Since the inception of Black August in 1979, two highly regarded artworks by prisoners Donald “C-Note” Hooker and Kevin Rashid Johnson are profoundly the Best in Class when it comes to Black August art.
This article was published on Aug 26, 2022, in Medium.
As more cohorts to Black August enter this space and new discoveries are made regarding the month of August and its historical significance regarding the 400-year struggle to end Black bondage in North and South America, these new discoveries and their promotion must not drown out Black August’s original meaning of the prisoner’s voice. As noted by one African American writer:
As we attempt to engage more people in the tradition of Black August, we must remain steadfast in centering the struggle of political prisoners during this month.
Black August has strong cultural roots in the Black Arts. There is a film, books, music, and the visual arts. Of these visual works, two of them really stand out, and both were created under the difficult circumstances of imprisonment.
Black August
Black August (2005) by Kevin Rashid Johnson is work of Ink on paper. It truly encapsulates the words of Mumia Abu Jamal, “Black August (at least in the West) begins in Haiti,” The Haitian reference is in regards to the Haitian Revolution, which began in August of 1791.
Notable figures in the work include Queen Mother Moore (born Audley Moore; 1898 – 1997); Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross; 1822 – 1913); Jonathan and George Jackson, their deaths in 1970 and 71′ respectively, began the journey of Black August becoming a month-long in memoriam.
Jalil Abdul Muntaqim (born Anthony Jalil Bottom; 1951 – ), released from prison in 2020, after serving 49 years; Fred Hampton (1948 – 1969); Russell “Maroon” Shoatz (1943 – 2021), Dr. Mutla Shakur (born Jeral Wayne Williams; 1950 – ); and others. Included is the following text:
A month (August) of paying tribute to the true heroes, martyrs and history of Our Ongoing struggle for Liberation
This Black August for 2022, Johnson’s Black August is a part of the promotional flyer for an Oakland, California, Black August in the Park. The event, hosted by Fiani Johnson of the Araminta Ross Foundation is about community building for returning citizens, and will be displaying and selling prints of C-Note’s iconic works.
C-Note’s long time K.A.G.E brother and fellow artivist, founder of K.A.G.E Universal MinsterKingXPyeface will also be present at the event. Pyeface just produced Black August 21 ( K.A.G.E. Universal International Tenets ) a historical program on BET, VH1 etc via Comcast.
Black August – Los Angeles
Black August – Los Angeles (2016), by Donald “C-Note” Hooker is a work of Ink on paper. It is a work that was inspired by the month long Black August celebrations that were taking place in Los Angeles in 2016. C-Note first heard of these on the independent, publicly supported radio KPFK, and the Saturday morning program “Think Outside the Cage.”
Black August – Los Angeles was C-Note’s first attempt at Political Art. It makes reference to Beyonce’s Formation; the death of prisoners, and prison reform activists, George Jackson, and Hugo “Yogi” Pinell. Both men were murdered in prison. Police shooting death victims, Michael Brown, and Ezell Ford. These kinds of deaths had reawakened America’s consciousness on its criminal justice system, thus prison reform. The California Coalition of Women Prisoners (CCWP), so that the public doesn’t forget we imprison women too. The Los Angeles Women’s Center, to bring public consciousness, and hopefully funding, to a place that provides services and refuge to women, most likely from the same environmental milieu as those who have been, or will become imprisoned. The Raised Fist, a symbol of Black Power during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Now a symbol of empowerment during any struggle. And “Mundo Sin Jaulas” (A World Without Cages), in recognition of the Brown People’s Movement.
C-Note is referenced as the Billboard Banksy, for his Prison art making it onto billboards through Billboard Art Installations.
In the spirit of Black August, reach out to these two incredible prisoner artists: Kevin Rashid Johnson DOC# 1007485; Nottaway Correctional Centre; 2892 Schutt Road; Burkeville, VA 23922; Donald “C-Note” Hooker DOC# K94063; P.O. Box 4490; Lancaster, CA 93539
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