I Am Maroon - The True Story of an American Political Prisoner

A cinematic memoir of justice and redemption that traces one man's tumultuous life from gang member to Black liberation leader to political prisoner.   Russell Shoatz was a gang member in inner Philadelphia starting at age 11. But at 23, after hearing Malcolm X speak, his life changed course. Shoatz would become a lifelong crusader for justice, a soldier in the most militant units of the Black Liberation Army, and a community organizer who was constantly brushing up against the notorious Frank Rizzo and his police commandos in Philly.
As the struggle for self-determination among Black communities intensified, Shoatz was convicted to life in prison following a coordinated attack on a park police station that left one guard dead.   The prison walls, however, could not deter Shoatz's battle for personal and collective freedom. He escaped state prisons twice, making him a living legend, and endowed him with the moniker "Maroon, " once used to honor runaway slaves from plantations.
He survived 22 years in solitary confinement, prompting an international campaign for his freedom.    I Am Maroon charts a life of dizzying intrigue and long struggle for liberation. With an unforgettable voice, Maroon reminds us that we too are capable of radical change, leaving us a blueprint for how we might dedicate our lives and minds to the ongoing fight for freedom.