CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION:HOW I BECAME A POLICE ABOLITIONIST
1: WHAT JUSTICE?
2: FIRST WE WERE FREE
3: RESISTANCE AND REFORM
4: LOVE AND ABOLITION
5: JUSTICE FOR THE LIVING
6: SEX, LOVE, AND VIOLENCE
7: DEHUMANIZATION, DISABILITY, AND RESISTANCE
8: “WE ONLY WANT THE EARTH”
CONCLUSION
ENDNOTES
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Derecka Purnell is a human rights lawyer, writer, and organizer. She received her JD from Harvard Law School, and works to end police and prison violence by providing legal assistance, research, and training to community-based organizations through an abolitionist framework. Her work and writing has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, The Atlantic, Boston Review, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, The Appeal, Truthout, Slate, and many other publications. Derecka is currently a columnist at The Guardian, a Margaret Burroughs Fellow for the Social Justice Initiative's Portal Project at the University of Illinois-Chicago, and a Scholar-in-Residence at Columbia Law School.
"Becoming Abolitionists by Derecka Purnell, blew me away with its
compassion, introspection, research, stories and clear sighted case
for abolishing our criminal punishment system and radically
reconstructing our society to address the root causes of harm and
violence."
—Ibram X. Kendi, bestselling author of How To Be An Antiracist
"Wherever we are on our abolitionist journey—whether an experienced
organizer or freshly on the path—there is something to take away
from Purnell’s powerful story, even something as intangible as
hope."
—Sophia Ramirez, PEN America
"An enlightening and inspiring book about a bold idea with great
potential to change society."
—Seattle Book Review
"Becoming Abolitionists provides a blueprint for each of us to
begin to run, dream, and experiment toward a just and livable
future."
—The Nation
“This book will open up your sociopolitical imagination and leave
you optimistic about what is possible when we commit to safety for
all.”
—Brea Baker, Elle.com
"An informed, provocative, astute consideration of salvific
alternatives to contemporary policing and imprisonment."
—Starred Review, Kirkus
"Part memoir, part essay, and part argument, Becoming Abolitionists
is an organizing tool itself, inviting in skeptics and offering a
bridge to committed activists in other movements."
—Lyra Walsh Fuchs, Dissent
"Far from avoiding the tough questions, Purnell dives in headfirst.
Drawing from history, she deftly connects the roots of violence to
the racial and economic hierarchies police are charged with
maintaining, arguing that precarity cannot be eradicated by the
people who are paid to protect it. Becoming Abolitionists is
ultimately about the importance of asking questions and our ability
to create answers. And in the end, Purnell makes it clear that
abolition is a labor of love—one that we can accomplish together if
only we decide to."
—Nia Evans, Boston Review
"Drawing upon a Black radical tradition of social movements,
Becoming Abolitionists reveals the power of self-study, collective
political education, and resistance to reform efforts to inspire a
new generation of activists. Purnell offers a persuasive and warm
invitation to us all to deliver on the promise
and potential of abolition."
—Aida Mariam Davis, Stanford Social Innovation Review
"[Purnell] draws convincing parallels between the past and the
present to demonstrate that today’s policing systems are vestiges
of this oppressive framework ... She is in such command of her
material [that] even if you disagree with her, you are
compelled to listen."
—The Guardian (UK)
"Through deft historical research, political analysis, and gutting
prose, the book uses a variety of approaches to map Purnell’s
complex and fulfilling political evolution."
—The Cut
"Part memoir, part political and social commentary, the St. Louis
native’s genre-bending book demonstrates her road to adopting
abolitionist politics and makes the argument for why the new
abolitionism — the push to end prisons and policing in the United
States — ought to be the future of the country."
—Kovie Biakolo, Essence
"Blending trenchant social critique with intimate stories from her
own upbringing, Purnell’s text marks a necessary installment in the
larger tradition of abolitionist writing."
—Dean Spade, them.us
"Bold and utopian, yet grounded in Purnell’s experiences and
copious evidence of how reform efforts have fallen short, this is
an inspiring introduction to a hot-button topic."
—Publishers Weekly
"Packed with glimmering moments of poetic clarity and power.
Purnell has gifted us a book that is engaging, textually rich,
clear in voice, driven, even paced, astutely researched, necessary
and damn good. A must read."
