On behalf of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance, Land, Food, and Freedom team—and we venture to say on behalf of the whole movement for Black food sovereignty—we want to dedicate this journal with a huge “ASANTE SANA (THANK YOU)” to our beloved freedom fighter, shero, revolutionary, artist, poet, truth teller, and recent ancestor, Assata Shakur. May she rest in so much well-deserved peace and rise (on behalf of and with us all) in so much power. 

We also want to express deep gratitude and Asante Sana’s to those who were pivotal in obtaining and maintaining Assata’s freedom and care for her humanity, protection, and legacy. With this, our second “asante sana” is to all of the Black revolutionaries and multiracial freedom fighters, and accomplices who sacrificed their own freedom to liberate Assata from maximum security prison after being unjustly convicted by no jury of her peers. We give thanks to s/hero ancestors like Dr. Mutulu Shakur, Sekou Odinga, and Marilyn Buck for their bravery and insights throughout the years, continuing their contributions towards our collective liberation, despite the challenges to their own. Steadfastly, we continue to call for the release of all of our political prisoners. 

Our third “asante sana” goes to Cuba and the Cuban people for their many sacrifices, commitments, examples, and many insights towards revolutionary possibilities. Cuba granted Assata political asylum in 1984 and committed to keeping her safe, even when tested and tried. They honored this commitment, even when—especially when—inconvenient. After decades of commitment to liberation for oppressed people worldwide, decades of persecution, and decades of surviving attempts on her life by the U.S. government and bounty hunters, Assata took her last breath on September 25, 2025, under the protection of the Cuban government and the Cuban people. Assata made her transition with a $2 million bounty still on her head, issued by the U.S. government. Even as an elder and grandmother living out her aging years, she was still listed as a domestic terrorist on the FBI’s most wanted list. Despite it all, Assata continued to contribute decades of brilliance, inspiration, poetry, writings, art, and an embodiment of love and power to the world, remaining steadfast and committed to revolutionary struggle. She never compromised, no matter the cost, fear, or terror. Assata and Cuba taught us that radical and revolutionary change is possible—it is neither convenient nor comfortable. Through Assata’s life, we continue to see that those who are responsible for our exploitation and oppression will not be pleased, nor will be granting us any permissions. 

“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who were oppressing them.” - Assata Shakur (p. 139).  

In this day and age of social media, we must work to become more comfortable with discomfort and with not being liked or rewarded by those in power. We must be clear: the more and more fascist authoritarianism continues to grow in this country, we must continue to tell the truth—our truth—despite consistent lies, distortions, and vilifications. We must always resist and fight to make our victories and liberation a reality. It will not be gifted to us.

Let’s be real, dear comrades. Truly horrifying political times are emerging, and we’re witnessing vicious and consistent efforts to repeal, regress, and repress any semblance of progress we’ve made. We are in the midst of an absolute, clear, and blatant rollout of a reign of terror and violence via a consolidation of white power, hetero/sexism (including queer and transphobia), and a gross, deferential allegiance to private mega-corporations. 

While this may feel like a whiplash of backlash, meaning it may feel sudden and quick and back-to-back, and while this reign of terror is fierce, we have to remember… so are we. 

‍WE ARE FIERCE. 

Re-membering is and will continue to be incredibly important, in addition to our commitment to persistent truth-telling. We have to be unafraid, even if and when we are. There will be days we may feel terror in the bottom of our bellies and in the depths of our bones—we have to remember the importance of standing strong together. Find your people. Reject sociopathy and protect each other. Use every ounce of resource we have to organize to FIGHT BACK. Together.

Finally, our fourth “asante sana” goes out to all of you who engage in this journal. The organizers and writers who engage in reflection and creative, thoughtful examinations to help tell our stories. We know they are not just stories. They are provocations, deeply insightful offerings, and calls to skill up and act. To the fearless curators and artists who immerse so many of our senses, pushing us into the most radical edges of our imaginations, we say, “Thank you.”

“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.” - Toni Cade Bambara

We give thanks to each and every one of the contributors of this journal, from the researchers of prison abolition to Mau Mau and resistance, and to those fighting fascism and helping with disaster preparedness. We thank those continuing to support recovery from the wildfires in Altadena, California, and those aiding in the resistance around land displacement. In addition, thank you to every reader for making this space important and sacred, and a gathering place to re-member, sharpen, and deepen our commitments towards liberation together. 

In closing, we highly encourage everyone to go back and read or re-read Assata Shakur’s autobiography. One of the greatest ways to honor her legacy is to listen to her insights, which are still incredibly relevant today. We encourage you to join or create an organization where you are studying together, analyzing together, building together, and resisting together. Our people need and deserve integrity, rigor, and brilliance with all hands on deck. If you are or are looking to be a part of a formation working towards Black food sovereignty, of course, we also invite you to join us in the work of the National Black Food and Justice Alliance and HEAL Food Alliance. 

Stay strong, family.

“There is and always will be, until every Black man, woman, and child is free, a Black Liberation Army. The main function of the Black Liberation Army at this time is to create good examples, to defend ourselves, and let no one disrespect us. We must gain our liberation by any means necessary. 

It is our duty to fight for our freedom.

It is our duty to win. 

We must love each other and support each other. 

We have nothing to lose but our chains. 

…"

"WE MUST FIGHT ON.”—ASSATA SHAKUR