A viral video dismissing Assata Shakur as “a glorified fugitive” has sparked intense backlash online, just days after news broke of her death at age 78 in Havana, Cuba, on Sept. 25, 2025.
The woman in the video, posted on TikTok account @bonnetbusiness, questioned Shakur’s role in Black liberation movements, arguing she “never actually did anything for Black people” and downplaying her influence in the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army.
She further criticized Shakur for seeking asylum in Cuba instead of Jamaica or an African nation, and said she was “not too broken up” over her passing.
The remarks quickly ignited outrage across social media, with critics accusing the speaker of disrespecting a revolutionary figure whose life and work became synonymous with resistance against systemic racism and state repression.
“Are you okay? You know the FBI was brought down by the government?” one user responded.
Another added, “You are putting your ignorance on full display. The Black Panthers started free lunch for children in this country, free meals for the elderly, sickle cell testing, free medical clinics, housing initiatives and clothing drives.”
Other commenters pointed out the historical context of Shakur’s asylum in Cuba, pointing to Fidel Castro’s support for African American activists when African nations were still struggling under colonial influence.
“She was for Black liberation in America. She was part of a Black American movement. Why would she go to African countries when they were colonized by European countries?” one reply read.
Shakur, born JoAnne Chesimard, was a member of the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army. She was convicted in connection with the 1973 shooting death of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster, though she maintained her innocence. In 1979, she escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum by Fidel Castro’s government.
For decades, Shakur remained a polarizing figure—celebrated by many as a freedom fighter and condemned by others as a fugitive.
Her passing has reignited debates about her legacy, the role of the Black Panther Party, and the broader fight for racial justice in America.
