The Ethics of Throwing People Away

A nine panel comic in teal, brown, and black ink.

Panel 1: Person talking on phone in bathtub says: “I haven’t seen Marina in a minute. What’s she up to?”.

Panel 2: Person walking dogs, wearing plaid jacket, talking on phone responds: “Well, ever since it came out she assaulted Sheree she’s pretty much ghosted.”

Panel 3: Person in tub: “Yah?” Response from person with dogs: “Yah. It’s sad. It’s like she got run out of town.”

Panel 4: Person with dogs: “Of course it’s wrong what she did. But, it’s like no one gave her the chance to make amends.”

Panel 5: Person in tub: “I know. I think she shame spiraled.”

Panel 6: Person with dogs: “It’s sad because if she took accountability people might’ve forgiven her.”

Panel 7: Person with dogs: “Yah, she got torn apart on social media and just le ! town a ! er that.”

Panel 8: Person in tub: “Yah, that sucks on so many levels. Her prison abolition work is so influential.”

Panel 9: Person in tub: “...I hope she takes accountability. I think it would bring some closure to everyone involved.”

Maisha Manson

Body

Spell accountability, Make it mean something more than sound

More than words

More than an exchange of hands in passing Spell accountability with what you bring The open space in your hands that you are willing to share

Spell accountability in love, in every stroke of the pen, erase every crack of the whip.

Maisha Manson

Body II

Make space in your heart for me, Take my broken Take my full

But only when you can hold me

Hold me when there is room in your hands

When I can still be found

And let my transgressions pass through your fingers with every dip of new waves