A review by yourbookishbff
We Do This 'til We Free Us: Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice by Mariame Kaba

challenging hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This is an excellent collection of essays, interviews and other materials detailing the work and philosophy of Mariame Kaba, prison abolitionist and Chicago-based community organizer. Her decision to document her work and to record her name in history is a powerful one, and I'm grateful for her time and generosity in making this collection. It's a powerful reminder that organizers like Kaba have been at work for years, through every presidential administration and shift in public discourse and attention, that they are there long after network cameras leave. Kaba's reflections on individual campaigns were humbling, as I recall media attention for each, but did not know the resolution to many of them (a reminder of my privilege in being only selectively aware). I also really appreciated her efforts to define and contextualize the abolitionist movement and mindset, her push to examine our assumptions about feelings of "safety" and "security," and her reminders that the movement is weakened when it is diluted into prison and police "reform." I highly recommend this as a starting point for anyone interested in learning more about abolitionist movements.

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