Welcome to August: A Month of Lineage and Liberation
I wanted to take today, August 1, as an opportunity to come back onto the blog and set off this month. August is important to me for a few reasons. First, it’s my birthday month. But more importantly, it’s a month that holds deep significance in Black history.
Worldwide, August is often referred to as Black August for several reasons. Many revolutionary events have taken place during this time. The Haitian Revolution, for example, began at Bwa Kayiman on August 14, 1791. The rebellion led by Nat Turner on a Virginia plantation also began in August 1831. Marcus Garvey’s Pan-Africanist movement started in August of 1887. And of course, the March on Washington happened in August of 1963.
There are countless examples of rebellions and revolutionary acts rooted in August. Black August itself as a term and practice was named by George Jackson, a prison activist and member of the Black Panther Party who was killed during an uprising at San Quentin State Prison in California. Since 1979, Black August has been observed as a way to commemorate the work and life of George Jackson and others who have fought and fallen for Black liberation.
Over the years, Black August has become a time not just to remember, but to deepen our knowledge and understanding of Black history. It's a time to go beyond the lens of February’s Black History Month and commit to the long arc of study, resistance, and reflection. It's also a time for ritual—ritual to honor those who lost their lives, and to recognize the ways our struggles are connected across movements and borders.
I’m thinking here of someone like Chris Smalls, a young activist known for organizing around labor rights at Amazon, who later expanded his work to bring aid to Gaza. As the only Black man aboard a humanitarian flotilla, he was violently attacked by Israeli forces. To my knowledge, he’s now on his way back home, but it’s a stark reminder that the work of Black liberation continues, in 2025 and beyond.
Black August invites us to look back, but also to look around and ahead. These are not just historical moments; they are part of our lineage, and they reflect the work still unfolding. This blog is my way of setting the tone for the rest of the month. I’ll be sharing more thoughts and recommendations so that you can commemorate this time in a way that feels both empowering and enlightening.
It’s Leo season—my season. Fire energy. Sun energy. That vitality is part of this, too. So welcome to August. Let’s get into it.
I’ll be back soon.
