My Namesake, Assata Shakur:

Carrying Forward Liberation Through Medical Illustration

This week, we mark the passing of Assata Shakur — a revolutionary, a survivor, and a voice of Black liberation. For me, her loss feels deeply personal: I am her namesake. My parents named me after her because they believed in her strength, courage, and vision for a freer world.

Remembering Assata Shakur: A Legacy of Black Liberation

Assata Shakur’s life was a testament to resilience and resistance. From her early involvement with the Black Panther Party to her work with the Black Liberation Army, she fought tirelessly against systemic racism and police brutality.

Even after imprisonment and exile, she remained a symbol of resistance, finding political asylum in Cuba and continuing to advocate for freedom and justice.

Her Words, Our Call to Action

Assata’s words continue to inspire:

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.

It is our duty to win.

We must love each other and support each other.

We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

And another quote resonates with me as both personal motivation and professional purpose:

“Nobody in the world, nobody in history, has ever gotten their freedom by appealing to the moral sense of the people who are oppressing them.”

These are not just statements of resistance — they are a blueprint for action. Liberation requires courage, love, and persistence.

Liberation Through Inclusive Medical Illustration

While my work may look very different from Assata’s activism, I believe it aligns with her mission. As a medical illustrator, I focus on creating educational resources that center marginalized communities — communities too often left out of healthcare communication.

Medical illustration becomes a form of liberation when it empowers people to take ownership of their health. When patients see themselves reflected in imagery, it builds trust. When resources are culturally sensitive, it gives people the knowledge and confidence to advocate for themselves and their families.

Being a Namesake: Continuing the Work

Being named after Assata Shakur carries responsibility. She did the heavy lifting for future generations, creating space for people like me to do our work today. Yet, her passing reminds us that the work toward equity and equality continues.

Through my illustrations — whether highlighting diverse skin tones in maternal health education or showing children of color in vaccine awareness campaigns — I strive to carry her lessons forward. This work is about dignity, representation, and empowerment.

Representation Matters: Examples from My Work

In practice, inclusive medical illustration can look like:

• Maternal health lookbooks featuring diverse skin tones – case study
• Disease Illustrations showing stages of diseases such as mpox – article
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) illustrations designed to educate without bias, fostering trust and accessibility – animations of mumps, measles, and rubella

These projects are small acts of liberation, giving people access to knowledge and the ability to act on it.