—Darnell Moore, author of No Ashes in the Fire
"[For Derecka], abolition isn’t just about taking away the
institutions that give people an illusion that everyone is being
kept safe when they’re actually not – it’s about building new
structures that remove the need for these violent and oppressive
systems to begin with."
—Tayo Bero, The Guardian
"Becoming Abolitionists received a starred Kirkus review for its
insight into the problematic nature of policing, including
constitutional policing—that which upholds the U.S. Constitution
and individual civil rights. Purnell highlights her evolution from
cop-caller to abolitionist and dissects the violence in policing
culture."
—Nia Norris, Kirkus Reviews
"While her narrative is densely fact-packed throughout, Purnell is
able to deftly lead the reader through the ins and outs of the
abolitionist mindset so that it is clear and comprehensible for
all, including those who, like her, might be initially
skeptical."
—Booklist
"It's been amazing having you here, and your book is twice as
amazing as the conversation because you can have it for so much
longer."
—Trevor Noah, The Daily Show
"With deep insight and moral clarity, Purnell shares her
compelling journey of political education and personal
transformation, inviting us not only to imagine a world
without police, but to muster the courage to fight for the more
just world we know is possible. Becoming Abolitionists is essential
reading for our times."
—Michelle Alexander, bestselling author of The New Jim Crow
"Becoming Abolitionists is part memoir & part manifesto for our
times. Beautifully written, the book takes the reader on a personal
journey from the Midwest to South Africa with a pit stop in New
England. As a member of the ‘Trayvon Generation,’ Derecka offers us
invaluable insights into how young activists are navigating and
challenging current injustices. If you’ve been curious about
the modern abolitionist movement, this book is a must read!"
—Mariame Kaba, bestselling author of We Do This Til We Free Us
"At once specific and sweeping, practical and visionary, Becoming
Abolitionists is a triumph of political imagination and a
tremendous gift to all movements struggling towards
liberation. Do not miss its brilliance!"
—Naomi Klein, bestselling author of The Shock Doctrine and This
Changes Everything
"Derecka Purnell has one of the most exciting minds of a
generation, and Becoming Abolitionists gives us all an excuse to
praise her. This book is an explosion of deep intellect
matched with great love, showing a journey toward radical politics
that embraces the messiness. Derecka does not expect we all wake up
and become abolitionists immediately--it didn't happen that way for
her--but by showing both her intellectual and emotional path toward
abolitionist thinking, she provides a roadmap that is also
compassionate to those moving in a slower lane. But with an
argument rooted in history, criticism guided by deep care, and
writing that pulses with urgency, Becoming Abolitionists will
convince you that is exactly what we all need to do before you even
put the book down."
—Mychal Denzel Smith, bestselling author of Invisible Man Got The
Whole World Watching and Stakes Is High
"Derecka Purnell's writing is freeing and draws you. Becoming
Abolitionists is a beautiful invitation to understand what is
possible if we commit to unlearning our dependence on police and
address the underlying injustices that cause harm in our
communities. This is the book we have been waiting for and
knew we needed to advance abolitionist efforts. Purnell is the
abolitionist writer of her generation."
—Bettina Love, author of Abolitionist Teaching
"One of the most perceptive and passionate thinkers of any
generation, Derecka Purnell, has written a genuinely revolutionary
text for our times—one that resists easy answers or solutions and
never shies from the hard questions. She proves that abolition is
not an event or a utopian dreamstate, but rather a journey of
assembly struggling to create new worlds of freedom as we fight the
unfree world we inhabit. Beautifully written, passionate,
honest, Becoming Abolitionists charts a journey we all must take if
we plan to survive, let alone live together."
—Robin D.G. Kelley, author of Freedom Dreams: The Black Radical
Imagination
“With the elegant prose of a gifted storyteller, the acumen of a
seasoned organizer, and the sharp-edged wit of a radical legal
scholar, Purnell takes us on the powerful journey to police
abolition in her new book, Becoming Abolitionists. It is a
must read for anyone serious about understanding this moment, and
the ongoing Black freedom movement.”
