Ujima Wednesdays | Stories of Fugitivity with Kazi Toure

Liberation Study Hall: 

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Schools of 1964, the Boston Ujima Project proudly presents "Liberation Study Hall," a year-long exploration of historical figures, schools of thought, experiments and sites that have contributed to shaping our contemporary movements and global landscape.

Event Description:

“Fugitivity… is a desire for and a spirit of escape and transgression of the proper and the proposed. It’s a desire for the outside, for a playing or being outside, an outlaw edge proper to the now always already improper voice or instrument.”–Fred Moten

In current discourse, a growing body of narratives has emerged concerning fugitivity and marronage: the actions, organizing, and placemaking we undertake from the shadows, margins, and crevices to free ourselves. Such work is a reclamation of self for Black people and Black communities outside of nation-states that deny us agency. 

These narratives frequently refer to escape from racial violence pre-emancipation: scholars and cultural critics frame these concepts in the past tense. Yet there is a present and ongoing legacy of fugitive practices within education, cooperative infrastructures, migration, and abolition.

In this series of workshops, we will explore the concept of fugitivity and its intricate relationship with Blackness, liberation, and economic justice. From independent Black placemaking (marronage) and Black self-sustaining communities (maroons), to political prisoner movements, to poetics and planning, we hope to gain insight into recent historical events and current practices of fugitivity and marronage. We will focus on sites of transformation, mobility, and possibility, and we will examine these practices through the lens of fugitivity–a tool for envisioning and creating new worlds from “the outside”.

“I have believed in my convictions and have been convicted for my beliefs, conned by the constitution, beat up and harassed by the police.”–Kazi Toure  

Kazi Ajagun Toure, a former Black Panther and past political prisoner incarcerated for liberatory work, will speak with our membership in the third workshop of this series. We will have an engaging discussion to explore the under-told stories of those who dared to defy injustice, and we hope to gain insights into the complexities of fugitivity and the enduring pursuit of liberation. 

Kazi’s work with the United Freedom Front–an armed clandestine unit that carried out several actions against U.S. imperialism in El Salvador, Puerto Rico, So. Afrika, and right here in Boston–inspires and shapes our imaginations of what is possible through principled practice. 

Join us to hear Kazi share his experiences of underground resistance and political struggle, at home and abroad, and to think about avenues for future struggle against state apparatuses and repressive regimes.

Facilitator Bio:

Kazi Ajagun Toure, also known as Chris King, originated from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, but his life's trajectory was deeply intertwined with the tumultuous currents of social activism. Graduating high school in 1969, he pursued education at Laney Community College in Oakland, California, where he gravitated towards the Black Panther Party's ideals, immersing himself in its teachings and activities. Encountering the harsh realities of systemic injustice, Toure, identifying as a New Afrikan, became a staunch advocate for equality and liberation. His journey intersected with brushes with the law, including arrests for firearm possession and alleged involvement with the United Freedom Front, resulting in incarcerations. Released in 1991, Toure redirected his energies towards advocating for change, collaborating with abolitionists and engaging in diverse initiatives; from combatting racism in South Africa to exploring mycology, he seeks to fostering community healing and transformation.

In Person Attendees:

Testing: You must test before every in person/hybrid event, and show evidence of your most recent test results upon entry. 

Mask Requirements: We encourage all attendees to wear masks during the event.

Health Check: If you're feeling unwell or have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, we kindly ask you to stay home and join us virtually.

Sanitization: Hand sanitizing stations will be available at the venue, along with masks and a restricted supply of COVID-19tests. We strongly encourage you to use them as needed. 

Allergies: Refreshments will be served, please include any allergies and dietary restrictions in the provided space.

Note: Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot for this enlightening workshop. For inquiries and more information, please contact comms@ujimaboston.com.