Assata Shakur and Kamau Sadiki, both accused of murder, sat trapped in a defendant’s room – and had a decision to make. They wanted to be together, but what if they had a child? Assata wanted to be a mom, and to love Kamau. But Black people still weren’t free. Why would she want to bring life into a world like that?
“I’m gonna live as hard as I can and as full as I can until I die,” Shakur decided. “I’m going to love Kamau, and, if a child comes from that union, I’m going to rejoice. Because our children are our futures and I believe in the future and in the strength and rightness of our struggle.” So that’s exactly what they did.
After the judge found out she was pregnant, they decided to separate Shakur and Sadiki. She gave birth in 1974, with police surrounding the delivery room.
Shakur and Sadiki chose love and family despite the white supremacist system that held them hostage. The children we bring into this world ARE our future. When we cultivate family, we cultivate our futures – and this can strengthen our communities, even in terrible circumstances.
Shakur remains in Cuba, wanted by the FBI. Sadiki is in Georgia – still in prison. If you want to show support, you can write him at FreeKamau.com.