Mariame Kaba

Mariame Kaba, an abolitionist organizer and educator, dives into critical discussions on leadership and community dynamics. She explores the dangers of pedestalizing leaders and emphasizes the importance of accountability rooted in real relationships. Kaba addresses the complexities of cancel culture, the influence of romance on resistance work, and redefines hope as a practice of action. With insights on non-monogamy and building genuine community ties, she advocates for collective experiments and finding meaning through shared efforts.

Discussions on libraries as political spaces, resistance against right-wing attacks, importance of public institutions for marginalized communities, grassroots activism in libraries, collective action against injustices like the Palestine genocide, challenges librarians face in political activism, societal issues explored through historical events and title choices, and empowering community engagement in library governance.

Mariame Kaba, organizer and founder of Project NIA with 35+ years in abolition and youth work, and Andrea Ritchie, movement lawyer and author focused on policing’s impact on Black women and trans people. They map ICE raids to everyday policing. They unpack how outrage often births reform pitches, examine federalized policing and funding, and discuss community care and defense as abolition strategies.

In this engaging discussion, Mariame Kaba, a dynamic author and prison abolitionist, teams up with Red Schulte, an activist and zinester, to explore the power of zines in political education. They argue for the significance of tangible resources in a digital world, discussing zines as tools for marginalized voices. The duo shares insights on collective courage, the challenges of organizing under repression, and the importance of community connection. They emphasize learning from mistakes while advocating for kindness and political support for all, particularly in tough environments.

Mariame Kaba and Kelly Hayes discuss their book Let This Radicalize You: Organizing and the Revolution of Reciprocal Care, exploring topics such as disappointment in organizing, the power of relationships in activism, empathy in COVID organizing, defunding and resource allocation, collective survival, and building structures based on interdependence.