Kendall McCurley
Garrett Felber's "Those Who Know Don't Say" explores the clandestine world of the Black radical tradition within the confines of America's prison system. With meticulous research and compelling narrative, Felber unveils the obscured histories of Black resistance behind bars, challenging conventional narratives and shedding light on the transformative power of incarcerated activism. He delves deep into the archives of the Black Panther Party and the Nation of Islam, illuminating the often overlooked contributions of incarcerated individuals to these movements. Through a series of meticulously crafted narratives, Felber traces the lineage of prison organizing, from its roots in the early 20th century to its resurgence during the Civil Rights era and beyond.
Febler examines the history of state repression, police violence, Black Muslim organizing, and their impacts on the development of the modern carceral state and the contemporary prison abolition movement. State repression, often manifesting through discriminatory laws, surveillance, and violent policing, targeted Black communities throughout history. Police violence, including brutality, unjust arrests, and extrajudicial killings, served as tools of maintaining racial hierarchies and suppressing dissent within Black communities. This violence contributed to the erosion of trust in law enforcement and the state among Black populations.
Black Muslims, including organizations like the Nation of Islam (NOI), played a significant role in advocating for Black self-determination and resistance against racial oppression. The NOI, under leaders like Elijah Muhammad and later Malcolm X, offered a platform for Black empowerment and critiques of white supremacy. Black Muslim organizing provided an alternative framework for addressing systemic injustices, emphasizing community solidarity, self-defense, and cultural pride. However, it also faced intense scrutiny and repression from both state authorities and mainstream society.
Felber also examines the carceral state which refers to the expansive system of policing, surveillance, and incarceration that disproportionately targets marginalized communities, particularly the black community. It has its roots in historical practices of slavery, convict leasing, and Jim Crow laws, which evolved into modern forms of mass incarceration. State responses to Black resistance, such as the militarization of police forces and the implementation of harsh sentencing laws, contributed to the growth of the carceral state. These measures aimed to suppress dissent and maintain racial control, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and social disenfranchisement. Felber argues that the contemporary prison abolition movement emerged in response to the failures of the criminal justice system to address systemic inequalities and provide genuine rehabilitation. It seeks to dismantle the prison-industrial complex and reimagine systems of justice and community support. Drawing on abolitionist principles, activists advocate for alternatives to incarceration, such as restorative justice, community-based interventions, and economic empowerment initiatives. They also challenge the underlying structures of racism, capitalism, and state violence that sustain the carceral state.
Overall, Garrett Felber’s work offers a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of Black resistance within America's prison system. Through his rigorous scholarship and impassioned storytelling, Felber shines a light on the often silenced voices of incarcerated activists, challenging readers to confront the injustices of mass incarceration and envision a more just future. This book is not just a historical account but a call to action, urging us to listen, learn, and amplify the voices of those who have been silenced for far too long.
Those Who Know Don't Say by
