Greetings! I'm Anthony Rayson, who spearheads the South Chicago ABC Zine Distro. This is our 20th year of doing this and we now have over 1,200 zines we make available, overwhelmingly free to prisoners. We work directly with prisoners, publish their work and get them back into the prisons. I'd like to comment on the latest two-volume set of The Vent, put together by the brothers comprising the Papyrus Collective, who are death row inmates at San Quentin. I've been publishing their awesome work since 2008 and we now have maybe 15 different pubs of their's available, including the latest double blast Vent. If you're into the unfiltered inner city rap echoing through the heat vents of the heartless catacombs of thy nation's death row dungeons, this is a scathing place to start! Curious about how it feels to have your father murdered by the cops? Wonder what life is like on death row because you refused to be a snitch? Check out their take on the Black Lives Matter movement! I'll tell you what! I am a regular guest on the podcast New American Dream, put out by Revolution Radio. I'm a sort of "voice of the prisoner." Every 3rd Thursday night at 7:45, I do my thing. For the next piece, I'm going to read selections from these two terrific zines. There is wonderful artwork woven throughout both zines, many of it in color. Unfortunately, I can't afford to publish in color, but you'll catch their drift. To order these zines and a catalog listing all the others available, write me at: South Chicago ABC Zine Distro / P.O. Box 721 / Homewood, IL 60430 Right On, Brothers! With Love, @nthony
Congratulation with Vent 2.0. I'm impressed by how many different contributors made this issue happen. Great visuals and I love the new anthem. I'm looking forward to what's next. X Ju
It was recently suggested to me by one of the casual BtB viewers that I should introduce more @Golgotha interviews into the BtB "Interview" categories link section of the site, as well as other category links, where most of the people who visit BtB look to find the post categories for topics that interest them.
The interview category itself seems to lack content, even with the new @Golgotha interviews that dominate the category. I myself just became aware of the tagging feature at BtB, allowing us to file our posts under these categoriey links, not long ago. But I'm now becoming more aware and looking to learn more about the technical ins-and-outs of making my blog more efficient and viewer friendly.
So, starting January-February, look for new @Golgotha content and interviews to feature in the interview category, and post me your comments.
Hey Eric, John again. Its Feb 9th. Just happened to come back to the BTB site and re-read your first day story/recap. Still fascinating. I hope your situation is a bit better these days. I know I read in one of your recent blog posts how things changed a bit for the worse. I replied to a recent post you did and it was mailed, Im not sure, a week or so ago. I was reading another commentor named Jessica's reply from a few years back. Gotta love someone who is direct and no holds barred, eh? haha! She will NOT entertain your romantic whims! lol sorry Jessica, if you see this reply. I just chuckled when I read it. No offense intended, as I understand and applaud your open nature in your reply.
Eric, I have been reading your blog for a while now. It's hard to imagine doing a life sentence. I would never justify what you have been convicted of, but from all I have seen you write I have a deep respect for you. Your writings have helped me considerably. Your writing helps others, which means that you are bringing good back into this world. Bringing good into the world should be every humans main focus. I really enjoyed reading your new kid on the block story. It really shows a 1st hand perspective of a newbie inmate. I hope my short note has given you a little break from where your at and inspired you at least a little. Sincerely, Tipton
Ca va ? It has been already a few months we have been in touch for last time Although I was to replay to your email very next day it did not worked out for there was always something else disturbing me. I wanted to do so for a very particular reason, you have mentioned in your last letter -among many wise things - that I should keep my kids away from social medias which I agree with you, we still do not use facebook and and other tweets or shits...but wat was more incredible to me and hit me strongly is that you sugested me exposing my kids to,few authors of books and just the very day before I received your email I have bought spontaniously while traveling by car to visit my client an audiobook at the gas station and it was a Mark Twain The Prince and the Pauper. Incredible isnt it? So may be there is some strong inmaterial “mind flow” inbeetwen humanbeeings that helps them comunicate without boundries.I wish I knew this.
Anyway how is your strugle with court is there any chance you can improve the system?Will you change anything?I keep my fingers cross. It should be a prison duty not only to punish but also to give a chance ... and hope or Am I wrong?
It is a winter now in Poland quite severe lots of snow and low temperatures And we are going on Saturday on short winter holidays to Switzerland a city called Zermatt it is regarded as a farytail place - no cars allowed only electric vehicles no modern architecture etc. Just wondering how will it be I will let you know in next email how was it.
