A revolutionary work of non-fiction. It was written over twenty years ago and is unfortunately just as relevant today. 'Are Prisons Obsolete?' consists of a series of essays that breaks down the role of prisons in the American justice system through the lens of race, gender, and capitalism. Her main argument calls for the abolishment of prisons; she breaks down why prisons are inhumane and why they cause more harm than good, using real life examples and history to deliver her point. 

Some of the topics she covers (but not all) include:

The essays are moving and eye opening; there were parts that I found shocking and part that made me sick to read. Angela Davis doesn't resort to flowery writing or long discussions of her own inner thoughts to deliver her point. Instead most of the writing consists of hard facts and statistics presented in a way that perfectly encompass the points she wants to make. Her work is brilliant on an academic level, the essays are structured in a thoughtful way and so is the content within each essay. Her writing has incredible flow and she knows exactly how long to linger on a point or case study. Despite how educated she is on the topic, her writing never comes off as confusing or pretentious in the way a lot of academic work can. Many times when I read work like this I have to reread parts and do my own research to fully understand. In this case I didn't have to. Her writing is so accessible and easy to understand, and Angela Davis manages to do this without simplifying the subject matter. 

I have so much respect for Angela Davis and her politics. Despite how often I've heard her name, this is my first time reading one of her written work and it won't be the last. These essays are essential to read, especially if you're an American. They should be taught in schools for both their significance and technical brilliance.