

George Jackson’s “Blood in my eye:” A critical appraisal
Mar 8, 2022
George L. Jackson, convicted of armed robbery, discusses his book 'Blood in My Eye' which critiques the US state. Topics include his background, political radicalization in prison, rejection of electoral politics, embrace of guerrilla warfare, and analysis of fascism, settler colonialism, slavery, and the prison industrial complex.
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Jackson's Conviction
- George Jackson was convicted of armed robbery in 1961 for allegedly stealing $70.
- He received a one-year-to-life sentence despite his attorney's assurances of a favorable plea deal.
Prison Radicalization
- Jackson's political radicalization happened in prison, a common occurrence during the era's liberation movements.
- Howard Zinn highlights this phenomenon of ordinary criminals becoming politically awakened while incarcerated.
Crisis in the Black Community
- Several factors contributed to the Black community's crisis in the 1960s and 70s.
- These included the unfulfilled promises of the Civil Rights Movement and the rise of mass incarceration.