George Jackson (activist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Jackson
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Cover of Soledad Brother
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| Born |
George Lester Jackson
September 23, 1941 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Died | August 21, 1971 (aged 29) San Quentin, California, U.S.
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| Cause of death | Shooting |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Prison activist and co-founder of the Black Guerrilla Family |
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Notable work
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Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson |
| Parent(s) | Lester and Georgia Bea Jackson |
| Relatives | Jonathan P. Jackson (brother) |
George Lester Jackson (born September 23, 1941 – died August 21, 1971) was an American writer, activist, and prisoner. He became known for his writings about prison life and social justice. While in prison, he became involved in revolutionary ideas. He also helped start a group called the Black Guerrilla Family.
In 1970, he was accused of being involved in the death of a prison officer. This happened after a fight in the prison. In the same year, he published a book called Soledad Brother: The Prison Letters of George Jackson. This book shared his life story and his ideas. It became very popular and made him famous.
Jackson died during an attempt to escape from prison in 1971.
Contents
Early Life and Activism
George Jackson was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was the second of five children. As a young person, he spent some time in a youth corrections facility. This was for various reasons, including robbery and other offenses.
In 1961, he was found guilty of armed robbery. He had taken $70 from a gas station. He was sentenced to a prison term that could last from one year to his whole life.
During his first years at San Quentin State Prison, Jackson started to get involved in new ideas. He was described by prison staff as someone who focused on himself and didn't always follow social rules. In 1966, Jackson met W. L. Nolen. Nolen introduced him to Marxist and Maoist ideas. These are political ideas about how society should be fair and equal.
Jackson and Nolen then started the Black Guerrilla Family in 1966. This group was based on these political thoughts. Jackson later said that these ideas helped him change his way of thinking while in prison.
As Jackson spent more time in solitary confinement, he studied political ideas. He also wrote many letters to friends and supporters. These letters were later put together into two books: Soledad Brother and Blood in My Eye. These books became very popular. They brought him a lot of attention from people who supported social change. He gained many followers among other prisoners, including Black, white, and Latino inmates.
In January 1969, Jackson and Nolen were moved to Soledad Prison. On January 13, 1970, a prison officer shot and killed Nolen and two other Black prisoners. This happened during a fight in the prison yard. After Nolen's death, Jackson became more outspoken. He talked about the need to protect fellow inmates. He also spoke about taking action against prison officers.
On January 17, 1970, Jackson and two other prisoners were accused of killing a corrections officer. The officer was found dead after being beaten. This event was believed to be in response to the earlier shooting deaths of the three inmates.
Marin County Courthouse Incident
On August 7, 1970, George Jackson's 17-year-old brother, Jonathan P. Jackson, entered a courtroom in Marin County, California. He had an automatic weapon. He freed some prisoners and took a judge, a lawyer, and three jurors as hostages. His goal was to demand the release of the "Soledad Brothers."
Police stopped them as they tried to drive away from the courthouse. The judge, Jonathan Jackson, and two of the freed prisoners died during the incident. The case was widely reported in the news.
Angela Davis, who owned the weapons used, was later found not guilty of any charges. Jonathan Jackson had been her bodyguard. One of the freed prisoners, Ruchell Magee, was the only attacker who survived. He later pleaded guilty to kidnapping and was sentenced to life in prison.
Prison Escape and Death
On August 21, 1971, George Jackson met with his lawyer, Stephen Bingham, at San Quentin prison. After their meeting, Jackson was being taken back to his cell. A prison officer noticed something hidden in Jackson's hair. It turned out to be a wig. Jackson then pulled out a pistol from under the wig.
It is not clear how Jackson got the gun. Bingham, his lawyer, was later found not guilty of smuggling the gun to Jackson.
Jackson ordered the officer to open all the cells. He and several other inmates took control of the remaining officers. They also took two other inmates as hostages. Five hostages were later found dead in Jackson's cell. Three other officers were also injured but survived.
Jackson and another inmate, Johnny Spain, managed to escape to the prison yard. Jackson was then shot and killed from a tower. Spain surrendered.
Three inmates were found not guilty of the murders. Three others (David Johnson, Johnny Spain, and Hugo Pinell) were found guilty. These six became known as the "San Quentin Six".
There is some information suggesting that Jackson and his supporters had planned this escape for several weeks. Three days before the escape attempt, Jackson changed his will. He left control of his book earnings and legal defense fund to the Black Panther Party.
Jackson's funeral was held in Oakland, California, on August 28, 1971.
George Jackson in Popular Culture
Many artists and entertainers have created works inspired by George Jackson's life.
- The jazz group Art Ensemble of Chicago released an album called A Jackson in Your House in 1969.
- Bob Dylan released a song titled "George Jackson" about his life and death. The song reached No. 33 on the American music charts in 1972.
- The 2011 album Cinemetropolis by Blue Scholars includes a song named for Jackson.
- Steel Pulse, a reggae band from England, wrote a song called "Uncle George." It includes the line "Soledad Brother" in its chorus. This song is on their album Tribute To The Martyrs.
- Rapper Ja Rule named his 2003 album after Jackson's book Blood in My Eye.
- Saxophone player Archie Shepp dedicated much of his 1972 album Attica Blues to George Jackson's story.
- The song "Soulja's Story" by rapper 2pac, released in 1991, mentions the Marin County Civic Center attacks.
- The 2007 film Black August tells the story of the last 14 months of Jackson's life.
See also
In Spanish: George Jackson (pantera negra) para niños
- Frantz Fanon
- Fay Stender
