Reimagining the Revolution: Four Stories of Abolition, Autonomy, and Forging New Paths in the Modern Civil Rights Movement

Paula Lehman-Ewing, a seasoned journalist, presents her work “Reimaging the Revolution,” which delves into the modern prison abolition movement in the United States. Mass incarceration affects the lives of countless Black and Brown individuals and their families, perpetuating systems of oppression and inequities. Lehman-Ewing profiles organizations and people leading social justice movements to address the root causes of inequities: infrastructure, community development, and economics. The author highlights the groundbreaking work of organizations such as Critical Resistance and the United Black Family Scholarship Foundation, which are led and supported by those most affected by the racist carceral system.

Abolition is not an impossible dream. The author’s writing is characterized by fortitude and directness, as she offers a call to action to pay attention and act. Lehman-Ewing recommends four strategic steps to show readers how those most impacted by the interlocking systems of oppression are developing solutions that work best for communities of color.

Brutality and violence are the tools of police and prisons. Rather than fix a broken system, Lehman-Ewing offers a vision for abolition embodied in everyday practices for anyone. In her role as a storyteller, the author weaves her own reflections into the narrative. She is clear about her position as a witness, not a central player.