Reimagining the Revolution is a
project of CO Justice Advocate Inc.
Follow RTR
CO Justice Advocate Inc.
P.O. Box 462043
Aurora, CO 80046-2043
Synopsis
These are the architects of the modern civil rights movement: 4 profiles of revolutionary groups making change beyond protest
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
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.
Praise for RTR
"In Reimagining the Revolution, Paula Lehman-Ewing not only imagines a world where people don’t rely on police and prisons for safety, she also introduces us to the people building this new reality in their communities now. In this personal exploration of today’s abolition movement 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, Orange is the New Black
"Reimagining the Revolution is a deeply personal, compellingly passionate, and surprisingly comprehensive take on the horrid state of the American justice system. 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, Race and Reckoning, Democracy, The Rage of a Privileged Class, and more.
"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 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, Sinner's Prayer
Reviews
By reimagining revolution as an inclusive and daily practice, Lehman-Ewing offers a blueprint for sustainable, transformative change in an increasingly complex world.
In “Reimagining the Revolution,” Lehman-Ewing writes about a modern prison abolition movement that is centered on pathways outside traditional politics, proposing new ideas around justice and how to create a better, safer society.
In her groundbreaking book, Reimagining the Revolution, Paula Lehman-Ewing sheds light on the often-overlooked perspectives of incarcerated individuals, particularly their revolutionary thought and art.
Both “Beneath the Mountain” and “Reimagining the Revolution” are appeals to consider the idea that a state which profits from the labor of incarcerated individuals and tortures them is not operating a justice system; it’s perpetuating slavery, and that has a ripple effect on American life.
The author’s passion for her cause and affection for the individuals she profiles makes this book an excellent introduction to the modern prison abolition movement.
Reimagining the Revolution is not just a book; it's a manifesto for the future of social justice.