In 2016 three San Francisco teenagers wrote to Prison Radio correspondents across the country to ask them to call into Prison Radio and read Assata Shakur’s poem “Affirmation.” Here are the responses they collected.
Affirmation read by Lisa Strawn
Lisa Strawn Comments on Affirmation
Ms. Shakur’s words are very graphic and hits on every emotion. To me, life is affirmation: how we are born and raised, and what our eyes see and our hearts find is amazing. The happiness… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Khalfani Malik Khaldun
Hello, this is brother Khalfani Malik Khaldun calling in from Indiana. “Affirmation.” I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Sundiata Acoli
“Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow… Full Transcript
Sundiata Acoli Comments on Affirmation
“What ‘Affirmation’ means to me,” by Sundiata Acoli. “Affirmation” is a political artistic masterpiece that continues to inspire and astound me at every turn. I think it ranks among the greatest liberation classics as Claude… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Kojo Bonami Sababu
“Affirmation” to Assata Shakur, dedicated to from Grailing Brown, Kojo Bonami Sababu. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Kenneth Hartman
This is Kenneth E. Hartman calling from the California State Prison, Los Angeles County in Lancaster, California. “Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Bennu Hannibal Rasan
Revolutionary greetings, peace and blessings to everyone. my name is Bennu Hannibal Rasan, formerly known as Melvin Ray. I’m currently incarcerated in the Alabama Department of Corrections, William E. Donaldson Correctional Facility in solitary confinement,… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Uhuru Rowe
This is Uhuru Rowe calling from the Virginia prison system. This is the poem “Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Edward Pinkney
I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow into trees.I believe in… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Jalil Muntaqim
“Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Mumia Abu Jamal
“Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Mumia Abu Jamal
“Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow… Full Transcript
Affirmation Read By Bryant Arroyo
“Affirmation.” I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow into trees.I believe… Full Transcript
Affirmation read by Bryant Arroyo
“Affirmation.” I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that seeds grow into sprouts.And sprouts grow into trees.I believe… Full Transcript
Affirmations by Assata Shakur
Read by youths Full Transcript
![Prison Radio is sharing an abbreviated version of a press release covering recent racist incidents at SCI Rockview in PA and the organizing to demand accountability. We are reaching out to people incarcerated at Rockview as well as recently transferred folks, inviting them to call, in hopes of hearing commentaries from them.
Benner Township, PA.-
On November 24th, 2023, imprisoned people at SCI Rockview found two nooses hanging in the CO’s office, displayed visibly for many prisoners to see. When the prisoners asked the staff why the nooses were hung, they were told it was a joke.
By December 4th, prisoners filed a grievance to document what they saw, noting that the hanging of the nooses was “unethical, racially motivated, hateful, [a] deliberate debasement of black inmates" and “unsafe for inmates, staff, [and] the whole prison in general.” In the grievance, they demanded that Sgt. Mosser and CO Richard be fired and investigated for a hate crime, and for CO Kirchner to get therapy. Captain Andrews, the head of security, denied the grievance.
The sergeant and COs are still working in the prison to this day, with no repercussions...
As of March 10th, prisoners have reached out to Pennsylvania officials at the Dept. of Corrections in a letter campaign, sending 100 copies of the grievance. Copies of the letter also were mailed to Governor Shapiro, Senator Fetterman, Senator Street, and various advocacy groups. The demands for relief in the original grievance have now become the platform of demands for this campaign. About 20 of the 100 letters were withheld by the prison.
Activists on the outside are joining forces with prisoners to elevate their demands, flooding the phone lines of DOC offices, assisting with outreach to media, and circulating the stories of prisoners who have found unity in opposition to the facility's virulent institutional racism.
In any other workplace, hanging a noose would be grounds for immediate termination. However, Nicki Paul, the superintendent's assistant and "grievance coordinator" informed the public that they self-investigated their staff and found they did nothing wrong.
Read the full article at i
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Lisa Strawn, CMF Vacaville, I’m reading “Affirmation” by Assata Shakur. I believe in living.I believe in the spectrumof Beta days and Gamma people.I believe in sunshine.In windmills and waterfalls,tricycles and rocking chairs.And I believe that… Full Transcript