We Do This ‘Til We Free Us

Abolitionist Organizing and Transforming Justice

By: Mariame Kaba

Narrated by: Diana Blue

"Organizing is both science and art. It is thinking through a vision, a strategy, and then figuring out who your targets are, always being concerned about power, always being concerned about how you're going to actually build power in order to be able to push your issues, in order to be able to get the target to actually move in the way that you want to."

What if social transformation and liberation isn't about waiting for someone else to come along and save us? What if ordinary people have the power to collectively free ourselves? In this timely collection of essays and interviews, Mariame Kaba reflects on the deep work of abolition and transformative political struggle.

With a foreword by Naomi Murakawa and chapters on seeking justice beyond the punishment system, transforming how we deal with harm and accountability, and finding hope in collective struggle for abolition, Kaba's work is deeply rooted in the relentless belief that we can fundamentally change the world. As Kaba writes, "Nothing that we do that is worthwhile is done alone."

©2021 Mariame Kaba; Foreword copyright 2021 by Naomi Murakawa; Editor's introduction copyright 2021 by Tamara K. Nopper (P)2021 Tantor

Great introductory book to abolition, audio performance isn’t good

This book was a good introduction to abolitionist thought, but it is a bit disjointed. The organization doesn’t seem to follow a particular logic, so it feels very much like a collection of essays are varying topics. Still a good read overall. The audio was more listenable on 2x speed — otherwise it is way too slow and not-sounding

THE NARRATION IS HORRIBLE

I REALLY wanted to listen to the book, but I’m 10 minutes and I simply cannot get in to it because the narration voice is absolutely dreadful. One reviewer said it sounds like a bot and that is so accurate!
Sad a wasted a credit, but I’m going to my local book store to finish reading this. I do not recommend the audio book!

Inspiring and steadying

Kaba’s rigor, passion, dedication and practice of hope and collective care stir and wake us.Illuminate and reality check us. Reach out to us, teach us histories of state violence and the people she has taught and fought for. She welcomes us in with her whole being. And she’s clear on what the values and boundaries are. A momentous gift of a book and a soul to the love and liberation of black people and poor people around the world.

Excellent content, but sounds like a bot is reading

I really wish this was read by Mariame Kaba! I love Kaba’s work and was so excited to listen to this book, but the reader sounds like a bot. It was more listenable at x1.5 speed.

Powerful content, unfortunately narration

Mariame Kaba is a powerful and visionary activist. I kept with this audiobook because I appreciate her brilliance…but the narration is pretty awful and made it a bit hard to get through.

content is great, but audiobook is unlistenable

I love to listen to books while driving, and I was really excited to listen through this title. unfortunately, the performance of this book is simply not good. there is no inflection or natural cadence. it sounds like a bot reading the words. I highly reccommend reading the physical book instead.

Wish Kaba could have woven this together more

The information within this book is awesome but I do wish Kaba or someone could have woven it together as a cohesive book as opposed to a collection of essays or transcribed interviews.

She has so much wisdom and I learned a lot in spite of that. It was just a bit raw.

Good introduction to abolitionist thought.

Good introduction to abolitionist thought.
if you are already familiar with abolition work I can see some sections feeling repetitive.
performance was decent felt like some pauses were too long.

Robotic Voice

The content is okay, but more of a “why” with very little “how.” Good if you’re looking for an introduction to PIC abolition, but it’s not very deep.
The reader’s vocal pattern and tone sounds like Siri, which tends to drone while pausing at odd times in almost every sentence.