No More Prisons: Urban Life, Home-Schooling, Hip-Hop Leadership, the Cool Rich Kids Movement, a Hitchhiker's Guide to Community Organzing, and Why Philanthropy is the Greatest Art Form of the 21st Century!

by William Upski Wimsatt

Winner of the 2000 Firecracker Alternative Book Award for Best Book, Politics.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Essays, Education, Activism, Sociology, Social Justice

180 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1999

About the author

William Wimsatt, also known as Billy or Upski, is a social entrepreneur, author, political activist, and former graffiti artist. Wimsatt is founder of the League of Young Voters, co-founder of Generational Alliance and the author or editor of six books.

Wimsatt was born in Chicago, attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, received his High School diploma from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, and dropped out of Oberlin College. His father is a philosophy of science professor at the University of Chicago (William C. Wimsatt). Wimsatt uses "Upski" as his middle name, but it is really the tag he used to write graffiti while growing up in Chicago.

Wimsatt's first book was Bomb The Suburbs (1994), a collection of essays celebrating urban life and critiquing the suburban mindset. The essay "We Use Words Like Mackadocious", previously printed in The Source (May 1993), celebrated and critiqued the wigger subculture. Wimsatt released No More Prisons (1999), referencing urbanism and the prison-industrial complex, in conjunction with an underground hip-hop album on Raptivism Records. Along with editing the books Another World is Possible (2001) and Future 500: Youth Organizing and Activism in the United States (2003), Wimsatt co-edited How To Get Stupid White Men Out Of Office (2004), a collection of stories from youth organizers around the world who won or swung elections. His latest book is Please Don't Bomb The Suburbs.

Wimsatt founded the League of Young Voters (2003) and co-founded the Generational Alliance (2005). As a philanthropic consultant, he coined the term "Cool Rich Kids" (1999) to refer to young progressive philanthropists associated with the organization Resource Generation. He has consulted for dozens of organizations including Rock The Vote, MoveOn.org, and Green For All. He is currently a Fellow at the Movement Strategy Center directing The Field 3.0 Project, a dialogue and documentation effort to drive innovation in field organizing. He also runs Vote Again 2010, to mobilize young voters in swing states.

Reviews

[Wealhtheow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is better as a reminder than as a wake-up call. Wimsatt didn't write a coherent, cohesive argument so much as an anecdotally charged, energetic ramble. That critique mentioned, Wimsatt is clearly a righteous person who implements the most useful forms of self-help and groundswell/grassroots activism and community involvement.

Not even half of Americans have ever been punched in the face, apparently. Craziness!

[Kimmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that if I had read it in high school it would have blown my mind. It's idealistic to the extreme, a bit naive in places, but full of good ideas and passion. I particularly loved the section on homeschooling and self-education. There were a couple examples of really outstanding kids who had broken from the public school mold and pursued their passions beyond anyone's wildest expectations. I also liked the focus on black and lower income families in this section as I think homeschooling is often viewed as something that's just for white religious extremists instead of a way for parents of all backgrounds to participate in their child's education and take it into their own hands. At a time when so many of our public schools are failing it was inspiring to realize that there may be another option available to people.

[Belasonic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Upski Upski Upski - yes, he does it well in this book. NMP is a real, honest attempt at identifying the schisms in this current societal vision that he's been seeing all along. The prison industrial complex in our government budget and in our minds and in our education systems are all called out and overhauled in this DIY manual to multi-dimensional liberation. I admire the lucidity, responsibility, and progression of Wimsatt's own thoughts in a constructive manner [from his first book to this one (and beyond):].

[Julian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great political book filled with ideas and perspectives that are rarely given voice. Though it lacked the pure driven energy and idealism of his previous book (which was written when he was considerably younger), it was balanced by being more... well, balanced, with the wisdom and perspective of being a bit older.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Could not put it down. I read it while walking down the sidewalk. I am going to order more copies to give to my friends, because the author does such noble things with his money. I feel inspired, and I feel like even though I'm done reading it, it is an excellent reference for radical, progressive resources that interest me.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Ceema Samimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been dying to read this book for years after it was highly recommended by a friend. Maybe my expectations were too high but it is definitely not anything like I thought it would be. I couldn't take an more of the author's self-righteous rambling so I finally gave up. I think if I had read it in junior high I would have loved it, but now I just find it elementary and trite. I think for someone who is just getting into ideas of radicalism and comes from a place of privilege, this may be more of their bag. But for me, I'm going to end it about 1/3 of the way in.

