The Importance of Relationships in Abolitionist Politics

This is part 2 of our 2 part conversation with Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba on their new book Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care. (Part 1 is available here).

In this episode we continue our conversation with Kaba and Hayes on the idea that organizing is not match-making. They each talk about organizing across difference and dealing with some of the contradictions that can come up within struggles around shared objectives. They talk about some of the differences between friends and comrades and the transformation that can happen within the waging of struggle. 

We discuss about the phrase “hope is a discipline,” what it means and doesn’t mean, whether hope is a useful framework for people, and the notion of active hope that weaves through a lot of the book.

We also talk about seasonality within organizing, avoiding burn out, and how to deal with increasing visibility and remain responsible to the social movements you’re in.

Mariame Kaba is currently raising funds for the Online Abortion Resource Squad, if folks are able to support that effort we encourage them to do so. 

Once again we want to thank Kelly and Mariame for having this conversation with us. You can pick up Let This Radicalize You from Haymarket Books, our friends at Massive Bookshop or your local radical bookstore. We will include a link to the resources mentioned in the episode and a few other items in the show notes.

We do want to thank all of the folks who support us on an ongoing basis or for however long they can. And we invite new listeners and those who haven’t become patrons yet to do so. You can become a patron of the show for as little as $1 a month or $10.80 per year. We receive no revenue from foundations or advertisers, so it is only through the support of our listeners that we are able to bring you conversations like this on a weekly basis and often more frequently than that. Become a patron of the show at patreon.com/millennialsarekillingcapitalism

Links:

Mariame Kaba is currently seeking to raise $50,000 for abortion funds. Support here.

Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care (resources page).

When We Fall Apart (mentioned in the discussion) 

The Prison Culture Blog

Movement Memos

Lifted Voices

Survived and Punished

Our first conversation with Mariame Kaba (2019)

Our previous (panel) discussion with Kelly Hayes (2022)