Fish of Small Thoughts (bricolage0100?)

I learned so very long ago that all opinions are not of equal value. Thus is the case where the disgruntled (bricolage0100)would attempt to deny the world the historical experience of sharing a glimpse in the life of a caught man, captured man, a man under hatches as George Lester Jackson once described himself and his life. As Mao Tse Tung once pointed out, "In shallow men, the fish of small thoughts cause much commotion, in magnanimous oceanic minds, the whales of inspiration cause hardly a ruffle." As the writer/producer of Black August (the movie), as well as the beneficiary of the legacy of my fallen Comrade, it is my pleasure to articulate the framework of the story.

“I am the American heartbreak-
the rock on which Freedom
stumped its toe-
the great mistake that Jamestown made
long ago.”
Langston Hughes

BLACK AUGUST

Story by

TCinque


Black August is a true story of George Lester Jackson (September 1941-August 1971), the California prisoner, renowned author of the book Soledad Brother, and who founded the powerful Black Guerilla Family prison organization.

Black August traces the spiritual journey of a self-educated revolutionary. George Jackson survived the steel jackboot of the oppressive California prison system and rose in defiance as he taught and inspired others to resist. Behind prison walls, Jackson channeled the vicious treatment of the powerless into the reason why prisoners, Black, White, Mexican and others should unite.

Proving that knowledge is power, George Jackson showed his fellow prisoners that there can be no peaceful revolution. The 1960’s and 70’s San Quentin reflected the larger (racist) society outside where history was made during the struggle for liberation and equality of an oppressed and powerless People.

The name Black August is founded in episodes that would both juxtapose themselves as well as cross the path of struggle George Jackson would undertake. Particularly culminating in the death of his 17 year old younger brother, (Man-child), Jonathan Jackson, whose bold attempt to liberate his brother and comrade from the Marin County Court House on August 7, 1970, which resulted in the taking of hostages, including a Superior Court Judge, a Deputy District Attorney, and three female jurors. In the attempt, Jonathan Jackson, Superior Court Judge Harold Haley, Bill Christmas and James McClain (two inmates on trial at the time who aided the younger Jackson), would be killed before the trio could be successful in their liberation attempt. The Deputy District Attorney would be wounded and crippled for life, but go on to sit as a presiding superior court judge, serving the Bench from a wheel chair. One of the female jurors would also be wounded. Jonathan Jackson would be heard to shout out to reporters and photographers on the scene as the group exited the courthouse “You can take our pictures, we are the revolutionaries.” He (Jonathan) would later be described by his brother and comrade George Jackson as the “Black Communist Guerrilla, the true Revolutionary in his highest stage of development.”

Practically one year to the day, on August 21, 1971, George Jackson himself would be killed in what is historically described as a prison escape attempt from behind the walls of the beast, San Quentin. In this episode, three prison guards, and two inmate prisoners would be killed, as George Jackson wheels a 9mm pistol inside the maximum security facility, the Adjustment Center, inside the walls of San Quentin. Jackson himself, at age 29, would be gunned down as he left the cellblock of the Adjustment Center. The so-called prison escape attempt by George Jackson, the alleged smuggling of a gun from the prison visiting room, with the use of an Afro-wig, and the subsequent death of George Jackson would be viewed by many as a conspiracy by prison officials and others, higher up in political circles.

Prisons across the country would revolt at the news of Comrade George’s death. Some of the most infamous events occurring at Attica State Prison in New York, Angola State Prison in Louisiana, Pontiac and Joliet Prisons in Illinois, Folsom State in California, and Reidsville Prison in Georgia. These prison rebellions were testaments to the life, spirit and untiring work of George Jackson to expose the inhumane conditions suffered by the millions of men and women warehoused in the prisons and jails of America.

“Black August” as a concept, has become a national and international day of commemoration for the fallen fire-breathing dragons, George Lester Jackson, his youngest brother and comrade (Man-Child) Jonathan Jackson.

“Black August” the movie depicts the last 14 months of Comrade George’s existence under the subjective and objective conditions of captivity. Sentenced to one year-to-life at age 18 for a $70 gas station robbery in 1960, George Jackson would spend the next 11 years in prison, 7 in solitary confinement. Black August the movie encompasses the infamous Soledad Brother’s case in which George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Clucheette are accused of murdering a Soledad prison guard, in retaliation for the killing of three Black inmates, W.L. Knowlen, Jugs Miller, and Cleveland Edwards, involved in a fist-fight with White inmates on an exercise yard at Soledad State Prison in California. Black August the movie reflects on the general prison movement in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. The role the Black Panther Party would play in organizing both the outside communities in America as well as their influence on the prisoners across the country. George Jackson would be moved and inspired as a result of the Panther Party activities. As a prison organizer, George would be recruited by Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton to head the “People’s Army”, a euphemism which would become synonymous with the name “Black Guerilla Family. This film points out the conspirital nature of occurrences which surrounded the events of August 7, 1970 and August 21, 1971. After a nation wide manhunt, Angela Davis would be captured and stand trial in connection with the Marin County Court House liberation attempt by Jonathan Jackson, accused of conspiracy in supplying 17 year old Jonathan Jackson with the weapons used. George Jackson is accused of smuggling a 9mm pistol and extra clips concealed under an Afro-wig, into the prison cell block following a visit by Attorney Stephen Bingham.
Stephen Bigham would be acquitted. Others possibly involved in connection with the events of August 21, 1971 would never be questioned.

With the history of slavery and repression in this country as a backdrop, every whip lash, every lynching, every humiliation finds its ultimate reaction in the events chronicled in the movie Black August.


TCinque