Tear Down the Walls
As summer is nearing its end, we honor the legacy of Black August – a month calling us “to practice discipline, renewing strength and focus through studying, fasting, training, and fighting.” First observed by organizers incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison the summer of 1979, Black August was sparked by the murder of brothers George and Jonathan P. Jackson as well as others killed in the struggle for Black liberation.
In 1972 UC Berkeley hosted a Prison Action Conference in which their Statement of Principles argued that “we must guard against the danger of lending ourselves to the development of new forms of control under the guise of reform which make the prison a more effective tool of pacification.”
During this time, we must ask ourselves ‘what does it mean to practice Black August in the face of facism and amidst multiple genocides?’
Inside the walls of San Quentin State Prison a collective consciousness was cultivated, developing a revolutionary ideology that boldly connects global fights for liberation. What does it mean to tear down the walls that cage people and those that maintain a status quo of inequity and oppression?
It is no coincidence that the Reproductive Justice (RJ) framework was established in August of 1994. The Women of African Descent for RJ called for comprehensive reproductive healthcare services and anti-discrimination practices to ensure healthcare is an accessible basic human right. RJ recognizes that our intersecting identities shape how we navigate the world, including our access to healthcare and ability to parent safely. RJ demands that we address all systems that impact our right to bodily autonomy and reproductive liberation.
We invite you to join us in our commitment to RJ with renewed rigor and get involved with your local practical support network!
Much love,
The Apiary Team
Black August Resources
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement’s Black August Resistance Handbook
Reproductive Justice is the Way: A Community Practice Workbook
What’s Happening at Apiary 🐝
👋 If you are attending NNAF’s Summit be sure to stop by our booth during one of the Pollination Stations or catch us around and say hi!
🐝 Want to become a practical support volunteer? Our Pollination Station vets and trains new volunteers and places them with local organizations. Participants attend three training sessions that explore trauma-informed response, the fundamentals of reproductive justice, and the history and practicality of practical support.
What’s Happening in the Community 🍯
🗳️ Help Texas abortion funds bring the fight for Reproductive Justice to the SXSW 2026 stage. Follow this link to learn more and vote!
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