Reimagining the Revolution

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These are the architects of the modern civil rights movement: 4 profiles of revolutionary groups making change beyond protest

A radically different approach to sustaining social justice movements—4 strategies for abolition and liberation from the new architects of the modern civil rights movement

Many of us think, I don’t support the police. But what should take their place? Or: Prisons don’t keep us safe. But what new systems could?

A lot of books about racial justice ask us how we got here, but Reimagining the Revolution is different: award-winning journalist and activist Paula Lehman-Ewing presents an inside-access look at the activists redefining where we go from here. Readers will hear from:

• Ivan Kilgore, an incarcerated activist who founded the 501c3 nonprofit United Black Family Scholarship Foundation from behind prison walls
• Critical Resistance, one of the oldest grassroots organizations in the nation working to dismantle the prison-industrial complex
• The co-founders of Greenwood, a Black-owned financial technology institution designed specifically for Black and Latino people and businesses: Michael Render, aka Killer Mike, Amb. Andrew Young and Ryan Glover
• Incarcerated activist Heshima Denham on his grassroots efforts to build a society for Black and Brown people independent of the state 
• The Movement for Black Lives, the Alliance for Safety and Justice, BYP 100, and 8toAbolition
• Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated artists using art to heal from trauma, connect with other incarcerated people, and amplify abolitionist change

Lehman-Ewing frames each profile within two fundamental truths: The current system—built and sustained by oppression, extraction, and inequity by design—cannot be reformed. And, knowing this, we need abolition; we need creative solutions designed by the people most impacted by the systems they fight to change. Reimagining the Revolution is a call to action for each of us: if we can access the tools we have, we can dream bigger, think outside the box, and follow the paths laid out by change-making activists toward nothing short of revolution.”In this personal exploration of today’s abolition movement, Paula Lehman-Ewing takes the reader around the United States—the most incarcerated nation in human history—to reveal the creative and profound actions abolitionists are taking to make their communities safer and more free. Reimagining the Revolution provides vibrant and intimate portraits of people directly impacted by America’s policies of mass incarceration, and shows how their work promises to change the world via concrete and pragmatic steps toward abolition.”
—PIPER KERMAN, author of Orange Is the New Black

“Reimagining the Revolution is both a call to action and a series of road maps, showing readers how those most impacted by prisons and policing are creating a world in which both are rendered obsolete. Paula Lehman-Ewing invites us to see abolition not as a far-off goal, but as living practices and concrete programs that we can incorporate into our daily lives.”
—VICTORIA LAW, journalist and author of Prison By Any Other Name

“Reimagining the Revolution is a deeply personal, compellingly passionate, and surprisingly comprehensive take on the horrid state of the American justice system. It is also quite literally an invitation to a revolution. Lehman-Ewing wants nothing less than the total elimination of our current system of incarceration and justice and its replacement with something both effective and humane. As she focuses on an array of ideas around race and justice, Lehman-Ewing presents vignettes from assorted lives—many interrupted by incarceration—that take us beyond the superficial stereotypes that serve as justification for the status quo. In arguing for the abolition of the current system, she advocates a radical rethinking of virtually every commonly held view about the value and actual practice of incarceration. Along the way, she reminds us that the 13th Amendment did not really end slavery and that vengeance is a poor excuse for irrational policies. Whether you agree with her revolutionary solution or not, you will almost certainly find her key arguments impossible to ignore.”
—ELLIS COSE, author of The Short Life and Curious Death of Free Speech in America and Race and Reckoning

“A timely and compelling exploration into the heart of contemporary social justice movements. Inspired by past and present events, Lehman-Ewing guides readers through the nuanced landscape of criminal justice reform and the profound racial reckoning that continues to shape our world. With a keen eye for dynamic storytelling, she introduces us to the courageous individuals at the forefront of change, providing a vivid tapestry of their journeys and contributions.
This book not only sheds light on the urgent need for societal transformation but also serves as a practical guide for those seeking to actively engage in the pursuit of justice. Lehman-Ewing’s work is a testament to the power of storytelling in inspiring meaningful action. Reimagining the Revolution is an indispensable resource for anyone passionate about creating a more just and equitable world. A must-read that challenges, enlightens, and empowers.”
—JASON MASINO, author of Sinner’s PrayerPAULA LEHMAN-EWING is an award-winning journalist and a social documentarian who specializes in profiling racial and social justice organizations and amplifying marginalized voices. She has penned thousands of articles for major publications including BusinessWeek, Reuters, Forbes, and Fortune. In 2020, she relaunched the defunct newspaper for All of Us or None, a nationwide grassroots organization vying for the restoration of human and civil rights for formerly and currently incarcerated individuals. She was awarded the 2021 Silver Heart from the Society of Professional Journalists for exceptional work amplifying marginalized voices. The All of Us or None newspaper is now sent to every prison in California and more than 160 prison yards across the country. Lehman-Ewing is also a volunteer mentor for PEN America, which connects incarcerated writers with outside professionals.US

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