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Derecka Purnell

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Derecka Purnell is a lawyer, writer, and organizer. She is best known for her 2021 memoir Becoming Abolitionists, which received positive reviews from Boston Review, PEN America, Kirkus,[1] The Guardian,[2] and others.

Early life and education

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Purnell was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.[3] She received her bachelor's degree from University of Missouri-Kansas City.[4]

She became politically active in college after the killing of Trayvon Martin, and at the time advocated for police reform.[5] She also organized during the Ferguson Uprising after the death of Michael Brown.[5] Purnell began to study writers such as Rachel Herzing and Ruth Wilson Gilmore, who argue for police abolition.[6][5] She received her jurisprudence degree from Harvard Law School.[7]

Career

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Purnell is a human rights lawyer and writer.[8] She advocates for defunding the police to invest in basic services thought to be the root of crime, such as housing and healthcare.[4] She co-authored the policy proposal #8ToAbolition.[9][10]

She published her debut book, a memoir called Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom under Astra House in October 2021.[3] She was inspired to write the book after widespread conversation related to prison abolition resulted from the George Floyd protests.[3] The book was selected as a Best Book of 2021 by Kirkus Reviews.[11] Purnell is a columnist for The Guardian, and her writing has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and In These Times.[12] Purnell is an editor at Hammer & Hope, a magazine of Black politics and culture.[13]

During the coronavirus pandemic, Purnell co-created the COVID19 Policing Project at the Community Resource Hub for Safety Accountability. The Project racks police arrests and harassment through public health orders.[12]

Awards and recognition

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Purnell was recognized for her work in 2017 with a National Lawyers Guild Massachusetts Chapter student award. She has also been awarded a fellowship from the Skadden Foundation.[14]

In 2022, the Marguerite Casey Foundation chose Purnell as a Freedom Scholar.[13]

Personal life

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Purnell has two children.[3]

Works

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  • Purnell, Derecka (2021). Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom. Astra House. ISBN 9781662601668.

References

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  1. ^ "Becoming Abolitionists". Kirkus Reviews. October 5, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  2. ^ Malik, Nesrine (October 21, 2021). "Becoming Abolitionists by Derecka Purnell review – the case for defunding the police". The Guardian. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d Osterheldt, Jeneé (2021-12-22). "The Questions featuring Derecka Purnell". BostonGlobe.com. Archived from the original on 2022-08-21. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  4. ^ a b Steinmetz, Channa (2022-06-02). "Why this UMKC alumna says police abolition could reduce gun violence in KC". Startland News. Archived from the original on 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  5. ^ a b c Pollock, Robert (2022-04-21). "Necessary Unlearning: On Derecka Purnell's 'Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom'". PEN America. Archived from the original on 2022-05-09. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  6. ^ "In Derecka Purnell's 'Becoming Abolitionists,' History is a Guide - Essence". www.essence.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  7. ^ "At Harvard, Students Host First University-Wide Graduation For Black Students". On Campus | WGBH.org Blogs. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  8. ^ "Defunding The Police: What Would It Mean For The U.S.?". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 2022-03-30. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  9. ^ Norwood, Candice (2020-09-18). "Calls for reform bring renewed focus to community policing, but does it work?". PBS NewsHour. Archived from the original on 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  10. ^ Retta, Mary (2021-10-05). "A New Book for the 'Abolition Curious'". The Cut. Archived from the original on 2021-12-10. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  11. ^ "Best of 2021: Our Favorite Nonfiction". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-08-21.
  12. ^ a b "Derecka Purnell | Contemporary Critical Thought". cccct.law.columbia.edu. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  13. ^ a b "Bio". Derecka Purnell. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
  14. ^ "Derecka Purnell to Receive NLG Student Award | News & Stories | Skadden Fellowship Foundation". www.skaddenfellowships.org. Retrieved 2023-04-15.
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