George Jackson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | September 23, 1941 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Died | August 21, 1971 San Quentin prison, California, United States |
| Cause of death | Assassination |
| Nationality | New Afrikan |
George Lester Jackson (September 23, 1941 – August 21, 1971) was a Statesian revolutionary, organizer for the Black Panther Party, Marxist–Leninist theorist, and political prisoner. He was the older brother of Jonathan Jackson.
Jackson's initial experience with law enforcement was when he was fourteen years old, when he was arrested in Chicago, IL for stealing a purse. From then on his life was filled with the constant presence of law enforcement.[1]
Jackson gained a criminal history from his oppressive material conditions. Jackson was given an indeterminate sentence of one year to life when convicted at eighteen years old for stealing $70 from a gas station.[1] Inside prison he was subject to terrible conditions and police torture.
Jackson learned Marxism–Leninism during his time in prison, with the help of other prisoners that he formed early bonds with.
On February 28th, 1970 Jackson and two other inmates (Fleeta Drumgo, John Clutchette) were charged with the murder of a white prison guard following following the grisly shooting murder of three black inmates by prison guards. Murders which occurred during a fight that broke out between white inmates and black inmates.
Jackson was shot and killed on August 21, 1971 during a rebellion at San Quentin prison.[2]
Black Panther Party
When George Jackson learned that Huey P. Newton went to the California Penal Colony in 1967, Jackson put the word out that he wanted to be involved in revolutionary work for the Black Panther Party. The party obliged and so Jackson was made a member of the People's Revolutionary Army with the rank of general and field marshal. Jackson was put in charge of prison recruiting and to live life as an example revolutionary. [1]
Soledad Prison Conditions
When George Jackson was in prison he was mentally and physically tortured for being a revolutionary. Jackson had sympathy and support of many prisoners in Soledad due to his leadership and prowess in prison organizing. He gained notoriety that Soledad correctional forces punished him severely for.
It was an open fact that correctional forces wanted Jackson dead, so they would put bounties on Jackson.[1]
Solitary Confinement
Jackson spent solitary confinement time in the infamous strip cells of Soledad Prison's "O" Wing. Below is a description of such a cell:
"A 6 by 8 cell with no protection from wet weather, deprived of all items with which he [Jackson] might clean himself, forced to eat in the stench and filth caused by his own body wastes, allowed to wash his hands only once every five days and required to sleep on a stiff canvas mat placed directly on the cold canvas floor"[1]
Literature
- Soledad Brother (1970)
- Blood In My Eye (1972)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 George Jackson (1990). Blood In My Eye (pp. x, xii, 193-194). Baltimore: Black Classic Press. ISBN 9780933121232
- ↑ "Tribute to Comrade George Lester Jackson" (2009-08-21). Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-11-22.