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We’ve spent a lot of time this year following the entertainment and pop culture that was of particular interest to people with lived experience—the tens of millions of formerly incarcerated and justice-impacted Americans. As the year wraps up, here are the top five recommendations that captivated us in each of these categories in 2024!
“I Went to College / I Went to Jail” by ERNEST ft. Jelly Roll (March 15, 2024)
“Blackbiird” by Beyoncé (March 29, 2024) — Fortunata Cuomo (JLUSA Development Coordinator) writes, “Beyoncé’s rendition of ‘Blackbird’ on her album Cowboy Carter is a powerful tribute to the Little Rock Nine, a group of Black students who bravely desegregated Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Her beautiful version of this Beatles classic serves as a powerful anthem of freedom and resilience.”
“This Is Not My Home (Live)” by Simply Naomi (July 25, 2024) — Read more about Simply Naomi
Speak Hope Sing Joy by SaulPaul (August 30, 2024) — Listen to the full album
Better Than Jail compilation featuring various artists (October 4, 2024) — Listen to Steve Earle’s version of “I Fought the Law”
Kemba (February 22, 2024; BET+) — Read more about the Kemba movie
Power documentary (May 17, 2024; Netflix)
Sing Sing (July 12, 2024; A24) — Learn more about the Sing Sing movie
Daughters documentary (August 14, 2024; Netflix) — Read more about the Daughters documentary
Nature of the Crime documentary (December 10, 2024; HBO Max)
“Nature of the Crime follows the journey of three incarcerated men as they prepare for their parole interviews after spending decades in prison. The documentary delves into their personal reflections on their crimes, their rehabilitation, and the criteria influencing their potential release. It offers an insightful exploration of the parole process and the inner workings of parole boards.” (Fortunata Cuomo)
Justice, USA (March 14, 2024; HBO Max)
Unlocked docuseries (April 10, 2024; Netflix) — Listen to our podcast about the Unlocked docuseries
UnPrisoned season 2 (July 17, 2024; Hulu) — Learn more about UnPrisoned season 2
Face to Face with Scott Peterson docuseries (August 20, 2024 – Peacock)
The Menendez Brothers documentary (October 7, 2024; Netflix)
Decarceration Nation with Joshua B. Hoe (Leading with Conviction™ 2021)
Redemption Radio with Thad Bereday (LwC 2023)
Welcome Home with Savvy Shabazz (LwC 2023)
OnTheRecyard: Women’s Prison Podcast with Jennifer Toon (LwC 2024) and Marci Marie
Rattling the Bars with Mansa Musa
Witness: An Insider’s Narrative of the Carceral State by Lyle C. May (April 16, 2024; Haymarket Books) — From the co-author of 2022’s Inside: Voices from Death Row, this book challenges “the myths, misconceptions, and misinformation about the criminal legal system and death in prison, guiding readers on a journey through North Carolina’s congregate death row, where the author has spent over twenty years of his life.”
What Kind of Bird Can’t Fly: A Memoir of Resilience and Resurrection by Dorsey Nunn with Lee Romney (April 30, 2024; Heyday Books) — As co-director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children and co-founder of All of Us Or None, Dorsey Nunn is a national leader in criminal justice reform, and in his first book, a powerful memoir, he “links the politics of Black Power to the movements for Black lives and dignified reentry today.”
White Poverty: How Exposing Myths About Race and Class Can Reconstruct American Democracy by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove (June 11, 2024; W.W. Norton) — In his latest book, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, a leading advocate for the rights of the poor and the “closest person we have to Dr. King” (Cornel West), addresses the myth that poverty is solely a “Black issue.”
Dismantling Mass Incarceration: A Handbook for Change edited by Primal Dharia, James Forman Jr., and Maria Hawilo (July 9, 2024; MacMillan/FSG Originals) — Tarra Simmons (LwC 2018) writes, “Dismantling Mass Incarceration is a brilliantly written tool for our national movement, and I am so thankful for the authors’ gift to all of us.”
Reimagining the Revolution: Four Stories of Abolition, Autonomy, and Forging New Paths in the Modern Civil Rights Movement by Paula Lehman-Ewing (July 23, 2024; North Atlantic Books) — “Award-winning journalist and activist Paula Lehman-Ewing presents an inside-access look at the activists redefining where we go from here.”
What are some of your top picks and recommendations for 2024? Send us your thoughts and suggestions for what you would add to this year’s list!
In our 10th anniversary year, JustLeadershipUSA’s work of educating, elevating, and empowering justice-impacted leaders continues and is growing even stronger!
This is going to be a very special time to look back on the past decade of JLUSA’s important work, the 1,600+ leaders we have helped get to the next level in their work, and even more importantly, we will look ahead to the next 10 years and beyond!
We can’t do this without you. We need your support to help us continue to do this work now and into the future. By making a donation in honor of JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, you are saying to the amazing leaders in our network who represent the 70+ million Americans who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system, “I see you, and I support you!”
Please give a one-time $100 gift or set up a recurring $10 monthly donation to celebrate JLUSA’s 10th anniversary year, and together we will build a fair and just U.S. Thank you!
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JustLeadershipUSA is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.
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