The historic events and themes gently came together in poetic power. The memorial service for Assata Shakur was held recently at Riverside Church. The space was electric, but warm with love. It is the site where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his controversial speech on the Vietnam War one year before his assassination. Cuba, the tiny island that gave refuge to Assata, is under increased threats by the U.S. government. Repression, racism, and war are features of imperialism that have consistently raised their ugly heads under the trump administration.

Assata Shakur is a beloved revolutionary who escaped from a New Jersey prison in 1969, where she was being held on trumped-up charges of murdering a state trooper and other unfounded charges. In 1984, she was given political asylum by then-President Fidel Castro. Despite a $2 million bounty on her head by the FBI, Assata lived the rest of her life in Cuba as a free woman until last fall, when she died of natural causes. Until Assata’s death, she maintained her innocence as well as her biting critique of U.S. imperialism.

For many younger activists and radicals, Assata is an elusive symbol, a martyr, a legend. In a poem I wrote, “I Wish You Could’ve Known Her,” I lamented the new generation’s embrace of her popular quote-turned-chant. That’s all they know, but she was so much more. If we are to follow her charge to “carry on,” we must understand the role of U.S. imperialism, particularly in Cuba.

Since 1958, Cuba has faced the wrath of the United States due to its commitment to building a socialist society. With its sights faced inward to take care of its people, preserve its history and culture, the country struggled under the financial, cultural, and political isolation imposed by Western nations. The trump administration has threatened regime change and taken actions that further destabilized the economy, making daily life increasingly unbearable for Cubans. With an unreliable power grid, the country has been left in darkness both literally and figuratively.

Dr. King tried to warn the world about the U.S. tendencies to plunder, exploit, terrorize, and steal resources and land. Many believe his 1967 speech on Vietnam is what got him off the fluffy dream bench into the international arena with a target on his chest. Dr. King had gradually realized that his own country was the hand that perpetuated racism, poverty, and war all over the globe.

The spirits of Assata and Dr. King converged in the sanctuary of Riverside Church on May 30, 2026. They both paid a price for standing up against the imperialist actions of the U.S. government. Cuba has held fast to its sovereignty. It is paying a price for fighting for its fierce determination and working in solidarity with other peoples, including Black liberation in the U.S.

Cuba kept Assata safe from the clutches of the U.S for over four decades. Those of us in the belly of the beast must fight against any U.S. military action against Cuba. Yes, it’s time for the big payback.