Revolutionary Reads: 5 Books to Read in Honor of Assata Shakur

I remember opening up Assata Shakur’s autobiography like it was yesterday. The year was 2016, and I was finishing up my senior year of college at Alcorn State University. Assata’s words were so fearless, so unfiltered and precise, that I tried to get anyone who would listen to read the book in the years that would follow.

My efforts were mostly unsuccessful, except for the young lady whom I was dating at the time. Assata: An Autobiography went on to become a major conversation piece in our early conversations, and the young lady — Amanda — is now my wife.

Assata Shakur remains one of the most enduring symbols of resistance, survival, and revolutionary thought in the Black liberation movement. Honoring her legacy means engaging with the stories, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before and after her.

Below are a few books that give me that same feeling that Assata’s did back in my college days. Whether you’re a student of history, a lover of memoirs, or simply looking to deepen your understanding of Black radical thought, these five books offer powerful perspectives.

1. Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur

No list honoring Assata Shakur would be complete without her own groundbreaking autobiography. Assata is both a memoir of her life and a testimony of the political climate of the 1960s and 70s. Written from exile in Cuba, the book details her experiences with the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, as well as her reflections on race, gender, and justice. It remains one of the most important revolutionary texts of the 20th century, and essential reading for anyone seeking to understand her story in her own words.

2. Panther Baby: A Life of Rebellion and Reinvention by Jamal Joseph

Another book that deeply shaped me. Jamal Joseph, once the youngest member of the Panther 21, provides a vivid and deeply personal account of his time with the Black Panther Party in New York. Panther Baby balances the fire of youthful rebellion with the wisdom of hindsight, offering a raw and human look at what it meant to grow up inside the revolution. His journey from prison to professor is not only inspiring but also a reminder of the resilience of those who dedicated their lives to the struggle.

3. Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary by Jasmine Guy

While some may know her as the mother of Tupac Shakur, Afeni Shakur was a revolutionary in her own right. In this intimate portrait, actress and writer Jasmine Guy brings Afeni’s voice to life through interviews and reflections. The book explores Afeni’s time with the Black Panther Party, her role as a mother, and her ongoing commitment to social change. A standout part of the book depicts her being a part of The Panther 21 in precise detail. Afeni Shakur: Evolution of a Revolutionary shines a light on a woman whose strength and vision helped shape generations.

4. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

One of the most widely read and influential books in American history, The Autobiography of Malcolm X continues to inspire readers around the world. Chronicling Malcolm’s transformation from street hustler to global revolutionary, the book captures the urgency of Black liberation and the power of personal reinvention. Malcolm X’s story runs parallel to Assata’s in many ways, and revisiting his words provides deeper context for the movements that shaped her.

5. The Sound of Southside by Tyrel Hunt

Okay, now hear me out. I get that adding my own novel to a bunch of revolutionary classics is a bit much, but it’s important for me to note that the aforementioned books are some of the elements that helped shape this book, this platform, and me as a whole. The Sound of Southside may focus on Jazz music, but at its core, it’s about community members standing up against an oppressive regime. In conversation with works like Assata and Panther Baby, the book’s themes extend the dialogue into the present — reminding us that the struggle continues.

What started from reading Assata Shakur’s autobiography back in college led to me being inspired enough to write my own novel. My hope is to inspire other black writers to do the same.

As Assata says in her book:

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win.

We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”