Blind you say? Are you aware who Assata Shakur is?
Just a moment...
In 2014, hetero-patriarchy and anti-Black racism within our movement is real and felt. It’s killing us and it’s killing our potential to build power for transformative social change. When you adopt the work of queer women of color, don’t name or recognize it, and promote it as if it has no history of its own such actions are problematic.
When I use Assata’s powerful demand in my organizing work, I always begin by sharing where it comes from, sharing about Assata’s significance to the Black Liberation Movement, what it’s political purpose and message is, and why it’s important in our context.
What is the Black Liberation Army (BLA)
"Q: What is the Black Liberation Army (BLA)?
A: The year was 1971. The FBI, CIA, and local police department's Counter-Intelligence Program planted degenerative seeds to increase tensions and factionalism within the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense (BPP). Their efforts culminated in the split between Huey P. Newton and Eldridge Cleaver. While Newton continued leadership of the broken BPP, Cleaver went on to lead what came to be known as the Black Liberation Army (BLA), which had previously existed as the underground faction and "fighting apparatus" of the BPP.
The BLA is notorious for allegedly waging war against local police department oppressors through police car bombings.
Q: What are the principles of the Black Liberation Army?
A: The BLA, as a result of realizing the economical nature of the system under which we are forced to live, maintains the following principles:
1. That we are anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-racist, and anti-sexist.
2. That we must of necessity strive for the abolishment of these systems and for the institution of Socialistic relationships in which Black people have total and absolute control over their own destiny as a people.
3. That in order to abolish our systems of oppression, we must utilize the science of class struggle, develop this science as it relates to our unique national condition. "
Oh gee that exactly mirrors the Black Lives Matters conversation that they are trying to have with us.