A LETTER TO GEORGE JACKSON: AN ANGEL WHOSE LEGACY LIVES ON IN THE HEARTS AND ACTIONS OF ALL REVOLUTIONARIES

PROUD FLESH: A New Afrikan Journal of Culture, Politics & Consciousness (2002)

ISSN: 1543-0855

Ebony Ameena

Brother Jackson,

It is an honor to be able to communicate with you on any level. Let me start off by introducing and giving a little background on myself. I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, where I attended private catholic school the majority of my childhood. I am a fifth year student at Michigan State University majoring in English. I would love to have a double major in African American studies, but because the university I attend is extremely racist the resources are not available for me to do so. Upon graduating I intend to continue my education in pursuit of my teaching certification. Within the next four years I plan to begin teaching English in high school.

When I become a teacher my goal is to enlighten black youth of their rich history and culture. What were your goals and aspirations before you were wrongfully imprisoned? I find it very unsettling that I have been a part of this Amerikkkan institution of education for about eighteen years, and yet it was not until this year that I began to learn about my true roots and ancestry. These last two semesters I was introduced to Assata Shakur, Huey P. Newton, Nikki Giovanni, and a host of other beautiful Black people whose names I had never heard. I was speechless. I couldn’t believe such a secret had been kept from my peers and me.

Then I was acquainted with you. The first thing I read that you wrote was Soledad Brother, and I was blown away. I was brought up in a society that insists everyone in prison is a criminal, and usually uneducated. This society puts blinders on everyone so that they don’t question why the majority of people in prison are people of color, or why most of those individuals are poor before they set a foot in jail. The eloquence with which you explained how slavery is an economic condition made so much sense.

Through you I was then acquainted with neo-slavery. Never before had I heard about this concept. It’s funny because everyday of my life I am a neo-slave! Growing up in a society where money is God, every time I invest money into corporate Amerikkka I am giving them more and more power and control over what I wear, listen to, eat, and read. I was saddened that not one single Black person around me recognized what was going on—not even my parents (who are set in their “We shall overcome” ways). Your writings made me realize just how complacent everyone, including myself, is. When did you realize just how extremely indulgent we are in Amerikkkan society? We’ve let a few rich white folks decide what our goals and beliefs are. And, hardly anyone is trying to change the circumstance that we are in.

Not much has changed since your spirit gained true freedom. Today, people of color are still plagued with poverty and injustice. True, a couple of bones have been tossed to pacify the community, but along with those bones a couple more types of drugs were also tossed in, along with a few more guns. At the same time more and more jobs are disappearing. We are still living under an Amerikkkan system that guarantees not that the masses have an opportunity for freedom, liberty, and justice, but that a select few will reap the benefits of this neo-slave culture.

I am aware that past high school the only education (or, shall I say, miseducation) you had was in the prison system. In Soledad Brother you seemed much more educated than your “teachers.” Where did you gain your full educational understanding of economics and sociology? There are so many things I’m curious about. What were you thinking when the judge read you your sentence? Before Soledad, did you realize how fucked up the world is? Did you ever imagine you would become a revolutionary? You have had such an enlightening impact on my life, and the lives of everyone introduced to you. There are people out here who know the truth. There are people who still believe in revolution. And, there are people out here willing to fight for the liberation of all men and women.

We will love you always,

Sister Ebony Ameena

Citation Format

Ameena, Ebony (2002). A LETTER TO GEORGE JACKSON: AN ANGEL WHOSE LEGACY LIVES ON IN THE HEARTS AND ACTIONS OF ALL REVOLUTIONARIES. PROUD FLESH: A New Afrikan Journal of Culture, Politics & Consciousness: 1, 1.