The One Woman Play
Written and Performed by Akua Taylor
“We need create media outlets to help educate our people and our children and not annihilate their minds. I’m only one woman. I own no T.V stations, radio stations or newspapers but I feel the people need to be educated as to what’s going on and to understand the connection between the news media and the instruments of repression. All I have is my voice, my spirit and will to tell the truth.” – Assata Shakur.
:ASSATA: one woman is a media outlet to educate people. It is Assata Shakur’s story from her own words; before, during and after her Black Panther Party involvement. :ASSATA: one woman dramatically details the story of Assata Shakur but also addresses unjust criminalization and imprisonment of oppressed people.
Assata Shakur, Zayd Malik Shakur and Sundiata Acoli were traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike when they were stopped by State Troopers. A shootout ensued. Assata was shot with her arms raised, Trooper Werner Forester was killed, and Zayd Malik Shakur was killed. Although forensic evidence proved she was shot first rendering her unable to pull a trigger and there was no gun residue on her fingers, in 1977 Assata was convicted of the first degree murder of Forester and of seven other felonies related to the shootout. Shakur was then incarcerated in several prisons, where her treatment drew criticism from human rights groups. She escaped from prison in 1979 and has been living in Cuba under political asylum since 1984. As of May 2nd 2005, the FBI has classified her as a domestic terrorist and has offered a one million dollar reward for her capture.
Originally performed at Fisk University as her senior dissertation, Akua Taylor wrote :ASSATA: one woman to raise awareness around the inhumane treatment of political prisoners. Plans to perform in New York began in 2007 but were postponed for legal concerns. The play is completely based on Assata’s autobiography, so as to stay true to her words and her perspective. Akua tells Assata’s story through 10 different characters, dance, music and poetry.
In his book, World Prison Population List, Roy Walmsley states, “The United States has the highest documented incarceration rate in the world.” In 2008, the number of inmates totaled 2,424,279. The fact that black people account for only 12 percent of the U.S. population but are 44 percent of all prisoners is subject to much speculation. According to the Pew Report of the States, one out of one-hundred African-American women in their mid to late thirties are incarcerated. African Americans are being criminalized at an alarming rate and :ASSATA:one woman was created to spark awareness of this crisis.
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