—Barbara Ransby author of Ella Baker and the Black Freedom
Movement
"In this moving and mind-expanding meditation on the nature and
possibility of justice, Derecka Purnell—a self-professed member of
the 'Trayvon generation'—traces her personal journey from her
hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri to the frontlines of a global
movement against racism and police brutality. A true philosopher,
Purnell gleans wisdom at every opportunity, studying and struggling
whether she’s in a law school seminar or protesting in the street,
in a courtroom defending a client or visiting a nail salon. Being
radical, this wonderful book reminds us, doesn’t mean having all of
the answers—it means constantly questioning, listening, learning,
and being willing to reassess and grow. Becoming
Abolitionists brilliantly lays out the connections between policing
and other forms of oppression and shows why even well-meaning
“reforms” won’t get us where we need to go. This profound,
urgent, beautiful, and necessary book is an invitation to imagine
and organize for a less violent and more liberatory world. Everyone
should read it."
—Astra Taylor, author of Democracy May Not Exist but We’ll Miss It
When It’s Gone
"For those skeptics of abolition, this brilliant, revolutionary
book will take you on a breathtaking journey to the
other side. As Derecka makes clear, abolition is not just
about firing cops and closing prisons; it’s about
eliminating the reasons people think they need them. If
you read any book this year – read this. It's a radiant and
practical blueprint for the new world."
—V (formerly Eve Ensler) author of The Vagina Monologues and
The Apology
"Becoming Abolitionists is a vital resource for anyone
committed to the struggle for social justice, written by one of the
sharpest and most inspiring voices to emerge in a
generation. Taking readers on a journey from her childhood in
St. Louis to the protests in Ferguson, the halls of Harvard, the
streets of Soweto and beyond, Derecka Purnell’s heart-rendering
analysis gives us the tools to envision a new society with endless
possibilities. Even more, Purnell’s extraordinary blend of personal
memoir, history, and critical theory provides a roadmap to build a
safer and more just world. Like the Autobiography of
Angela Davis, Becoming Abolitionists is sure to remain an essential
text for decades to come."
—Elizabeth Hinton, author of America on Fire and From the War on
Poverty to the War on Crime
"An extraordinary, wonderful, insightful, and immensely generative
book that makes the case for abolitionist thinking, amplifying
the self-activity of the masses already in motion, and at the same
time providing a thoroughly absorbing and captivating description
of the author's own journey. Rather than encouraging each of us to
brand ourselves as radical, Purnell points us toward the
collaborative acts of co-creation and accompaniment that can make
revolutionary change possible. She incorporates decoloniality,
feminism, Indigeneity, environmental justice, and disability
activism organically into her critiques and solutions. One of
the most exciting, inspiring, and enlightening books I have read in
a long time."
—George Lipsitz, author of The Possessive Investment in
Whiteness
"Derecka's book provides a front row seat to how a generation of
young people have been radicalized by a series of contradictions
living within the heart of global empire: the United States. She
explains, with powerful stories and brilliant
analysis, how she has committed herself to abolition in the
context of ongoing collective study and struggle. The abolition she
discusses is anti-capitalist and anti-colonialist, committed to
racial, economic, and gender justice. A call to not simply
tear down prisons and police, but to build a society where our
collective needs prevail over profit and punishment. This book
is more than a front row seat, it is an invitation to join the
most important movement of our time."
—Amna Akbar, Professor of Law, The Ohio State University
"Purnell is undoubtedly one of the most important writers and
activists of our generation, offering us a vivid, moving and
compelling book for anyone interested in one of the most urgent
issues of our times. Purnell weaves experiences of racism and
resistance to articulate a blistering critique of racial
capitalism, state power and imperialism, taking readers on a
journey towards the radical alternatives to police and prisons
which have shaped Black political movements in the 21st
century."
—Adam Elliott-Cooper, author of Black Resistance to British
Policing
"At once an account of the life and education of an already
extraordinary young life and a sharp and searching effort to remake
our society in the image of abolition democracy and the movement
that began in Ferguson, this book is, in the end, more than a
book. It is an act of radical love."
—Walter Johnson, award-winning author of The Broken Heart of
America and Soul By Soul
"Becoming Abolitionists is a wise and passionate argument for the
urgency of first responders without guns. Purnell takes on the
hardest questions with analytical rigor and common sense. This
is abolition for the people."
—Paul Butler, MSNBC Legal Analyst and Author, Chokehold: Policing
Black Men
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