The Limits of Antiracism: Abolition as a Transformative Alternative

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Sunday 7:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Racial Justice Fatigue: Reckoning with Whiteness and Transformation in Teacher Education

Abstract

This conceptual paper explores the distinctions between antiracist and abolitionist frameworks in education, arguing that while antiracism remains vital, its implementation often falls short by centering individual awareness rather than structural change. Drawing on research from over 30 New York City schools, the paper highlights how abolitionist approaches which are rooted in collective action and systemic transformation more effectively disrupt carceral logics in schools. Using a case study of one school’s contrasting efforts to implement affinity groups and dismantle a punitive disciplinary space, the paper illustrates the practical implications of each framework. It offers clarity for educators committed to justice and urges a shift from performative reforms toward abolitionist practices grounded in solidarity, community, and liberatory vision.

Author

• Abby C. Emerson, Touro University