I'm in Charlie's workshop right now at the AMC. I did 14 years in Michigan prisons before getting out in 2008 and I totally agree with you about education. Because I did so long in the hole and didn't even have access to correspondence courses that you could pay for, I was determined to start preparing myself for the next chance I got at college by reading everything that I thought I had missed out on in high school. I went with literature, philosophy, and, eventually, some cultural studies stuff. It sounds like we may be interested in a lot of similar stuff.
When I got out and got back into school I started at community college with a major in criminal justice. I transferred over to the University of Michigan (Flint campus) and switched to a political science major (I was sick of being in class with future guards and cops). Looking back, I wish I would've went with English, sociology, or cultural studies. I feel like it would've been more important education.
That said, despite the barriers you face with getting a formal, recognized education, I strongly encourage you to keep reading good books. You might also consider writing to professors from the English or sociology departments from some universities.
You'd be surprised by the content of many classrooms, and please believe me when I say that personal reading that you do, especially if you're reading challenging stuff, thinking about it, and writing about it, is probably a much better education than you would get in a lot of college classrooms. The instructions, questions, and push you get from some professors is wonderful and helpful, but I don't know that you couldn't get that from simply writing to a random prof, explaining what you've read, and asking her to push you on the issue a little bit (or explaining).
Dear Bro. Khalfani Malik Khaldun (Leonard McQuay), Today, Saturday, June 30, 2012 while attending my 4th Allied Media conference, I learned of the Behind the Bars Blog. Came across your blog and decided to reply. First and foremost, I pray you are in the best of health, best of spirits and safe. Though you are locked inside prison, prison does not have to be locked inside of you, for you are more than your mistake/crime. I am the founder and Executive Director of Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD). RIHD is a nonprofit, all volunteer, statewide prison reform advocacy in Virginia. I concur that the MEDIA is a powerful tool in social justice and awareness of the oppressed, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised if it motivates it's listening audience to become proactive. I will tell you that my experience as an advocate, attending the Allied Media Conference has been "asset" towards improving my organization and it's mission. Learning of this BLOG has inspired me to include it in our advocacy to reach out to the incarcerated, persons such as yourself. I thank you for your blog. I hope my response has help you in some way to know that we on the outside, are listening to those in the inside and your VOICE matters. Peace and Blessings, Lillie (Ms. K) Branch-Kennedy
Yes! This a number one issue that needs to be changed. Surprisingly congress is holding hearings on solitary confinement and we might see it outlawed in the US! That would be amazing and through a lot of hard work from grassroots people. We need to work to abolish this whole prison system and create something that serves our communities rather than breaking them up and breaking people down. Thank you for your words-- we are fighting and praying for all of our people inside and out!
We read your letter at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit. I liked your ideas. Who do you suggest would be responsible for deciding which articles to include in the newsletter and editing it? Are there ways that people inside prison could be in control of the newsletter?
I work with a national newsletter called Prison Health News, and we are looking for more writers who are currently incarcerated. Your ideas are excellent, and I'm wondering if you would be willing to write for us about health issues at some point. We are looking for 3 types of articles:
1) basic health info about particular conditions like hep c, HIV, asthma, etc, what are the treatments, how to prevent it, etc.
2) how to successfully advocate for yourself and others to get the medical care and mental health care that you need
3) political campaigns that fight for change that will affect a lot of people in prison and their access to good health care or the improvement of their health more broadly.
Please write to me at
Prison Health News c/o Philadelphia FIGHT 1233 Locust Street, 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19107
If you address your letter to me by name, I'll be sure to get it, otherwise someone who is staff there will respond to you.
I really appreciate you sharing you writing and art here. A lot of what you said really resonated with me and my experience. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. -J
Hi Jose, I'm reading your post here at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, Michigan. Thank you for sharing your words with the public, they are powerful. It is a shame that people like yourself are stuck inside and not able to grow your skills and work to help the very youth you refer to in your letter. I think your comment about cutting out the pipeline from youth to adult incarceration is so important... when young people are presented with few paths it is no surprise that they should end up following one that is already so present in their lives (like prison). It will never be enough until this whole "justice" system is turned on its head but I will try to fight as hard as I can from the outside, and hope that you manage to maintain the strength and will to fight from the inside.
Hi Luis! I am at the Allied Media Conference in a workshop by Blogging between Bars. I just read your letter about the cost of phone calls in MA prisons. I live in Boston and work on prison justice issues. On July 19th there will be a public people's hearing on the high cost of phone calls in and out of MA prisons, which I'm excited to attend. Its been wonderful to be here in Detroit at the AMC to learn from others about this nationwide effort. Stories like yours are invaluable to the process of telling the truth to people on the outside who just don't understand (or take the time to care) about the struggles of people behind bars to connect to family, friends and resources. I'll keep you posted on the what happens at the hearing on July 19th. Hopefully your words will be able to be shared on the 19th too.