Take care by now and we stay in touch Be strong and stay with hope Kind Regards Daniel.
hello dear Robert,time runs fast and on February 12th they will send this very letter.Yes, your words about a mom sound so true and thanks for telling me them!Your mom doesn't suffer anymore and your daughter is back.Things to be thankful for.:)I was at a session for computer users today. We always learn new facets there.It's for free.Volunteers do give them to us.In those so called neighborhood houses they help people with their questions concerning to fill in documents, to write letters, to drink a coffee and while meet people, etc.I've two such houses in my neighborhood!I go with my bike. The weather became chilly lately!February is usually our coldest month.One could eat there three large pancakes with whipping cream for 1 euro.Tomorrow I'll present my coordinates to have an exhibition of some paintings in September.They will print it in the next edition!I participated to a workshop of another younger painter, Anneleen.It was given real well!Nowadays the art academies use oils on water base. Less messy then in our time!We had oil and terpentine to dip in our paint brushes.I guess people had an allergy to the smell.People had good results, although some never had painted before!I did paint something joyful,as that day my grandchild in America turned 7 years.I keep contact with Anneleen now.We learn from each other.George had had a hard time from October on, when I had visited him.He had a new man in his cell who wanted sex with him!When the man found out he'd like to change cells,he made life miserable for him!Outgoing letters disappeared and he wrote a letter claiming he assaulted him!Both had to be interviewed by Internal Affairs.Several employees spoke up on George's behalf.But he had to been put under investigation. He was put in solitary, & tossed into a cell with only a toothbrush & paste & a bar of soap, nothing else. Two days later he was given a sheet and a blanket.It was hot and he was overheated and found it hard to breath! And found himself gasping for air! He was in for six days!They moved him in with an old friend.Now George told me he did have frequent flashbacks in his dreams of that awful heat. & the feeling of suffocation from it! And he asked his lawyer and a good friend what to do?There are mental health people he could discuss it with, but he doesn't trust people after what he went through in Hill...It is time I come to visit him. He said it would be super they would look in the wretched conditions in Illinois gulags, which seem to be going downhill almost daily! At the rate they're going, they may soon have to buy bottled air- and that's but a slight hyperbole he writes!It made me sad. It is late here. Bye for now, take very well care of yourself and know that I care, Robert! :)) xxx
These poems kinda reminds me of Nikki Giovanni's more somber works, which is not too frequent. They're depressing, but there's a simple style in them that I like.
Floyd Dear Brother, I heard from Robain. He replied back that you are doing some pretty amazing work and to convey his blessings to you. God bless all of you, Kathy
RSS
If you're into the unfiltered inner city rap echoing through the heat vents of the heartless catacombs of thy nation's death row dungeons, this is a scathing place to start! Curious about how it feels to have your father murdered by the cops? Wonder what life is like on death row because you refused to be a snitch? Check out their take on the Black Lives Matter movement! I'll tell you what! I am a regular guest on the podcast New American Dream, put out by Revolution Radio. I'm a sort of "voice of the prisoner." Every 3rd Thursday night at 7:45, I do my thing. For the next piece, I'm going to read selections from these two terrific zines.
There is wonderful artwork woven throughout both zines, many of it in color. Unfortunately, I can't afford to publish in color, but you'll catch their drift. To order these zines and a catalog listing all the others available, write me at:
South Chicago ABC Zine Distro / P.O. Box 721 / Homewood, IL 60430
Right On, Brothers! With Love, @nthony
It was recently suggested to me by one of the casual BtB viewers that I should introduce more @Golgotha interviews into the BtB "Interview" categories link section of the site, as well as other category links, where most of the people who visit BtB look to find the post categories for topics that interest them.
The interview category itself seems to lack content, even with the new @Golgotha interviews that dominate the category. I myself just became aware of the tagging feature at BtB, allowing us to file our posts under these categoriey links, not long ago. But I'm now becoming more aware and looking to learn more about the technical ins-and-outs of making my blog more efficient and viewer friendly.
So, starting January-February, look for new @Golgotha content and interviews to feature in the interview category, and post me your comments.
Piankhi
Anyway, take care man!
-John
Ca va ?
It has been already a few months we have been in touch for last time
Although I was to replay to your email very next day it did not worked out for there was always something else disturbing me.
I wanted to do so for a very particular reason, you have mentioned in your last letter -among many wise things - that I should keep my kids away from social medias which I agree with you, we still do not use facebook and and other tweets or shits...but wat was more incredible to me and hit me strongly is that you sugested me exposing my kids to,few authors of books and just the very day before I received your email I have bought spontaniously while traveling by car to visit my client an audiobook at the gas station and it was a Mark Twain The Prince and the Pauper.
Incredible isnt it?
So may be there is some strong inmaterial “mind flow” inbeetwen humanbeeings that helps them comunicate without boundries.I wish I knew this.
Anyway how is your strugle with court is there any chance you can improve the system?Will you change anything?I keep my fingers cross. It should be a prison duty not only to punish but also to give a chance ... and hope or Am I wrong?
It is a winter now in Poland quite severe lots of snow and low temperatures
And we are going on Saturday on short winter holidays to Switzerland a city called Zermatt it is regarded as a farytail place - no cars allowed only electric vehicles no modern architecture etc.
Just wondering how will it be
I will let you know in next email how was it.
Take care by now and we stay in touch
Be strong and stay with hope
Kind Regards Daniel.
These poems kinda reminds me of Nikki Giovanni's more somber works, which is not too frequent. They're depressing, but there's a simple style in them that I like.
I heard from Robain. He replied back that you are doing some pretty amazing work and to convey his blessings to you.
God bless all of you,
Kathy