Russell maroon shoatz is a dedicated community activist, founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black panther party, and soldier in the black liberation army. The black jacobins, education and redemption by russell. I was originally locked up in january of 1972, and have since spent over 33 years in 15 different state, county, and. The free russell maroon shoatz website describes him this way. This book, maroon the implacable, is that very funky instruction manual on how to make. Russell maroon shoatz russell maroon shoatz is a political prisoner who has been held for more. This book, maroon the implacable, is that very funky instruction manual on how to make revolution against imperialist america.
This month, a 30day action campaign was launched demanding the release of russell maroon shoatz from solitary confinement, where he has been held for over 23 consecutive years, and 28 of the last 30 years, in pennsylvania prisons. One important distinction made in the book is between what shoatz calls treaty maroons, who first won their own independence but then attempted to institutionalize what they had won in collaboration with their former oppressors often agreeing to sell out the interests of other slaves or native peoples in the process and those he labels fighting maroons, who never compromised or gave up the struggle for. This is what russell maroon shoatz has done, not physically, but in the world of ideas by escaping from the rigid patriarchal framework he inherited and revaluing and promoting the role of women in the history of liberation. Russell maroon shoatz is a dedicated community activist, founding member of the. The reader also includes the reflections of activists and novelists on the books influence and a transcript of jamess 1970 interview with studs terkel. Russell maroon shoatz george jackson university maroon. Russell maroon shoatz book launch, featuring colia clark. Russell maroon shoatz is a political prisoner who has been held unjustly for over. The 19 black radicals who are still in prison after four.
Russell maroon shoatz is not only a man, but a maroon. Black liberation army, new afrikan prisoner of war by russell shoats book most widely held works by russell shoats maroon the implacable. During a lengthy incarceration spent mostly in solitary confinement, russell maroon shoatz has developed into a prolific writer and powerful voice for the disenfranchised. Russell maroon shoatz is a political prisoner who has been held unjustly for over thirty years, including two decades in solitary confinement. At the core of the book is the theme of marronagethe will to escape from conditions of enslavement at any cost. Thus began the book release event for maroon the implacable. Why russell maroon shoatz must be released from solitary.
This is the first published collection of maroon s accumulated written works, and also includes new essays written expressly. Action alert prison officials denying russell maroon shoatz treatment for prostate cancer call prison today. Book launch for maroon the implacable workers world. The text focuses primarily on the recuperative function of what shoatz terms gangsterism. Russell maroon shoatz archives san francisco bay view. Earlier this week, on wednesday, may 8, lawyers for russell maroon shoatz filed a federal lawsuit regarding his placement in solitary confinement for over 22 consecutive years. This is a new text by russell maroon shoatz, a prisoner targeted for his role in the black panther party, the bla, and the killing of a phildaelphia police officer over thirty years ago. Sending out love, strength, resilience, and healing to russell maroon shoatz on the occasion of his 76th birthday. Members of shoatz s family were joined by local and national activists. Informed by shoatzs experience as a leader in the black liberation movement in philadelphia, the pieces in this book put forth his fresh and selfcritical retelling of. Dragon and hydra revisited a dialogue by steve bloom and. Maroon, russell maroon shoatz, the implacable russell maroon shoatz born august 23, 1943 is a founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black panther party, a soldier in the black liberation army, and convicted murderer.
This is what russell maroon shoatz has done, not physically, but in the world of ideas by escaping from the rigid patriarchal framework he. This book, maroon the implacable, is that very funky instruction manual on. Informed by shoatzs experience as a leader in the black liberation movement in philadelphia, the pieces in this book put forth his fresh and. The temporary autonomous zone at the core of the book is the theme of marronagethe will to escape from conditions of enslavement at any cost. On april 8, when the campaign began, maroon s legal team sent a letter to the pennsylvania department of corrections pa doc, demanding his release from. The collected writings of russell maroon shoatz edited by fred ho and quincy saul. To read more on the case of political prisoner, russell shoatz, go to russellmaroonshoats if my prison source is correct, black liberation fighter, imprisoned intellectual, historian and now book author, russell maroon shoatz, has been transferred from the dungeons of sci. He is serving multiple life sentences as a usheld political prisonerprisoner of war. The collected writings of russell maroon shoatz russell maroon shoatz is a political prisoner who was unjustly accused and convicted of a violent crime in. Russell maroon shoatz russell maroon shoatz is a dedicated community activist, founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black. When she finally returns to his its with mixed feelings of happiness, loss and many, many questions not just for russell maroon shoatz and the rest of the shoatz family but for the prodigal daughter as well. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Russell maroon shoatz international coalition to free.