[John Becker · Rating 5 out of 5]

upski used to write in chicago, where he grew up. now he's an organizer, activist and writer. best part about this book is the 'rules for graf writing.' no more prisons is even better; it's where he really breaks it down. this is a good place to start though.

[Stephen Conti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Consumerism and privatization VS the educated grafitti kid

[Avery Erdogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 rounded down

Two things are true:

1. This book honestly and sincerely addresses a lot of important and radical topics. It's not just about prisons like the title suggests.
2. I find the author a little self righteous, appropriative at times, and also a bit desperate to fit in.

If the "Cool Rich Kid's Movement" and philanthropy section was left out, I'd like this book much more, but it left me distrustful. And of course the middle-upper class white guy can go through every neighborhood and hitchhike around the "most dangerous neighborhoods" in the US without much issue. His talk about dreaming of moving to "the ghetto" feels fetishizing/literally the definition of gentrification, especially with all the money he humble brags about. The author certainly has a unique perspective and attitude toward life... but I don't think I'd want to meet him. Some of his ideas I completely agree with, I liked the self education bit. But some just left me feeling kinda icky.

Luckily, there are plenty of other voices here in stories and interviews. It's worth a read, but take the author with a heaping grain of salt.

[Samuel L · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this book as a teenager and feeling inspired---like I could make a difference! I am curious to read it again now to see how I have changed and whether it gives me the same feeling...

[Jakers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very motivating.

[Dave Cazeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than the other work I have read...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful, honest and made for the masses. I wish everyone would read this book! The world would be a very different place if we all did

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

outdated in some ways but painfully relevant in others

[Erhardt Graeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an inspiring and reflective follow-up to Wimsatt's first book, Bomb the Suburbs. The casual tone of the writing makes it a fluid and fast read, but also one that literally speaks to the reader, challenging them to be part of a solution to the ills of society. The author is trying to practice what he preaches and everything about the book is designed to do that. He is forthcoming about why is writing the book and how his thinking has changed since the previous one. You are meant to take the reflection and journey yourself as the reader.

This is a coming of age book in many ways. Wimsatt documents his coming of age as an activist, detailing what he's learned and how he's done it. You are encouraged to do the same—not through the same set of experiences necessarily, but your own. This narrative weaves through five themes or areas of activism that he wants to promote and forward. The title refers to the first, which is organizing against the prison industry, and is strategically chosen to dovetail with an album of the same name and a larger movement he wants to see come about called "No More Prisons." It's also a metaphor for feeling trapped inside conventions and cycles of social injustice, and through practice and political organizing breaking those trends. He wants us to get involved with issues of Urban life versus Suburban life, Homeschooling/Self-education, Hip-Hop leadership, and Cool Rich Kids and effective philanthropy. We are meant to start organizations around any of these issues, and Wimsatt gives us a rough game plan of how to do it.

My favorite part of the book was his long critique of traditional philanthropy; he lists it's problems as well as it's potential and it sounds like he is straight-up describing The Awesome Foundation, which fills me with pride. Read this book and feel empowered.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

See "self-education movement."

"I had big plans and the things I needed most there were no classes for. Hello? There are no...friendship classes. No classes on how to navigate a bureaucracy, build an organization, raise money, create a database, buy a house, love a child, spot a scam, talk someone out of suicide, or figure out what was important to me. Not knowing how to do these things is what mess people up in life, not whether they know Algebra or can analyze literature.

