Mariame Kaba’s book ‘We Do This ‘Till We Free Us’ was very enlightening regarding the abolitionist movement of today, and its platform against mass incarceration. It was also alarming to read about, the Draconian practices being utilized by the police and our so called- justice system. Which seems to further the trauma and hopelessness often experienced by the perpetrator and the victim.
The system as it exist now, vilifies people who are victims of brutality and murder by the police, whom often aren’t held accountable for their deliberate crimes against minorities. And allows them to act, as if they have a license to kill with impunity!!!
Which to some extent our elected officials covertly incorporate within crime bills, that provide escape hatches for police, when constitutional violations of a person’s civil liberties or murders are committed by them while they are in uniform or not. Aside from the instances referenced within the book, there are thousands of individuals who have been traumatized, victimized or subjugated by the judicial system, if they haven’t been killed by the police.
Another form of injustice are the methods utilized against people whom are impoverished and more so, if they are minorities, is through the vile dehumanization of mass incarceration. In fact mass incarceration is now used as a way for people within that infrastructure to profit. As this is evident by the abuses perpetuated by some judges through under the table deals for monetary gain, which is an example of evil perpetuated by that system! Such as in the case, which news reporter Michael Rubinkam of the Associated Press documented on August 17, 2022. Which occurred in Pennsylvania, where two former County Court judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were prosecuted and convicted, in United States District Court in Scranton PA.
They sent hundreds of children, some as young as 8 to detention centers, for minor infractions, to for profit jails for monetary kickbacks!! Those children became commodities, nothing more to individuals whom abused their authority and whose black robes served to cloak, the evil perpetuated by them. Those individuals were caught, but what if they hadn’t been?
One is left wondering -Are there any models for power without cruelty?
If violations of the law were dealt with from an abolitionist perspective, those type of atrocities that occurred in PA, wouldn’t have ever happened and a more holistic method would have been utilized.
I agree with the author that, a more humane policy is required to effectuate changes within society. Locking people up and throwing away the key like they’re not human, and not redeemable doesn’t solve the issue of why the crime occurred. The ways in which Kaba assesses the problem of mass incarceration within her book, serves as a template for advocates to utilize to effectuate changes within society/the world.