Jailed black militant russell maroon shoatz publishes new book. Amiri baraka, former poet laureate of new jersey if the great dismal swamp is no longer a refuge, nevertheless the message of the maroons lives on, and russell maroon shoatz is today its untamed voice. The dimenna center for classical music, new york city there is a war going on in america. Maroon interviewed by lisa guenther, associate proffesor. This first published collection of his accumulated works showcases his sharp and profound understanding of the current historical moment, with clear proposals for how to move forward embracing new political concepts and practices. My name is russell maroon shoatz and i am a new african political prisoner of war, who at this moment is serving a prison sentence at the waynesburg, penna. This is the very essence of why we write and talk about him. On april 5, a book launch was held at temple university in philadelphia. Russell maroon shoatz is a dedicated community activist, founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black panther party and soldier in the black liberation army. Amiri baraka, nobel laureate if the great dismal swamp is no longer a refuge, nevertheless the message of the maroons lives on, and russell maroon shoatz. During a lengthy incarceration spent mostly in solitary confinement, russell maroon shoatz has developed into a prolific writer. Russell maroon shoatz is a founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black panther party, and soldier in the black liberation army.
Maroon the implacable by russell maroon shoatz overdrive. Prison medical staff has not provided any treatment to date. Russell maroon shoatz and breaking out of the prison industrial complex. Books about radical and peoples history, politics and culture.
Russell maroon shoatz author russell maroon shoatz is a founding member of the black unity council, former member of the black panther party, and soldier in the black liberation army. Personal background russell was born august 1943 in philadelphia. The name is derived not from the brownishred color, but from a spanish term for fugitive, cimarron, and it refers to runaway slaves who established settlements in remote and inaccessible places in north, central and south america, including many caribbean islands. Political prisoner birthday poster for august 2017 is now available.
The collected writings of russell maroon shoatz by russell maroon shoatz 20401 russell maroon shoatz on. The collected writings of russell maroon shoatz at. The shoatz family shares with you an important update on maroon s health and asks for your support and donations in this moment of heightened urgency. Rudder, bill schwarz, david scott, russell maroon shoatz, matthew j. In 20, the first published collection of his accumulated written works along with new essays was released under the title, maroon the implacable. Wade davis classic the serpent and the rainbow, as well as voodoo in haiti, by alfred metraux 1972, shocken books, paints a fascinating picture of how these decentralized elements went from centuries of being maroon guerrillas, to revolutionary fighters, later to be forced underground only to surface as todays bizango, zobop, bossu, macandal, voltigeurs and other semisecret vodun societies, thereby. This text reflects a conversation between veteran activist steve bloom and political prisoner russell maroon shoatz, exploring ways to move the oppressed and toiling masses struggle forward, without that struggle losing control of the very organizations that have served to help liberate the masses from their primary. For almost 30 years russell maroon shoatz lived in prison with the idea that his daughter was gone to him.
Book tour with teresa shoatz, daughter of russell maroon shoatz wednesday april 3, 6 8 pm southside community center 305 s. The collected writings of russell maroon shoatz kindle edition by shoatz, russell maroon, abujamal, mumia. Prison industrial complex, contained in books such as the new jim crow. This book is a collection of essays, composed mostly for the education of fellow prisoners. He is currently incarcerated in waynesburg, pennsylvania. He is one of the few men amongst us on the planet earth who gives a damn about afrikan people and our liberation with 100% of his being. The written complaint, directed at pennsylvania department of corrections secretary john wetzel and the superintendents of scigreene, where shoatz was last held, and scimahanoy, where he was transferred to on. Ithaca and thursday april 4, 12 1 pm willard straight hall, cornell universary maroon the implacable russell maroon shoatz is a political prisoner who has been held unjustly for over thirty years, including two. Prison books collective while there is a lower class i am in it, while there is a criminal element i am of it, while there is a soul in prison i am not free. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading maroon the implacable.
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