"What if they way some of us learn best is the opposite of they way we were taught to learn in school? And what if the things you most want to do in life aren't considered a career? There's no career called walking around the street helping homeless people. You have to get a job at a social service agency where you'll have to spend most of your time faxing, filling out forms and applying for grants. That's a crime. That's the indirect, bureaucratic, unsatisfying, ineffective, busy work way of living taught to us in school. Self-education, in contrast, is direct, pertinent, powerful, and fun. I wanted a self-education that freed up my imagination to see how things could be changed." -- Upski Wimsatt, "The University of Planet Earth," from No More Prisons.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

i wouldn't rate this the same way as bomb the suburbs. this book has a few more concrete concepts in it that still stand to this day. some basic truisms (to me) about the problems with rising spending on prisons and the corresponding drop in funding for higher education; problems with privatizing prisons; the distinction between punishment and corrections; why graffiti isn't a bad idea, etc.

it's probably a bit rudimentary and polemic at this point, i.e. i don't think it would have the depth i'd need for substantive argument, though that in no way excludes the fact that the basic point(s) are worth nodding your head in agreement to. maybe this is more like a conversation you'd have with someone after having read the newspaper.

[Klley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat about prisons as concrete walls and buildings being part of the prison industrial complex, somewhat about the idea of prison and freedom in a larger societal sense. he talks about rich kids and philanthrophy for a large portion. the author brags but he tries to check himself and speak from his individual experience. nice to read someone who checks back, and reflects on what he used to think, what he learned from his "bomb the suburbs" era, and how he is refining his goals. this book could be good fuel for someone with access to a lot of money. he has a lot to say and says it with a lot of energy, very direct and breaks things down in a comprehensible way.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is ok, but most definitely not about prisons. it's more an account of the author's experiences self-publishing his first book (bomb the suburbs) and being an activist.

i feel i should add to my earlier comments. the book, though still not about prisons, is pretty good, just skip the cool rich kids section. and i haven't gotten to it yet, but i'm guessing the philanthropy section will be another skipper. all the talk about how to make the best of your rich kid money is pretty annoying. but the other sections are right on. so don't give it up, just skip ahead as necessary.

[Ocean · Rating 3 out of 5]

i initially read this when i was 19 & it really inspired and amazed me. i picked it up again and i was kinda turned off by it. it's got some good ideas, but the author writes way too much about himself--sometimes it's engaging, sometimes it's merely self-serving. i'd recommend this book for teens and wealthy-yet-radical people. other people might get something from it too, but i think teens and w-y-r people would benefit the most.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this on a road trip to California with a brother and sister. Contains some cool ideas, but had a tough time competing with the majesty of Yosemite (where we dived in a mountain meltwater swimming hole) or the desolate Death Valley (where we camped under the stars). No More Prisons did jive well with the soundtrack for that trip, Bitter Tears and Rattle & Hum.

[Danni Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a library impulse-grab. I liked it a lot! I would have liked to see the author examine his own privilege more. I appreciated the ways in which he uses his privilege to lift up the voices of marginalized members of his community/ies It is interesting to see how the seeds being planted in the late '90s have grown into the activist culture today.

[charlotte Phillips]

loaned to me by James, this book is by an Oberlin drop-out. It’s an amazing book about concious citizenship among the younger generations, and how we can and should work to help each other out. An amazing book that challenges traditional views of youth activism and education.

[jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"it isn't about justice or peace or freedom or equality. it's about our very survival. the challenge before us as a human race in ensuring our own continuation is the most difficult challenge that has ever faced anyone in the history of life on earth."

[Javier · Rating 4 out of 5]

just watched "bowling for columbine" and couldn't help but think of the first few chapters of this book... while i don't agree with many of the stands upski takes in this book, you can't help but admire his courage and ability to challenge our society's culture of fear....

[Shenanitims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another important idea book for me circa the college years. Not as grand for me as _Bomb the Suburbs_, but still had some great ideas for me to steal. Such as making a "to read" list of every book that gets recommended to you more than three times. Very cool, very inspiring.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, I'm really liking this book!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

About more than just physical incarceration-- W.U.W. addresses the mental prisons created by society (culture of fear) and ways that individuals can keep their their freedom.

[Devin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow-up to Bomb the Suburbs. Again, read this in high school and fell in love with it and Upski. It's a wonderful book for any youth you know that may be starting to get into radical politics.