Black August

George Jackson, 18, was sentenced in 1960 to a one-year-to-life term for a $70 gas-station robbery. He would spend eleven years incarcerated, including seven years in solitary confinement. The sentence placed him in California's prison system at a young age.

Over the following years, Jackson endured extended confinement as part of the broader California prison system. He spent about 11 years behind bars, with seven of those years in solitary. The film uses his experience to illustrate the harsh realities of prison life and the industrial complex.

As a prison organizer, Jackson was recruited by Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton to head the People's Army, a precursor to the Black Guerrilla Family. The film highlights how this role connected prisoners to a broader Black liberation movement. His activities helped unite prison protests and outside support.

The Soledad Brothers case centers on George Jackson, Fleeta Drumgo, and John Cluchette, accused of killing a Soledad prison guard after a fight on the yard. The film notes the broader tensions at Soledad State Prison and the climate of retaliation and protest. Their indictment became a flashpoint for the prison movement.

On August 7, 1970, Jonathan Jackson, age 17, led a hostage-taking at the Marin County Courthouse in San Rafael and was killed during the confrontation, along with three others including Superior Judge Harold Haley. The incident drew nationwide attention and intensified scrutiny of the justice system and the prison movement. The event became a focal point for the era's radical activism.

The events tied Angela Davis to the case, as authorities pursued charges related to the courthouse takeover and the broader network. The film emphasizes suspected conspiracies and the connection to the Black Panther movement. Davis would later be captured, tried, and acquitted.

George Jackson was accused of smuggling a 9mm pistol and extra clips into the San Quentin cellblock, hidden under an Afro wig, during a prison visit by attorney Stephen Bingham. The investigation continued for years, and Bingham would eventually leave the country and face charges much later. The episode underscores the clandestine nature of the case and lingering suspicions.

Attorney Stephen Bingham would leave the country amid the investigation and would not return to face charges for years. He would eventually be acquitted, according to the summary. The episode highlights the international dimension of the legal fallout surrounding the events.

On August 21, 1971, George Jackson and five others were killed during a prison break attempt at San Quentin State Prison. The incident sparked a nationwide manhunt and intensified scrutiny of the prison system and the broader Black liberation movement. The film frames this violence as part of the ongoing clashes between inmates and authorities.

Following the courthouse events, Angela Davis was captured, stood trial, and was ultimately acquitted. The film places her case within the wider movement and the debates over weapon possession, conspiracy, and political influence. Her acquittal became a notable moment in public perception of the movement.

The film reflects on the late-1960s and early-1970s prison movement and the Black Panther Party's influence in organizing both outside communities and inside prisons. It discusses how activism intersected with demands for prison reform. The narrative connects George Jackson's case to a broader national conversation.

The film closes by noting that some individuals possibly involved in the August 21 events were never questioned. It emphasizes the murky, conspiratorial atmosphere surrounding the incidents. The summary underscores the ongoing impact on families and communities affected by the violence.