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Black August 2007
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2007 Benefit Concert
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 The Black August benefit concert in New York City was a major success, raising more funds for political prisoners than we've ever achieved before!
The Nokia Theatre sold out it's stock of tickets days before the showtime, the buzz in the community about the show was strong, and the vibe, the turnout, and the messaging of the event were everything we wanted and needed.
Thank you to all of the supporters of the benefit concert that purchased tickets, or participated in any way. The success has been due to you.
Event photos by Monifa Skerritt-Perry
Event photos by M Szwajkos
Here's a sample of some of the concert coverage from Vibe's website:
Back to Black (POSTED: 17:02 EST, August 29, 2007)
"This ain't no damn concert, but we're going to rock on," exclaimed M1 of dead prez.
Sunday night's Black August celebration at Times Square had all the characteristics of a jam session: political-minded emcees, a sold-out Nokia Theatre, legendary DJs rocking the ones and twos- but, in response to the problems plaguing inner-city neighborhoods, the prevalent theme was "Free Your Hood."
Organized by the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, this year's Black August - its first year (400 attendees at New York's Tramp's in '97) is indicative of the success the campaign has seen- marked the 10th year of its existence and evolution.
To read the rest of the review, visit vibe.com.
Billboard's website has also done a write up of the event. Here is a portion of it:
Black August: Libertad!
Mariel Concepcion, N.Y.
The annual Black August concert, which honors freedom fighters and
political prisoners, took over New York's Nokia Theater on Sunday,
August 26th, with a huge hip-hop bill that included Dead Prez, Talib
Kweli, Common, Mos Def and several others.
Presented by Malcolm X Grassroots
Movement, the evening was hosted by MXGM's Monifa Bandele and Dead
Prez' M1. The sold-out event was dedicated to Assata Shakur, a
revolutionary activist and former Black Panther member who, even though
evidence revealed she neither carried nor fired a weapon, was sentenced
to life in prison in 1973 for the death of a New Jersey state trooper.
Shakur, who celebrated her 60th birthday that night, is in exile in
Cuba and has a $1 million bounty on her head, along with having been
recently being placed on the list of domestic terrorists.
It was a full house an hour in,
everyone bumping to Black Sheep and Run DMC courtesy of DJ Evil D.
"This is not an industry party! We are real motherf***ing people at a
real show. So, make some noise!" commanded D.
To read the rest of the review, visit billboard.com .
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2007 Parties
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 The After Party (click for large image)
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Hosted by Mos Def
with surprise guests and performances!
DJ Beverly Bondon the 1's and 2's
DISCOUNTED ENTRY with CONCERT TICKET STUB!
CLUB ARENA
135 W. 41st Street
(between 6th Ave & Broadway)
NYC
Doors open at 10 PM
Style Code Enforced / 21 and Over with Proper ID
For guestlists and table reservations:
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Read more...
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2007 Parties
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 Friday, August 24th 2007
The Official Black August Tenth Annual Show Pre Party is at FREEDOM!
With
DJ Herbert
DJ Cosi
and Marc Smooth
Canal Room
285 W Broadway (at Canal Street) NYC
CanalRoom.com
Doors Open at 10 PM
NOTE:Tell the clerk you are on the list for BLACK AUGUST!!!
A Portion of the proceeds will go to Black August Hip Hop Project so come out and support!!!
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2007 Benefit Concert: Theme
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 Assata
Shakur is a revolutionary
activist
who fought with the Black Panther Party for Self Defense for the
liberation of African people in the United States. She began her
lifelong career in Black
Liberation Movement
with the BPP and continued her work with the student movement and the
anti war movement. By 1969, the Black Panther Party was a prime
target of the FBI's domestic surveillance operation, Counter
Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO). The U.S. government used this
operation to "disrupt,
discredit, destroy,
and otherwise neutralize" the Black Panther Party, its leaders
and members.
On
May 2nd,
1973, Assata and her comrades Zyad
Shakur
and Sundiata
Acoli
were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike by state troopers who alleged
that their car had a faulty taillight. A shoot
out
ensued resulting in the death of State Trooper Werner Foerster and
Zyad Shakur and the severe wounding of Assata Shakur. She was shot
once with her arms held up in the air, and then once more in the
back. Sundiata Acoli escaped but was captured days later in New
Brunswick as a result of the massive
manhunt
in search for him. Police hailed the capture of Assata, referring to
her as the "Black Joan of Arc" and the "Soul of the
Black Liberation Army". Forensic tests revealed that Assata did
not fire nor had she carried a weapon, but both Acoli and Assata were
sentenced to life
in prison
for the murder of Foerster and their comrade Zyad Shakur.
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2007 Benefit Concert: Theme
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 Venezuela
is the country chosen to host Black
August International
2007.
Under the leadership of Hugo
Chavez, Venezuela has
successfully developed a political model that empowers the people of
Venezuela and departs from the Western imperialist model. Chavez's
work extends beyond his own country. Venezuela has offered for low
cost oil to be used within the United States for heating of the low
income homes of the poor and disenfranchised. In addition, Venezuela
has offered millions of dollars to rebuild the New Orleans
infrastructure destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In the fall of 2006,
Jesus "Chucho" Garcia, a leader of the Afro-Venezuelan
Network, visited MXGM's
New York office to exchange ideas and develop collaborative
projects with chapter
members. The Afro-Venezuelan Network is an anti-oppression
organization in Venezuela that represents the best interests of
people of African descent in Venezuela. Black August International
2007: Venezuela is a milestone evidencing the continued collaboration
between US-based MXGM and the Afro-Venezuelan Network.
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2007 Benefit Concert: Theme
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 The violence perpetrated on Afrikan communities by U.S. police forces continues to intensify. High profile cases such as those of Abner Louima, Amadou Diallo and most recently Timothy Stansbury and Sean Bell highlight the hundreds of cases of deaths, beatings and harassment terrorizing Afrikan communities in the United States. Abner Louima was sodomized with a plunger by members of the New York City Police Department in 1997. Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times in 1999. NYPD’s justification for this was their having mistaken his wallet for a gun. Seventeen year old Timothy Stansbury was murdered in 2004 and Sean Bell was murdered in 2006 in a hail of 51 bullets on the eve of his wedding.
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Black August 2007 
