04/08/2026
🧐🤔 Every year around this time I realize how many people have never heard of Black August.
No shame if that’s you. Truth is… a lot of people haven’t.
Then there are those who’ve heard a lil’ somethin’ in passing but think it’s basically Black History Month… just in August. Nope. It ain’t that.
Black August isn’t a holiday or a celebration.
It’s a month of remembrance… a commemoration, if you will.
It began inside California prisons in 1979 to honor political prisoners, freedom fighters & those who sacrificed in the struggle for liberation.
At the heart of that history is George Jackson…author, revolutionary, Black Panther & one of the Soledad Brothers. His life, writings, and death became a defining inspiration behind Black August.
(If u haven’t read Soledad Brother yet… this might be a good time. Great read.)
The tradition continues through four simple principles:
Fast. Study. Train. Fight.
Fast… because discipline starts with ourselves & a good ol’ hard reset is always a good thing.
Study… because ignorance serves the system. More importantly, you can’t change what you don’t understand.
Train… your mind, your body, and your spirit. We are the weapon. Sharpen your sword.
Fight… because freedom has never simply been handed to oppressed people. It’s always been organized, demanded, defended, and fought for. As Malcolm X famously said, “by any means necessary.” And when we say fight, don’t reduce that to just physical confrontation. Art is a weapon. Education is a weapon. Organization is a weapon. Community is a weapon. Every act that pushes back against ignorance, injustice, complacency, and oppression is part of the struggle.
Whether you’ve observed Black August for years or you’re just learning about it today, take some time this month to read something. Learn something. Sharpen yourself. Challenge yourself.
Remember the people who came before us… especially the political prisoners whose sacrifices we continue to build on as we push toward true liberation.
If today is your introduction to Black August… welcome.
Now go study.
Have u observed Black August before? If so, how are you honoring it this year?
🫡⚠️
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✌🏾❤️🖤💚
