Derecka Purnell facts for kids
Derecka Purnell is a lawyer, writer, and organizer. She is well-known for her book, Becoming Abolitionists, which came out in 2021. Many people and magazines, like The Guardian, gave her book good reviews.
Early Life and Education
Derecka Purnell grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. She earned her first college degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
While in college, she became involved in social issues. She supported changes to how police work. She also helped organize during the Ferguson Uprising in Missouri. This happened after the death of Michael Brown. Purnell then started to learn about ideas from writers like Rachel Herzing and Ruth Wilson Gilmore. These writers talk about changing the police system. Later, she earned her law degree from Harvard Law School.
Career Highlights
Purnell works as a human rights lawyer and writer. She believes in putting money into things like housing and healthcare. She thinks these services can help prevent crime. She also helped write a plan called #8ToAbolition.
Her first book, Becoming Abolitionists: Police, Protests, and the Pursuit of Freedom, was published in October 2021. She was inspired to write it after many discussions about changing the prison system. This happened during the George Floyd protests. Kirkus Reviews chose her book as one of the best books of 2021. Purnell writes for The Guardian. Her articles have also appeared in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, and Cosmopolitan. Purnell is also an editor for a magazine called Hammer & Hope. This magazine focuses on Black politics and culture.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Purnell helped create the COVID19 Policing Project. This project tracks how police handled public health rules.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, Purnell received an award from the National Lawyers Guild Massachusetts Chapter. She also earned a special fellowship from the Skadden Foundation.
In 2022, the Marguerite Casey Foundation named Purnell a Freedom Scholar.
Personal Life
Derecka Purnell has two children.
