This quote expresses the idea that true liberation is collective, not individual. It argues that as long as any group or person remains oppressed, the freedom of others is incomplete and fragile, demanding universal justice and interconnected freedom for all.
Quote by Assata Shakur: “Nobody in the world is free until we are all free.”
Nobody in the world is free until we are all free.
Insight
Historical Context
Published during her exile in Cuba, this quote from her autobiography reflects Shakur's commitment to collective liberation. It speaks to the global struggle against oppression, linking individual freedom to the broader fight for justice for all marginalized communities, echoing Cold War ideological battles.
About the Author
American activist and former member of the Black Liberation Army who was convicted of murdering a New Jersey state trooper in 1973 in a trial widely contested as unjust. She escaped from prison in 1979 and has lived in political asylum in Cuba since 1984. Her 1987 autobiography remains a foundational text in Black radical tradition.
View all quotes by Assata Shakur