Tupac’s Godmother Assata Shakur Dies in Cuba at 78

Assata Shakur, Tupac’s godmother and exiled Black liberation activist, has died in Cuba at 78 (image source)

Joanne Deborah “Assata” Shakur, a veteran Black liberation activist who lived in exile in Cuba for four decades after escaping a U.S. prison, died in Havana on 25 September at the age of 78, Cuban officials and family members confirmed.

The Most Newsworthy Fact

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry announced that Shakur — born Joanne Chesimard and a former member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army — died “due to health conditions and advanced age.” Her daughter also confirmed the passing on social media.

Life in Exile

Shakur’s life and exile made her one of the most polarising figures in modern history. Convicted in the 1977 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, she maintained her innocence and insisted she was a political prisoner. After a 1979 prison escape, she resurfaced in Cuba in the mid-1980s and was granted asylum, a move that strained U.S.-Cuba relations for decades.

International coverage highlighted her dual role as revolutionary figure and fugitive, noting her placement on the FBI’s most-wanted list and Washington’s decades-long attempts to secure her return.

Reactions to Her Death

Eyewitnesses, activist networks and supporters marked her passing with tributes, emphasising her writings and commitment to racial justice. Civil-rights organisations praised her as an intellectual and symbol of resistance. By contrast, U.S. law-enforcement groups recalled the grievances of police officers tied to the 1973 highway shootout, viewing her as a convicted killer who escaped accountability.

“Her life embodied the painful tensions between political dissent, crime, and asylum.”

Context

Shakur became a lightning rod for debates over justice and political violence in the late 20th century. Her autobiography, statements from exile, and correspondence with activists kept her voice alive in discussions on race, state power and asylum. Her inclusion on the FBI’s most-wanted terrorist list reflected how strongly her case resonated within U.S. law-enforcement and political circles.

Impact and Legacy

Her death will reignite debates about political asylum, transitional justice, and historical accountability. For activists, she remains a figure of resistance whose legacy inspired generations of social-justice movements. For victims’ families and U.S. authorities, her story remains an open wound. Scholars are expected to revisit her life in books, legal analyses and documentaries, framing her as a central figure in the history of radical politics and exile.