A review by youeatdogfood
Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom by Derecka Purnell

3.5

3.5 stars. ‘Becoming Abolitionists’ by Derecka Purnell had great potential in its initial chapters, w a writing style that lacked any smugness or shame, and obviously containing very revolutionary ideas. However, I found that as the book progressed, it became relatively disjointed and hard to follow, w non sequiturs and editing mistakes/typos that detracted frm the overall reading experience, leaving me w the impression that some of her ideas weren't fully fleshed out or connected. Likewise, at times, the book’s pacing felt rushed, w statistics and remarks thrown in randomly that often lacked substance.

However, one standout aspect of the book was, to me, Purnell’s tale of her personal transformation, frm someone w prejudiced beliefs (mostly surrounding queer people), to an advocate fr abolitionist ideals, and all that entails. This narrative served as a powerful reminder of the potential fr growth and learning within each of us, and Purnell’s willingness to confront these inconsistencies within herself are a testament to her courage and commitment to the vision of a better world. As she says, “Growth requires us to constantly evaluate the ideas we hold dear.”

So all up, ‘Becoming Abolitionists’ offers valuable insights and a powerful personal journey, but its disjointed nature and occasional lack of depth prevented it frm fully meeting my expectations. However, it still remains an important read fr those interested in pursuits of freedom and justice (and how this may differ to the mainstream idea of “justice” - which is often anything but), and fr those wanting to learn more about abolition and Black feminist thought.