We are the children of one mother: A cypher on abolition and apocalyptic education

Recorded at:Redtone Records321 Bell StreetEast Palo Alto, California, 94303United StatesWe open with an invitation to listen to Nina Simone reciting David Nelson’s poem “This is for you” in 1969.Footnote1 You can find the performance and lyrics through this link.Are you ready black people?(Are you ready?)…Ready to do what is necessary?…Liner NotesSide A: 1) An Introduction to Prison AbolitionArtists: Danielle Dupuy-Watson and Kiazi MalongaLength: 0:00–4:43The cypher first features the voice of prison abolitionist and public health strategist, Danielle Dupuy-Watson, who has collaborated with directly impacted communities to track the “million dollar” costs of incarceration (Lytle Hernandez & Dupuy, Citationn.d.) and currently leads an organization focused on national impact litigation efforts to end the carceral system. Danielle’s introductory remarks help establish a foundational understanding of the interconnectedness of prison abolition, school abolition, and their deeper implications. She concludes her contribution to the cypher by asking pointed questions of educators and scholars engaged in school abolition.Side A: 2) Applying Epistemologies to School AbolitionArtists: David Stovall and Kiazi MalongaLength: 4:44–11:49The initial thoughts and questions posed during Dupuy-Watson’s introductory lyrics of the cypher are expanded upon by David Stovall, an abolitionist educator and scholar, who offers insight and applies broader prison abolition epistemologies in the realm of schooling. Stovall concludes his offering by posing a question to practitioners of “apocalyptic education.”Side B: 1) Towards Apocalyptic EducationArtists: Tiffani Marie, Kenjus Watson, and Kiazi MalongaLength: 11:50–17:08The cypher concludes with Tiffani Marie and Kenjus Watson’s discussion and ceremony of apocalyptic education as a potential avenue to move beyond traditional schooling structures. It centers on the necessity of grief in the abolition process. Marie and Watson argue that, by acknowledging, grieving, and composting our past, we can avoid repeating the same mistakes and allow for new growth in the domains we are reshaping.Side B: 2) Throughout the Cypher: Medicine and Rites of PassageOur discourse traverses the past, present, and potential future of abolition. However, like all cyphers, ours is more than dialogue. The conversation is enriched by offerings from Kiazi Malonga, a renowned Congolese–American musician and healer, who offers traditional prayers and drum rhythms throughout the track, centered on relocating, reconnecting, and supporting the re-memory of the children of the Diaspora with the land, music, and medicines of West Africa.Parting Thoughts: Our purpose is steadfast: to share, learn, and evolve collectively. The introduction of the cypher opens doors to discuss topics such as school abolition, restorative justice, and apocalyptic education, reminding us of what we do not want or need (i.e., schooling; Shujaa, Citation1993). The format, music, and collaborative, abolitionist spirit behind the project bolsters our capacities to better transmit culture for the sake of ensuring our survival and expanding our autonomy (i.e., education; Shujaa, Citation1994; Sizemore, Citation1987). In summary, we intend our cypher to be a fusion of consciousness, culture, and community, weaving narratives into a rich tapestry of new ways of being and existing beyond schools.[click here to experience the track]