Why does the author change her name from JoAnne to Assata? What does her new name mean? How does this name suit her personality and her lifestyle? Would she encourage others to change their names? Why or why not? Would you change your name? Why or why not?

Describe Assata's experiences in the segregated south. How did these experiences affect her throughout her life? Does she believe the north is any better than the south? Why or why not? Where might she feel the most free, within the U.S.? Why? Do you feel free where you live? Why or why not?

How are revolutionaries and other minorities are framed for various crimes? Why are they framed? What does this reveal about law enforcement in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s? Are you surprised by the information Assata gives in this book...