For many, summer stands as a time of bold resistance in our movements for justice. For those engaged in the struggle for incarcerated people the month of August has been a time of resistance and remembrance. August 20th, 1619, the first enslaved Africans were brought to the colonies of the United States, August 28th, 1963, Dr. King led the historic March on Washington, August 18th, 1970, Angela Davis became only the 3rd woman placed on the FBI Most Wanted list. More recently, the Ferguson uprising, responding to the killing of Mike Brown, began on August 9th, 2014.
Black August is a month-long commemoration honoring the struggles and sacrifices of Black freedom fighters. Originating in 1979 within San Quentin State Prison, Black August was initiated to commemorate the lives of slain brothers and Black revolutionaries Jonathan and George Jackson, as well as other prisoner organizers. Black August serves as a time for reflection on the ongoing struggle against oppression inside and outside “the walls”. Many participants commemorate Black August through fasting, physical exercise, political study, and engagement in activism, embodying the principles of “study, fast, train, fight.“
In the spirit of Black August, the Youth First Justice Collaborative is excited to announce that this fall we will partner with the Community Resource Hub’s George Jackson Organizing School. Together, we aim to strengthen the organizing capacity of our state partners building power and working towards a world without youth prisons. The George Jackson Organizing School is a training program dedicated to building grassroots power and advancing racial justice. Inspired by George Jackson’s legacy, it equips activists with the tools and knowledge necessary for creating lasting social change.
Like the Sankofa Bird, which flies forward while looking backward, the Youth First Justice Collaborative advances by helping develop new leaders while reflecting on the freedom fighters who came before us. Over the past two years, the Youth First Justice Collaborative has been consolidating, refining our tactical approach, and transitioning to our current phase. We are excited to work with our state partners to build a bench of powerful youth organizers, determined to make youth prisons a relic of the past.
