We’re told the prison system is broken, but a new book by sociologist Dr. Susila Gurusami documents instead that the system is not broken at all but operating exactly how it was built to. This month, we sat down with Dr. Gurusami to discuss Break the System: Criminalized Black Mothers and the Reproductive Politics of Abolition, based on years of fieldwork in South Los Angeles. Her rigorous research and talent for storytelling provide a portrait into the lives of formerly incarcerated Black mothers, revealing how a multitude of state institutions collude to keep Black mothers from their families and in turn punish Black communities. Tune in as we discuss key themes in the book from “reproductive warfare” to “abolitionist motherwork,” and conclude with a look at how coalitions are currently mobilizing to keep their communities safe, demand funding for life-affirming institutions, and push back against the ongoing threat of prison expansion.
Resources
What is a Feminist Jail & Why Shouldn’t We Fall For It?
https://www.susilagurusami.com/
