Annihilation and Freedom: How Chain-Gang All-Stars Examines the Intersection of Incarceration and Empowerment

This paper examines the way Nana Kwame Adeji-Brenyah's novel, Chain-Gang All-Stars, asks us to redefine our concepts of freedom and annihilation. Set in a dystopian world where prisoners are able to obtain 'freedom' if they fight in gladiator style death matches, the novel constantly twists how we wish freedom or annihilation are experienced. Both in this setting, and his many factual footnotes on mass incarceration, the novel reminds us of Katie Cannon's foundational work on understanding the dignity reclaimed by enslaved peoples. In this paper, I argue that these redefinitions are also calling those in privilege to practice annihilation, in seeking a more true freedom and empowerment of all people.