Isabella Soto (Class of 2029) - A Commemoration of Black August

    On Thursday, September 11, I had the opportunity of attending the event entitled “A Commemoration of Black August”, where I had the privilege of not only seeing part of Shola Lynch’s Film, Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, but also of meeting her in person and hearing some of her thought process behind and intent for the film. At the event, Shola Lynch began by introducing the meaning of Black August, a commemoration that originated in the California prison system in 1979 to honor the sacrifices of Black revolutionaries and freedom fighters. From there, the focus turned to her film Free Angela and All Political Prisoners, which highlights the life and activism of Angela Davis, highlighting the struggles that led to her arrest and eventual acquittal. What I found very striking was hearing Lynch describe how the project became a process of self-discovery, not only for herself as a filmmaker but also for Davis, who uncovered new layers of her own story through this research. This connection between personal memory and shared history prompted me to reflect on how commemoration can both shed light on the past and reshape how we understand it today.

    While watching the film, I was struck by how deeply Angela Davis connected her scholarship to her activism. She believed knowledge was practical and could be used to transform the world, but also emphasized that meaningful change could never be achieved alone. Her open membership in the Communist Party made her both radical and controversial, and her decision to teach at UCLA in the late 1960s while openly identifying as a Communist sparked outrage, fears of indoctrination, and even threats to her safety. This reminded me of Paulo Freire’s critique of the “banking concept of education,” where students are treated as passive recipients of information rather than active participants in learning. The fear surrounding Davis’s teaching reflected this same mindset, as people assumed her students would simply absorb her Communist ideas, rather than recognizing education as a space for dialogue and questioning.

    After watching part of the film, I had the chance to hear from two Spelman professors, Dr. Joan Foster McCarty and Dr. Chateé Omísadé Richardson, who connected the film’s themes to their own experiences and to issues we face today. Dr. McCarty spoke about the prison pipeline, showing how young Black students are often tracked early into systems of surveillance and incarceration. She connected this to Donald Trump’s September 3, 2025, press conference comment about crime in Baltimore, where he suggested that some people are “born to be criminals.” I found this especially striking because it showed how apparent this mindset is in shaping public policy and attitudes. It also pushed me to think more deeply about how the concept of the “political prisoner” connects to the wider struggle for freedom and human rights. Both professors also looked toward the future. Dr. Richardson encouraged us to approach activism like educators, telling us to consider all factors of an event, read and brainstorm carefully, and develop new strategies rather than relying on methods. Dr. McCarty emphasized the importance of claiming space boldly and serving incarcerated communities through mentoring and education.

    This event has shaped my goals by showing me the importance of combining knowledge with action. Inspired by Davis and the professors’ emphasis on thoughtful activism, I plan to mentor younger students, engage in programs supporting incarcerated communities, and develop creative approaches to advocacy that respond to current social challenges and challenge the status quo.

—Isabella Soto Class of 2029