George Jackson, a revolutionary hero who changed the world from a segregation cell. He was assasinated in 1971 by the prison guards of Soledad State Prison. The official story is that he was killed in an escape attempt after Stephen Bingham, a white socialist attorney from a rich family, smuggled in a gun during a visit with Jackson. They have never produced evidence to support their story, but they don't have to.

GEORGE JACKSON: You didn’t bring it, did you?
STEPHEN BINGHAM: I did. It’s hidden in the tape recorder. This is the day you will taste freedom. Do you remember what it's like to breathe outside air?
JACKSON: You stupid fucking idiot. I don't know you—I didn’t ask for this. Do you know what it's like in here? They’re waiting to kill me, looking for any excuse to put a bullet down my throat. And now you want me to wave a gun in their face?
BINGHAM: It's a fucking tyranny; they've had you too long. It's time. You just said it—you have to get out of here before they kill you. There's a car waiting out front, and a plane waiting fifteen minutes out in the country. You'll be in Cuba this afternoon.
JACKSON: I didn't ask for this. I don’t need your help, white devil, and I don’t trust your white face. I don’t need you; I’ve been in this cage since I was fourteen, most of the time alone in seg. And now, I've made them afraid, I’ve spoken out, they know they can’t control me. I embarrass them. And so they can’t wait to kill me, they'll take any excuse. I know the psychology of these pigs, and I have power over them, and I scare them. But as soon as I wave a goddamn gun in their face, they’ll kill me.
BINGHAM: I didn't do this for me, I didn’t do it for you even. I'm talking about the movement, here, the revolution.
JACKSON: Fuck you! Look at your skin, man, you can't hide from yourself. If the revolution came, you'd be killed, you have no idea what it is to be a black man in America? you ever been in prison? Come on, you ever been in prison?
BINGHAM: I've seen lots of prisons, I'm an attorney.
JACKSON: You're a parasite. You make your living off these hellholes, just like these guards. You think you're a revolutionary? You're trendy, you think you’re cool. I can see you in some fucking college bar spouting socialist rhetoric, talking about the revolution, to some blonde girl, and I'm sitting on a hard cot in segregation. You're a fucking parasite living on the black man's back.
BINGHAM: I gave up everything for the revolution, man. I can't help how I was born—I'm white, it's not my fucking fault. But every day since then, I’ve been working to break the system, to bust you out of here, and all my other brothers, too. My father disowned me for my politics, you know? And now I'm trying to support myself as a public defender, scraping by. And here, today, look at what I've done for you. I've given you my life right here. And I don't know you. I read your books, but I don't know you, and I’ve given up my life for you. Do you want this gun? This is your moment of decision. Don’t put it on me.
JACKSON: You're a tool. Give it to me...Now, you best get the fuck out of here. Head for the border. Maybe I'll see you in Cuba.

GUARD! I'm taking control here now, give me your weapon!

   [ POSTED BY Jed @ 7:53 PM ] [ ]