Dear Daniel, I'm so sorry for the late reply; I didn't see this until this week (the first week of September), but I assure you that I was moved by your letter. What a motivational writer you are! I really can relate to your advice and appreciate you sharing it with me. I love the way you describe finding your voice and the way you view challenges- almost like tests trying your character. That's a brilliant and optimistic way to think at life. I too find my strengths by helping others. For this reason, I'm thinking about majoring in social work at the University of Michigan- I haven't declared my major yet, but have until the end of the year (my sophomore year) to do so. The thing is, I love helping people in many ways and can't decide which way is the best to do so. I have dreams of going to Kenya to help in some way...perhaps somehow with world hunger. But at the same time, I know that there are plenty of people in American who need help as well. Any advice? All I know is that I need to help people to feel like I'm making a difference in this world. Well, thanks for your reply and I hope all is well with you!
I think its an awesome idea I had a dad who was in prison and he got great education but he served time for something he didn't do I wish justice would be served for him but now he is already out is it too late for him to try to fight his crime?
Kyle, since they are fictional characters the evidence would have to be within the play. You will know better than I, but I believe Shakespeare does not provide that info.
Wow Amondo, I think you should submit some of your poetry to my school. I go to the Residential College at the University of Michigan and we're looking for work like this! I hope you consider it! And keep up the good work! :) Here's the information about how to submit:
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS The Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing Submit your poems, short stories and essays for publication
The Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) is accepting submissions for The Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing, Volume 6. The review will be published in March 2014 and launched with readings in Ann Arbor and Detroit.
We seek writing that is original, unexpected, well-crafted, lively, and creative. We welcome work from both beginning and experienced writers. We expect many submissions, so please send only your best work. Writers whose work is published will receive a free copy of the review, if approved by your facility.
Guidelines Submissions will be accepted from July 24 to September 15, 2013.
Submit no more than three poems, one short story, or one essay. Poems should be 1-2 pages (typed or handwritten); essays and short stories should be under 2500 words (ten double-spaced typed pages, or twenty handwritten pages).
Entries may be typed or handwritten. If you handwrite, make sure your writing is legible (readable by others).
Format your piece so that it looks on the page the way you want it to look in the book. Consider aspects such as line breaks, spacing, punctuation, and spelling.
Write or type your full name at the top of each page, and number the pages.
All pieces must be accompanied by a submission form. Please talk to your Special Activities Director regarding this form.
Only submit work that you, personally, have written.
Please do not send in the only copy of your work. We cannot return submissions.
Only submissions that follow the above directions will be read.
Send work to: Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing c/o PCAP@ Residential College 1801 East Quad 701 East University Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1245
PART 2 My partner was shocked & it was great to see him thinking outside of his usual space. It also gave us much in-depth discussion which is much appreciated. He works as a security guard & does some shifts occasionally at our shopping centers so I've heard him make what I consider to be ignorant, sweeping comments about the things he's seen throughout his day. Of course I would never say that to him because that is what he sees. It's his perspective, but I know this documentary has him thinking about things more deeply. I've said things don't happen in a vacuum, there's always a reason, & this doco describes a lot of those reasons, the major one being the removal of industry and jobs within major cities so new industries, underground industries such as drugs are formed but the problems are confounded by specific races being confined to certain parts of a city, then not being able to seek approval for a mortgage as areas are zoned 'red zones' and Police are paid (and promoted) for the number of arrests, not for crimes solved and the confounding issues keep stacking higher & higher leaving these people with few options.
It showed how Chinese smoked Opium in the 1800s, so opium was criminalized, yet the drugs of choice of women & white people at the time were not. Then it was the drug of choice of Mexican's that was outlawed, and so they were the next population criminalized and then; the separation of cocaine and crack cocaine in the 80s & 90s. As upper-class rich people snorted cocaine in powder form... African American's were smoking it so the disparity in sentencing between the 2 was enforced... again, vilifying the poorer classes at the rate of 100:1 [How can this be allowed to happen!?]
I'm sure I've said it to you before, but this collated all of it into black and white in 1hr 45mins... America provides the Justice systems of the world the PERFECT example of what not to do!
It was a clear explanation as to how governments have used their power through enacting unfair laws and using techniques of scaremongering to create the mess that is today, the American prison monster, and an attack on those seen as the 'other'. There was no mention of issues of mental health, or specific issues inside prisons, so I saw nothing specific to your circumstances, but it was a wonderful resource for my purposes of study & I'm very grateful to you for sharing the link with us all. I'll see what I can find for you in print but wow! How eye opening!