I'm a Wisconsin native (from Madison) currently living in Louisiana, which has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Your post educated me. I had no idea that "truth in sentencing" means that there is no way for prisoners to obtain an early release. Thank you for writing about what's going on and your experience.
RSS
I'm in Charlie's workshop right now at the AMC. I did 14 years in Michigan prisons before getting out in 2008 and I totally agree with you about education. Because I did so long in the hole and didn't even have access to correspondence courses that you could pay for, I was determined to start preparing myself for the next chance I got at college by reading everything that I thought I had missed out on in high school. I went with literature, philosophy, and, eventually, some cultural studies stuff. It sounds like we may be interested in a lot of similar stuff.
When I got out and got back into school I started at community college with a major in criminal justice. I transferred over to the University of Michigan (Flint campus) and switched to a political science major (I was sick of being in class with future guards and cops). Looking back, I wish I would've went with English, sociology, or cultural studies. I feel like it would've been more important education.
That said, despite the barriers you face with getting a formal, recognized education, I strongly encourage you to keep reading good books. You might also consider writing to professors from the English or sociology departments from some universities.
You'd be surprised by the content of many classrooms, and please believe me when I say that personal reading that you do, especially if you're reading challenging stuff, thinking about it, and writing about it, is probably a much better education than you would get in a lot of college classrooms. The instructions, questions, and push you get from some professors is wonderful and helpful, but I don't know that you couldn't get that from simply writing to a random prof, explaining what you've read, and asking her to push you on the issue a little bit (or explaining).
Today, Saturday, June 30, 2012 while attending my 4th Allied Media conference, I learned of the Behind the Bars Blog. Came across your blog and decided to reply.
First and foremost, I pray you are in the best of health, best of spirits and safe. Though you are locked inside prison, prison does not have to be locked inside of you, for you are more than your mistake/crime.
I am the founder and Executive Director of Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD). RIHD is a nonprofit, all volunteer, statewide prison reform advocacy in Virginia.
I concur that the MEDIA is a powerful tool in social justice and awareness of the oppressed, the disadvantaged and disenfranchised if it motivates it's listening audience to become proactive. I will tell you that my experience as an advocate, attending the Allied Media Conference has been "asset" towards improving my organization and it's mission. Learning of this BLOG has inspired me to include it in our advocacy to reach out to the incarcerated, persons such as yourself. I thank you for your blog. I hope my response has help you in some way to know that we on the outside, are listening to those in the inside and your VOICE matters.
Peace and Blessings,
Lillie (Ms. K) Branch-Kennedy
Uma
Cleveland,OH
We read your letter at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit. I liked your ideas. Who do you suggest would be responsible for deciding which articles to include in the newsletter and editing it? Are there ways that people inside prison could be in control of the newsletter?
I work with a national newsletter called Prison Health News, and we are looking for more writers who are currently incarcerated. Your ideas are excellent, and I'm wondering if you would be willing to write for us about health issues at some point. We are looking for 3 types of articles:
1) basic health info about particular conditions like hep c, HIV, asthma, etc, what are the treatments, how to prevent it, etc.
2) how to successfully advocate for yourself and others to get the medical care and mental health care that you need
3) political campaigns that fight for change that will affect a lot of people in prison and their access to good health care or the improvement of their health more broadly.
Please write to me at
Prison Health News
c/o Philadelphia FIGHT
1233 Locust Street, 5th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19107
If you address your letter to me by name, I'll be sure to get it, otherwise someone who is staff there will respond to you.
Keep up the fight, and take care.
In solidarity,
Suzy Subways
I'm reading your post here at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, Michigan. Thank you for sharing your words with the public, they are powerful. It is a shame that people like yourself are stuck inside and not able to grow your skills and work to help the very youth you refer to in your letter. I think your comment about cutting out the pipeline from youth to adult incarceration is so important... when young people are presented with few paths it is no surprise that they should end up following one that is already so present in their lives (like prison). It will never be enough until this whole "justice" system is turned on its head but I will try to fight as hard as I can from the outside, and hope that you manage to maintain the strength and will to fight from the inside.
In solidarity,
Aaron
I am at the Allied Media Conference in a workshop by Blogging between Bars. I just read your letter about the cost of phone calls in MA prisons. I live in Boston and work on prison justice issues. On July 19th there will be a public people's hearing on the high cost of phone calls in and out of MA prisons, which I'm excited to attend. Its been wonderful to be here in Detroit at the AMC to learn from others about this nationwide effort. Stories like yours are invaluable to the process of telling the truth to people on the outside who just don't understand (or take the time to care) about the struggles of people behind bars to connect to family, friends and resources. I'll keep you posted on the what happens at the hearing on July 19th. Hopefully your words will be able to be shared on the 19th too.
Best,
Morrigan Phillips
I'm a Wisconsin native (from Madison) currently living in Louisiana, which has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Your post educated me. I had no idea that "truth in sentencing" means that there is no way for prisoners to obtain an early release.
Thank you for writing about what's going on and your experience.
All the best,
Zoe