Notes from an Abolitionist: The Reasons We Struggle to Be Free

(Hardback)

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A groundbreaking investigation into the insidious ways that white supremacy compromises mainstream criminal justice reform movements, from the award-winning, formerly incarcerated activist and Soros Justice Fellow

Despite reform efforts that have grown in size and intensity over the last two decades, the machine of American mass incarceration continues to flourish. After spending more than twenty years in prison, formerly incarcerated activist, essayist, and organizer Emile DeWeaver believes the root of the problem is white supremacy. During his time in prison, DeWeaver covertly organized to pass legislation impacting juveniles in Californias criminal legal system; was a culture writer for Easy Street Magazine; and co-founded Prison Renaissance, an organization centering incarcerated voices and creating new models of incarcerated leadership. His sentence was ultimately commuted by Californias governor due to his community work.

In Notes from an Abolitionist, DeWeaver draws on these experiences and more from his own life story to critique the central premise of parole boards and prisoner rehabilitation programs as fundamentally re-entrenching white supremacist ideas. He argues that these programs demand self-abnegation of individuals while ignoring the role of structural oppression.

With lucid, urgent prose, DeWeaver intervenes in contemporary debates on the criminal legal system with his eye-opening discussion on the tools we need to end white supremacy. For readers of Susan Burton and Derecka Purnell, Notes from an Abolitionist adds a sharp and unique perspective to the growing discourse on abolition and white supremacy.

Author Bio

Emile Suotonye DeWeaver is a formerly incarcerated activist, widely published essayist, owner of Re:Frame LLC, and a 2022 Soros Justice Fellow. Californias Governor Brown commuted his life sentence after twenty-one years for his community work. He has written for publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Jose Mercury News, Colorlines, The Appeal, The Rumpus, and Seventh Wave. He lives in Oakland, California.