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Lock My Body, Can’t Trap My Mind: A Study of the Scholarship and Social Movements Surrounding the Case of Imprisoned Radical Mumia Abu-Jamal DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment for the Degree Ph.D in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Jennifer Black Graduate Program in Comparative Studies 2012 Committee: Dr. Maurice Stevens, Advisor Dr. James Upton Dr. Anthonia Kalu Copyright by Jennifer Black 2012 Abstract In the thirty years since a death sentence was imposed on Black journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal, formations of civil support have organized along the lines of a social movement referred to as the “Free Mumia” movement. The movements which coalesce on his behalf are international in scope and have become foundations upon which to pitch battles for broader issues of economic and racial justice. Notwithstanding imprisonment, Abu-Jamal has continued his work of advocacy journalism in the form of political commentaries, broadcasted essays and published works. This outpouring of social commentary and academic production provides substance for the movement on his behalf and contributes to the bank of Black political thought. Yet for all the attention Abu-Jamal’s case has provoked, and despite the movements which unite on his behalf, the Free Mumia movement, and the role of Abu- Jamal’s scholarship remain understudied phenomenon. By using the reflections and experiences of thirteen individuals who have participated on campaigns for his freedom, this project identifies the trajectory of Abu-Jamal’s scholarship and explores the relationship between his academic production and the movements on his behalf. It establishes him as an imprisoned radical intellectual whose voice contributes ii substantively to the formation of our era’s Black radical scholarship and it establishes the Free Mumia movement as a broad based international movement that advances a twin agenda of economic and racial justice. iii I dedicate this project to mighty, mighty Mumia for his outstanding accomplishments, resolute commitment, steadfast courage, maturity, loyalty, resilience, generosity, and brilliance. He has kept the faith, carried the torch, and he provides an astonishing example of how to maintain dignity, humanity and even a sense of humor in the face of terrorism and viciousness. I dedicate this to Mumia Abu-Jamal because he has never sold out, or compromised his beliefs, and he always sticks up for what he believes is right. I am grateful to be sharing this historical epoch with him. iv Acknowledgements The amount of encouragement and assistance I have received in the process of completing this project is vast. Debts accrued can never be fully paid, but should be recognized. I thank my parents John and Bernice Black. John Black (Presente) loved Mumia and his own life was a shining example of revolutionary fortitude. John was instrumental in the formation of State College’s Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal. He was persistent and prescient with the foresight to recognize who Mumia was. He showed me how to organize, and was the first person to teach me about Joe Hill, Sacco & Vanzetti, and Mumia. Everybody knows that clever Bernice is the source of everything good. My unwavering ally she is also a terrific role model. Bernice completed her doctoral work with three times as many kids, in half the time, and a lot less complaining. Commenting on the two of them Mumia once reminded me that I have an exemplary intellectual tradition on which to draw from. My oldest brother Mark did not live to see the completion of this project, but he consistently programmed me to attend Ohio State University, until unbelievably I obeyed. Other brother, Douglass, helped a lot when he gave me a brand new Dell lap top! Thanks to Andy, Monica, Nataki, Karry, Frank, Gareth, Walidah, Roderick, Jeff, “Darryl”, Pam, Noelle and Catherine who have taught v me about solidarity, strategy, tactics, courage, and persistence. They graciously consented to be interviewed and then proceeded to gently (and also not so gently) nudge me to complete the work. Additionally I owe mountains of gratitude to all the other brave and intelligent Mumia activists I have worked with over the years, especially Caylor Roling, Alan Rausch, Tim Fasnacht, Patti Chongolola and Fred Anderson. I cannot thank my Committee enough. My first adviser, Dr. Tanya Erzen, guided this project from the beginning, and continued to believe in it down to the dirty end. An ordinary individual would have given up on me a long time ago, but she is not ordinary, she is extraordinary and for that, and for her amazing editing skills, I will always be grateful. I am not exaggerating when I say that without adviser Dr. Stevens I would not have gotten very far in the