Mass incarceration is a cancer that’s devouring Black communities. Writer and filmmaker Asia Johnson joins us and shares her experiences as a formerly incarcerated woman - and her visions for a new system of justice. Recorded with a live audience. Also on video!

SHOW NOTES

Guest: Asia Johnson

Asia Johnson is a writer, filmmaker, and activist for the rights of incarcerated people. She is the Manager of Storytelling for zealo.us, a national advocacy, arts, education, and media institute. Her debut short film “Out of Place” screened at universities across the country. She is currently working on her first feature length documentary.

Check out the VIDEO of this episode!

More about Asia and her work:

• Asia’s homepage
• Asia’s first film Out Of Place
• zealo.us
• Right of Return Fellowship
• Art for Justice
  

More about the prison-industrial complex:

• 13th (Ava DuVernay’s documentary masterpiece)
• The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander’s definitive book)
• Vera Institute of Justice
  

More about Restorative Justice:

• Until We Reckon (book by Danielle Sered)
• Common Justice (Sered’s RJ organization in Chicago)
• Restorativejustice.org

Highlights of episode:

[8:20] Asia shares her early life and family experiences

[18:20] Asia shares her experience in prison

[22:23] [Asia explains challenges people face after prison

[31:59] Asia envisions abolition of mass incarceration

[37:24] More productive ways to spend $200 billion

[38:56] Restorative justice as alternative to mass incarceration

[55:03] Adam discusses indifference of white America as key obstacle

[56:24] Asia’s Q&A with the audience

[1:14:37] Asia’s closing poem and call to action

Contact Tony & Adam

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