This month we move in solidarity with Black August by hosting a special edition of Coffee & Abolition!

Education thru Zine Making - Focusing on the tenet of Discipline with the intention to learn how to organize and practice building discipline in our daily routines.

THE CALL:

Media Fast: to take a media/social media break, by choosing one app to not use for a period of time (24 hours, 3 days, 1 week, etc)

Find Our Own Stories: choose an impactful article that educates on important facts or news article from an independent source or international news outlet
- Come to Coffee & Ab and make a zine out of that article!

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Saturday, August 15th, 2026

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Afri-Soul Education Center

Free :: Everyone Welcome

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Origins of Black August:

"Black August originated in the concentration camps (prisons) of California in 1979 and its' roots come from that history of resistance by Black/New African/African brothers in those prisons. It's original and unchanging purpose is to:

Honor and commemorate the lives and deaths of several fallen Freedom Fighters, amongst them were Jonathan Jackson, George Jackson, W.L. Nolan, James McClain, William Christmas and Khatari Gaulden;
Bring unity among Black/African/New African prisoners, and education and awareness to family members, friends, associates and communities about the conditions for the Black/New Afrikan prisoners held within those concentration camps (in particular in California) and;
Educate our people about and honor the history and actions of continued resistance of Black/New Afrikan/Afrikan peoples to oppression, colonization and slavery in the U.S. and throughout the Diaspora, with particular emphasis on prisoners, political prisoners, freedom fighters and their historical acts of resistance.

In August 1979, the first official Black August took place. The brothers and political family members who participated in the collective founding of Black August wore black armbands on their left arm and studied revolutionary works, particularly those of Comrade George Jackson, many participated in the fasting for Ramadan. During the month of August the brothers did not listen to the radio or watch television, additionally, they didn't eat or drink anything from sun-up to sundown; and loud and boastful behavior was not allowed. Support for the prison's canteen was also disavowed. The use of drugs and alcoholic beverages was prohibited and the brothers held daily exercises to sharpen their minds, bodies, and spirits in honor of the collective principles of self-sacrifice, inner fortitude and revolutionary discipline needed to advance the New Afrikan struggle for self-determination and freedom. Black August therefore became a commemorative time for us to embrace the principles of communion, unity, self-sacrifice, political education, physical training and determined resistance. A select few community members joined in solidarity."

- from BLACK AUGUST: THE TRUE HISTORY, CULTURE AND PRACTICE - by Mama Ayanna Mashama

Black August Edition: Coffee & Abolition

Education thru Zine Making