Comparative Studies Department. His presence has been wholly consistent, protective, helpful, and instructive. Dr. Upton, a steady, reliable, and supportive influence has provided continuity from the Masters program to the Ph.D., and Dr. Kalu afforded me an incredible opportunity when she hired me to teach two classes in the African American and African Studies department. Like all Comparative Studies graduate students I have benefit tremendously from the expertise, knowledge and support of Dr. Marge Lynd, our program manager. She is the hidden strength of the program and more powerful than weapons of mass destruction. Colleagues in the Comparative Studies Department also provided significant sustenance. The people responsible for my survival are: Tracy Carpenter, Melanie Maltry, Sande Garner, Carlotta Penn, RaShelle Peck, and Tanikka Price. Peace to all my sisters. My friends on the outside have been just as crucial: Catherine, Sandra, Tonya, and Natalia have each provided countless acts of kindness, distraction, comic relief, and generosity. I am grateful to my community of vi soothsayers, root workers, and magicians who aided in various ways. When my precious Dell laptop unexpectedly expired Christine Creagh and Rachel Yoder generously provided another computer so, literally, I couldn’t have written this without them. A great big shout out to Mike, Samson, Thom and the entire Upper Cup family for providing the perfect atmosphere to write in, and for serving the best coffee in C-bus. Saving the best for last, I want to thank my son Shango Black-Smith, a nursling when this graduate school adventure began; he is now a great big fair-minded boy of nine years old who loves justice. Through thick and thin he remains my greatest inspiration. Shango, may you grow up and sincerely understand the sacrifices of those who came before you. And yes, society does need more rebels, but get your education first! vii Vita 1991………………………………………B.A. Anthropology, History, Antioch College 2000………………………………………M.A. African American and African American Studies, The Ohio State University 2004 to 2010………………………………Graduate Teaching Associate, Comparative Studies, The Ohio State University Fields of Study Major Field: Comparative Studies Minor Field: African American and African Studies viii Table of Contents Abstract……………………………………………………………………………………ii Dedication……………………………………………………………………....................v Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………………..…v Vita………………………………………………………………………………………vii Introduction…………………………………………………………..…………...………1 Chapter 1: Who am I? and Whose am I?..........................................................................34 Chapter 2: At the Crossroads: Suspect, Defendant, and Prisoner………………..……...67 Chapter 3: “We Are Doing This. We Can Do This”………..………..…………...…….118 Chapter 4: The Voice, Live from Row…………..…………………………...………..169 Conclusion………………………………..……………………………..…………..….195 References…………………………………………….…………………………..……212 Appendix A: List of activists interviewed………………….……………………….…224 ix Introduction “The voice of Black Political journalism in the struggle for the liberation of African-American people has always proved to be decisive throughout Black history. From David Walker’s appeal in 1829, to the political journalism of Frederick Douglass, to the Black Panther newspaper. When you listen to Mumia you hear the echoes of David Walker, Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Robeson, and the sisters and brothers who kept the faith with resistance. And that is why Mumia is so dangerous to the state. That critique of democracy views the state, the society, not from the top down but from the bottom up. It does not ground itself to the view that reforming an unjust and inherently undemocratic system is the way to advance the interests of Black or poor people, working class people, or women” ----Manning Marable In an interview conducted in2008 by the Mexican magazine Desinformémonos, Mumia Abu-Jamal quotes the words of the great West Indian historian CLR James, “organizing begins when two people decide to work together.” They each ought to know. James, hailing from the same generation that produced other standout West Indians such as Marcus Garvey, Aimé Césaire, George Padmore, and Franz Fanon was equally a respected scholar of revolutionary history, a playwright, journalist, professor, and social movement tactician and one whose organizing efforts spanned three continents. Mumia, who has been incarcerated since 1981, the first twenty-nine years of which were spent on 1 Death Row in Pennsylvania, also dons multiple roles. He is a scholar, broadcast journalist, essayist and is known for his allegiances to militant black politics and anti- capitalist political affiliations. His life’s work has been an integration of each

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