strategic and perverse ways of Christian Nationalism and live by the truth that is Jesus Christ.

LIFE AFTER THE FLESH VESSEL

The numinous and harrowing nature of death dovetails multiple complex feelings. It’s an experience all existing beings experience from a third-hand perspective, then eventually firsthand. And because of its terrifying nature, people naturally seek comfort and answers to their curiosities, often met through various religious beliefs. Death isn’t an unusual or unique experience, but certainly a challenging one.

Through faith, humanity has tethered itself to an idea of what happens next, where life exists beyond the human body. 

Through observances and studies conducted by Science Array and BBC Earth, it’s been proven taxonomic classes beyond humans grieve. Mammals, such as Orcas hold their deceased calves for sometimes weeks, signaling deep grief within their pods. Whereas birds, perhaps the Magpie, will arrange grass aside their deceased companions, almost ritualistic. Insects even, bees for instance carry dead colony members outside the hive — many argue it’s for sanitary purpose, but many believe the behavior is a result of mourning. 

Dr. Jane Goodall researched chimpanzees both enthusiastically and rigorously. Her studies suggest chimpanzees mourn similarly to humans, indicating they might have their own sense of spirituality. The question remains an argument, of what comes next.

There is an estimated ~4,000 religions, which naturally divert historically; through wars and wages, beliefs and purpose. With beneficent, loving, and unforgiving deities. However, an integral purpose is to reach a higher sentience, relief, or for many - nothing. After interviewing various individuals with different religious and cultural backgrounds, the general synopsis garnered is to do better to live better after our passing. Though the foundation is similar, the qualifications for Heaven, Nirvana, Jannah - the tiers have complexities of their own. 

Paris Byron, a Pentecostal Christian has devoted plenty of her life to being a faithful Christian in the image of God. Similarly, Esteban Conde a practicing Catholic has a different life experience but still seeks the same benevolence from his faith and community. Paris believes “we have an individual, unique purpose given from God” which the soul leads. When death arrives, they collectively agree that there is an afterlife, an eternity in Heaven, that Hell is real, and purgatory is argumentative.

This is solely determined by God. 

Whereas from its Abrahamic relative, in Islam many principles overlap however after death souls enter Barzakh, an almost waiting room where judgement is conducted. Thereafter, Sama Arafat states “Allah is kind, forgiving, but you must be obedient and [your] moral conduct as a Muslim matters.” She shared that there are two primary places with multiple tiers in the afterlife, Jannah and Jahannam. Where each have individual dwellings depending on the severities of your sins,

and goodness of your soul. She believes punishment in the afterlife can be temporary, in lieu of eternal. 

On another scale, Ryusei Satō, who has spent nearly fifty years as a practicing Buddhist, has an entirely different perspective on purpose, divinity, and afterlife. “Are you tired? Of the worry you are constantly doing wrong, suppressing the natural rhythms of life?” Mr. Satō believes he has lived previous lives, and expects he might have a few more; considered Samsara. And until he reaches Nirvana (the end of all suffering and rebirth) he intends to live with liberation, courage and kindness. When we die, he believes consciousness continues into something else based on our karma. The Noble Eightfold Path is a framework that he follows, and he believes Buddhism is unique in a universal lens; meaning, it is not a religion exclusive to Buddhists. 

His longtime friend Dheer who associates himself with Hinduism, shares similar core values. Emphasizing “Atmnan” the eternity of the soul. That similarly, we continue to reincarnate until reaching Moksha, liberation from rebirth. He shares that similar to all religions, belief and values are argued over. “There are multiple Lokas, realms almost, that we land based on Karma.” Karma, which determines our next life’s journey, challenges, and circumstances. His is devoted, to both his faith and culture. 

Undoubtedly, faith is a result of nurture, whereas curiosity stems from nature. Living in a spectrum of goodness. It seems many individuals have an incredibly personal perception and journey with their God, Deities, and communities. Death, does not have to be terrifying, and faith can be an incredible extension that leaves people tender-hearted and kind.

No individual can escape its sticky grasp, and though painful and unfortunate, comfort lies within the fabric of faith.