RSS
I'm so sorry for the late reply; I didn't see this until this week (the first week of September), but I assure you that I was moved by your letter. What a motivational writer you are! I really can relate to your advice and appreciate you sharing it with me. I love the way you describe finding your voice and the way you view challenges- almost like tests trying your character. That's a brilliant and optimistic way to think at life. I too find my strengths by helping others. For this reason, I'm thinking about majoring in social work at the University of Michigan- I haven't declared my major yet, but have until the end of the year (my sophomore year) to do so. The thing is, I love helping people in many ways and can't decide which way is the best to do so. I have dreams of going to Kenya to help in some way...perhaps somehow with world hunger. But at the same time, I know that there are plenty of people in American who need help as well. Any advice? All I know is that I need to help people to feel like I'm making a difference in this world. Well, thanks for your reply and I hope all is well with you!
I think you should submit some of your poetry to my school. I go to the Residential College at the University of Michigan and we're looking for work like this!
I hope you consider it! And keep up the good work! :)
Here's the information about how to submit:
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
The Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing
Submit your poems, short stories and essays for publication
The Prison Creative Arts Project (PCAP) is accepting submissions for The Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing, Volume 6. The review will be published in March 2014 and launched with readings in Ann Arbor and Detroit.
We seek writing that is original, unexpected, well-crafted, lively, and creative. We welcome work from both beginning and experienced writers. We expect many submissions, so please send only your best work. Writers whose work is published will receive a free copy of the review, if approved by your facility.
Guidelines
Submissions will be accepted from July 24 to September 15, 2013.
Submit no more than three poems, one short story, or one essay. Poems should be 1-2 pages (typed or handwritten); essays and short stories should be under 2500 words (ten double-spaced typed pages, or twenty handwritten pages).
Entries may be typed or handwritten. If you handwrite, make sure your writing is legible (readable by others).
Format your piece so that it looks on the page the way you want it to look in the book. Consider aspects such as line breaks, spacing, punctuation, and spelling.
Write or type your full name at the top of each page, and number the pages.
All pieces must be accompanied by a submission form. Please talk to your Special Activities Director regarding this form.
Only submit work that you, personally, have written.
Please do not send in the only copy of your work. We cannot return submissions.
Only submissions that follow the above directions will be read.
Send work to:
Michigan Review of Prisoner Creative Writing
c/o PCAP@ Residential College
1801 East Quad
701 East University
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1245
My partner was shocked & it was great to see him thinking outside of his usual space. It also gave us much in-depth discussion which is much appreciated. He works as a security guard & does some shifts occasionally at our shopping centers so I've heard him make what I consider to be ignorant, sweeping comments about the things he's seen throughout his day. Of course I would never say that to him because that is what he sees. It's his perspective, but I know this documentary has him thinking about things more deeply. I've said things don't happen in a vacuum, there's always a reason, & this doco describes a lot of those reasons, the major one being the removal of industry and jobs within major cities so new industries, underground industries such as drugs are formed but the problems are confounded by specific races being confined to certain parts of a city, then not being able to seek approval for a mortgage as areas are zoned 'red zones' and Police are paid (and promoted) for the number of arrests, not for crimes solved and the confounding issues keep stacking higher & higher leaving these people with few options.
It showed how Chinese smoked Opium in the 1800s, so opium was criminalized, yet the drugs of choice of women & white people at the time were not. Then it was the drug of choice of Mexican's that was outlawed, and so they were the next population criminalized and then; the separation of cocaine and crack cocaine in the 80s & 90s. As upper-class rich people snorted cocaine in powder form... African American's were smoking it so the disparity in sentencing between the 2 was enforced... again, vilifying the poorer classes at the rate of 100:1 [How can this be allowed to happen!?]
I'm sure I've said it to you before, but this collated all of it into black and white in 1hr 45mins... America provides the Justice systems of the world the PERFECT example of what not to do!
It was a clear explanation as to how governments have used their power through enacting unfair laws and using techniques of scaremongering to create the mess that is today, the American prison monster, and an attack on those seen as the 'other'. There was no mention of issues of mental health, or specific issues inside prisons, so I saw nothing specific to your circumstances, but it was a wonderful resource for my purposes of study & I'm very grateful to you for sharing the link with us all. I'll see what I can find for you in print but wow! How eye opening!
Take care my friend!
Nicki