Black August is a movement that originated out of the California prison system to honor fallen members of the Black liberation movement of the 1970s, many of whom had been imprisoned or assassinated.
Some notable figures of the movement are George Jackson and Angela Davis.
Additionally, several historical events for Black people across the diaspora, occurred in August including: the Haitian Revolution, Nat Turner Rebellion, Fugitive Slave Law Convention, foundation of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, March on Washington and many others.
Black August has evolved to include film festivals, hip-hop concerts and mass letter writing initiatives to prisoners all over the world with all activities structured to focus on spreading the message of liberation and activism.
The observance also includes events designed to bring awareness to the prison industrial complex, food insecurity, economic disparities and other issues that plague the Black community.
