Death Blossoms. Mumia Abu-Jamal

Death Blossoms

PRAISE FOR DEATH BLOSSOMS

“Uncompromising, disturbing . . . Abu-Jamal’s voice has the clarity and candor of a man whose impending death emboldens him to say what is on his mind without fear of consequence.”

—The Boston Globe

“Abu-Jamal’s words flow like the sap from trees, pulsing with energy and capturing the essence of life.”

—Library Journal

“Vigorous social critiques and moving essays on matters of faith . . . the flame of Abu-Jamal’s keen intellect and irrepressible soul burns brightly, illuminating each mind that opens to his wise words.”

—ALA Booklist

“A brilliant, lucid meditation on the moral obligation of political commitment by a deeply ethical—and deeply wronged—human being. Mumia should be freed, now.”

—Henry Louis Gates Jr.

“A brilliant, powerful book by a prophetic writer. Mumia refuses to allow his spirit to be broken by the forces of injustice; his language glows with an affirming flame.”

—Jonathan Kozol

“Crucial reading for all opponents of the death penalty—and for those who support it, too.”

—Katha Pollitt, The Nation

“If Mumia Abu-Jamal has nothing important to say, why are so many powerful people trying to kill him and shut him up? Read him.”

—John Edgar Wideman

“For years in my classrooms I have watched Death Blossoms do its luminous work. It has awakened the conscience of so many of my student readers. Once awakened they begin to shoulder the disciplines of a revolutionary knowing, its moral passion, historical precision and clarity of reason. No wonder repressive powers seek death for this prisoner of conscience. Alas for them, Mumia still lives. From streets to classrooms and back, Death Blossoms keeps opening up conscience, heart and mind for our revolutionary work.”

—Mark Lewis Taylor, Professor of Theology and Culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, and author of The Theological and the Political: On the Weight of the World

“Mumia Abu-Jamal has challenged us to see the prison at the center of a long history of U.S. oppression, and he has inspired us to keep faith with ordinary struggles against injustice under the most terrible odds and circumstances. Written more than two decades ago, Death Blossoms helps us to see beyond prison walls; it is as timely and as necessary as the day it was published.”

—Nikhil Pal Singh, author of Race and America’s Long War

“Targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO for his revolutionary politics, imprisoned, and sentenced to death, Mumia found freedom in resistance. His reflections here—on race, spirituality, struggle, and life—illuminate this path to freedom for us all.”

—Joshua Bloom, co-author with Waldo E. Martin Jr. of Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party

“In this revised edition of his groundbreaking work, Death Blossoms, convicted death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal tackles hard and existential questions, searching for God and a greater meaning in a caged life that may be cut short if the state has its way and takes his life. As readers follow Mumia’s journey through his poems, short essays, and longer musings, they will learn not only about this singular individual who has retained his humanity despite the ever present threat of execution, but also about themselves and our society: what we are willing to tolerate and who we are willing to cast aside. If there is any justice, Mumia will prevail in his battle for his life and for his freedom.”

—Lara Bazelon, author of Rectify: The Power of Restorative Justice After Wrongful Conviction

“For over three decades, the words of Mumia Abu-Jamal have been tools many young activists have used to connect the dots of empire, racism and resistance. The welcome reissue of Death Blossoms is a chance to reconnect with Abu-Jamal’s prophetic voice, one that needs to be heard now more than ever.”

—Hilary Moore and James Tracy, co-authors of No Fascist USA!, The John Brown Anti-Klan Committee and Lessons for Today

Open Media Series Editor: Greg Ruggiero.

Cover art by Intifada Street, “Mumia Will Prevail, Mumia Will be Free,” 2019.

Frontispiece photograph by Jennifer Beach.

The passages by Kahlil Gibran on pages 8 and 101 are excerpted from his book The Prophet. Copyright 1923 by Kahlil Gibran and renewed 1951 by Administrators C.T.A. of Kahlil Gibran Estate and Mary G. Gibran. Reprinted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Abu-Jamal, Mumia, author. | West, Cornel, writer of foreword. | Wright, Julia, 1942- writer of preface.

Title: Death blossoms : reflections from a prisoner of conscience / Mumia Abu-Jamal ; foreword by Cornel West ; preface by Julia Wright.

Description: Expanded edition. | San Francisco : City Lights Books, [2020] | Series: Open media series | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: “Profound meditations on life, death, freedom, family, and faith, written by radical Black journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal, while he was awaiting his execution”— Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2019026920 (print) | LCCN 2019026921 (ebook) | ISBN 9780872867970 (paperback) | ISBN 9780872868014 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Abu-Jamal, Mumia. | Death row inmates—United States—Biography. | African American prisoners—Biography. | Prisoners’ writings, American.

Classification: LCC HV8699.U5 A33 2020 (print) | LCC HV8699.U5 (ebook) | DDC 364.66092 [B]—dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026920

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019026921

City Lights Books are published at the City Lights Bookstore 261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133

www.citylights.com

CONTENTS

Preface to the 2020 edition by Mumia Abu-Jamal

Foreword by Cornel West

Preface by Julia Wright

To the Reader by Steve Wiser

A Write-up for Writing

Books and the State