Humanizing the Struggle: Political Prisoners, Revolutionary Social Work, & the New Afrikan Movement

“This is about the human family.”In Episode 28 of the Revolutionary Social Work Podcast, hosts Professor Ace and Alicia Stettler sit down with Haki Kweli Shakur, a revolutionary, activist, and historian committed to the liberation of New Afrikan people and the fight for political prisoners.Haki unpacks the case of Shaka Shakur, speaks to the lived reality of solitary confinement, and examines how counterintelligence, capitalist housing policy, and systemic neglect continue to erode our communities. With grounded historical knowledge and unapologetic clarity, Haki reminds us that revolution begins in the mind—and that social work must be part of the liberation struggle.Together, we explore:The role of social workers in fighting for political prisonersThe psychological warfare of incarcerationThe impact of surveillance tech on movementsYouth disconnection in a hyper-connected worldHousing as a human right—not a commodityThe legacy of H. Rap Brown, Mumia Abu Jamal, John Africa, and the MOVE familyAbout our guest:Haki Kweli Shakur is a Conscious New Afrikan citizen, Revolutionary Nationalist, and historian. He serves as National Spokesman and Minister of Information for the August Third Collective (ATC), a formation within the New Afrikan Independence Movement (NAIM) founded by Comrade Sanyika Shakur and NAPLA political prisoners. Based in Richmond, VA, Haki organizes in the Nat Turner-Gabriel Prosser district and supports political prisoners through the Virginia Shaka Shakur Freedom Campaign. His organizing has intersected with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, George Jackson University, Richmond Jericho, and the New Afrikan Liberation Collective.

🔗 Websites and Links Mentioned

Support for Jamil Al-Amin (H. Rap Brown) and compassionate release efforts:
https://whathappened2rap.com📧 Contact:To connect, email: RevolutionarySocialWork@gmail.com🌐 Visit: https://revolutionarysocialwork.com⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Introduction and Context of Political Prisoners03:30 – The Legacy of Political Prisoners06:29 – Shaka Shakur: A Case Study09:14 – The Struggles of Political Prisoners12:03 – Advocacy and Awareness for Shaka Shakur15:03 – Psychological Warfare in Prisons17:36 – The Impact of Solitary Confinement20:49 – The Modern-Day Counterintelligence Program23:46 – Desensitization and the Need for Empathy31:07 – Unity in Historical Movements32:04 – The Impact of Modern Technology on Movements33:46 – Counterintelligence and Psychological Warfare35:58 – The Role of Youth in Activism38:21 – Social Media's Influence on Youth42:09 – The Music Industry and Activism44:59 – The Dangers of Individualistic Leadership47:03 – Housing as a Human Right54:18 – The Importance of Social Work in Movements55:18 – The Role of Government in Social Work56:14 – Revolutionary Social Work: A Call to Action59:11 – Self-Reflection in Social Work01:01:04 – The Importance of Continuous Learning01:05:06 – Political Prisoners and Their Legacy01:15:22 – The Legacy of John Africa and Holistic Healing01:16:33 – Political Prisoners and the Fight for Justice01:17:24 – Updates on Jamil Alameen and H-Rap Brown01:19:18 – The Injustice of the Legal System01:21:23 – The Impact of Islam on Political Activism01:22:25 – Community Empowerment and Self-Sufficiency01:22:47 – Revolutionary Social Work and Historical Awareness01:28:12 – Purpose and Liberation in the New Afrikan Movement01:31:24 – Humanizing the Struggle for Freedom