Show Notes
They called her Joanne Chesimard, enemy of the state and one of the FBI’s Most Wanted. But that wasn't the real story. Assata Shakur was a Black freedom fighter. In this episode, journalist and author Santi Elijah Holley helps us dive into Assata’s story. Weaving in Assata’s own poetry read by Lynae Vanee, we tell the story of how Assata became a symbol for something she never was, the lengths the government took to paint her a terrorist, and how she boldly reclaimed her own story and taught us what it means to be free.
Who’s a defiant person you think we should feature on the show? Or do you have a story about someone who inspired you to be “about that life"? Leave us a voicemail at 814-326-2866.
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Show Notes
Guest: Santi Elijah Holley website
Lynae Vanee
Want to learn more?
Read:
An Amerikan Family: The Shakurs and the Nation They Created by Santi Elijah Holley
Assata: An Autobiography by Assata Shakur
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Senior Producer: Kristen Bennett
Producer: Matt Gant
Story Editor: Julie Caine
Fact Checker: Sarah McClure
Production Supervisor: Hugo Salguero
Original music & sound design: Kyle Murdock
Executive Producer: N’Jeri Eaton
Head of Brand & Audience: Anhelo Reyes
Head of Video: Tonja Thigpen
Huge thanks to our partners at American Experiments Special thanks to Lynae Vanee
To Kevin, Allie, Dom, Simone, and last but not least — Mr. Benjamin.
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