read becoming abolitionists by derecka purnell

Purnell, however, does not believe her own political labels are a prerequisite for practicing these ideals. 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. Part memoir, part political and social commentary, the St. The story also exemplifies her approach in Becoming Abolitionists, documenting and tying together personal and political recollections and events that have shaped her worldview. This minor but revealing incident illustrates how poor people are treated in American systems, especially its legal systems, according to Purnell. Later, Purnell’s mother explained to her that because she was part of the free lunch program, the lunch lady had decided that she was “unworthy of chocolate milk” and attempted to deny her of it. To her surprise, a teacher intervened and told her she did not have to pay.

Pernell deduced that because a peer had been allowed to obtain the coveted drink after giving this beverage gatekeeper some money, she could do the same when she brought a few coins the next day.

Early into her debut book Becoming Abolitionists, the lawyer and organizer tells the story of a lunch lady who denied her attempt at taking chocolate milk from the cafeteria provisions one day. Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of FreedomĪs a child, Derecka Purnell’s first memorable encounter with redressing injustice on her own behalf was in kindergarten.

Read becoming abolitionists by derecka purnell