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My Journey To Abolition

Every adult in my childhood has failed me, none of them did what they’re supposed to. Every part of the system failed me…it did exactly what it’s supposed to. The system kills children and breaks families, it must be abolished. In this episode, I share how I gradually evolved towards this deep belief starting from a school trip to juvie when I was just 10. I talk about my encounters with the family policing system growing up and how it failed me. 

My story is not an is not an anomaly or an isolated incident. This is the experience of many children who are victims of the family policing system that they carry with them through adulthood. 

Abolition is a journey toward collective liberation, this is my journey so far… 

[CW: Sexual and Physical Abuse]

What we discussed 

(00:22) Taking a trip to juvie at 10 years old

(03:42) The system is NOT broken 

(04:42) [CW] Punished for speaking up about abuse   

(07:30) Losing faith in adoption, police, and the system OR My first encounter with family policing system

(10:32) Going to school with bruises on my arm OR “You had a really good school year because DCF did not show up at my door” OR DCF shows up, I’m a disappointment OR DCF gets me in trouble

(16:41) My adopters’ public facade OR Where my skepticism started OR Losing respect for authority

(19:10) Suffering through therapy 

(21:40) Who are they protecting? OR Abolition is the only option

(25:54) The system doesn’t care about children [CW: school shootings] OR They let alligators eat black babies (true story)

(31:45) My journey with queerness OR Queers in evangelical homes 

Links

Learn more about abolition: Alan Dettlaff Episode | Torn Apart by Dorothy Roberts 

Confronting the Racist Legacy of the American Child Welfare System By Alan Dettlaff

13th Documentary | The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander 

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Credits

Special thanks to Samuel Oyedele for editing our podcast, support his work on Instagram or e-mail him at [email protected]