@Golgotha
Vox populi Vox Dei
The voice of the people is the voice of God

There exists a documented conversation between men hanging on crosses after being given the death penalty. One of those men is still a major figure in the lives of people all over the world and yet there are now thousands of people on death row around the world. Go figure.

For far too long, the media and other agencies have represented captives on death row from a narrow window, from the outside, and the results are often one-sided, misleading, and straight up false. Papco inspires the world to experience unedited conversations between the souls hanging on the cross at the place of the skull—Golgotha.

The institutional Instruction Manual for Legal Murder has not changed. When the people are forced to focus on the person on the cross, by default, the condition itself at the same time forces the people not to focus on the systematic overthrow of the underclass, a scheme to silence the people, hidden in plain sight.

Gone are the day so the just executing old child molesters and the serial killer. There now exists a new type of political prisoner being held captive on death row, the New Generation of targeted inner city youth accuse of committing "street level crimes" who are given death sentences in exchange for the political and capital advancement of corrupt law enforcement agents, attorneys, and judges.

The discussion of Golgotha continues.

Date:
Location: California death row, San Quentin State Prison
Golgotha, The Place of the Skull
Questions by: XZYZST
Response by:

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Golgotha, The Place of the Skull

XZ: In line with our new growing culture, let me respectfully acknowledge you as a true price of our people and openly display what an honor it is to be in your presence. New Generation Rising, yeah.

MNY: My motto in life is Proverbs 27-17. My energy is motivated by positive people in my life so I share my friendship and knowledge as best as I can.

XZ: Let the people know where you grew up.

MNY: I grew up in California, but I'm originally from Mexico. I was raised here (in USA).

XZ: How old were you on the day you got arrested, to be on the road and end up on death row?

MNY: I was only 21.

XZ: Man, every time I ask that question, I realize it's the hardest question for me because I've got to brace myself for the answer. It's a haunting revelation now more and more of our youth are ending up on death row. Crazy, huh?

MNY: I believe it to be a political move by those in office or working their way up. To earn a spot where they desire to be, they throw us under the bus to gain votes, got... Overall, it's all political, and greed of money, all in between.

XZ: Is this place anything like you thought it would be? Explain your brief observations so far.

MNY: I can't quite say just yet. I have not experienced an actual program. My standards aren't too far from short. My expectations aren't much and my growth in spirituality is high. So it oversees many obstacles that try to get in my way.

XZ: One day, we are going to look back and compare your answer to that question to all of the others and trip out how our Entire Generation sees the same things in the same place. What do you do to stay focused and out of the way of the distractions that existed here before you got here?

MNY: Before here, my soul was lost. But my time and focus are spent on drawing, writing, reading, workouts, and all else that I do, such as watching TV, listening to the radio, etc. My time here goes by too fast.

XZ: You know, without knowing who raised you, I can tell that your people are reflected in your artwork and character because you haven't even met Piankhi yet, and you have already embraced the positive moment our new generation by becoming involved through your art and words to help other youth. Was your mom's and pop's stuff like this or are you into ministry or something? Tell the people what influences you to be how you are now.

MNY: My influence is ministry, Mother Theresa, and people who are about positive—who like to strive and improve. Example, Steve Jobs, the owner of Apple—who just died. His words, courage, is an inspiration. He seemed to be in touch spiritually.

XZ: Now that you've said that, let me ask you this: you know the saying "It takes a village to raise a child." What is one thing you always wanted that you did not get from your village?

MNY: I can't say. I had everything I wanted. I can't explain. Maybe love. But I had that too. We all do, we just ignore it. It's there at home. Your family loves you.

XZ: That's an answer that might help somebody one day. Man, I got two teenage kids, a son and a daughter. I want you to imagine speaking to millions of teenagers right now. What is the one piece of advice you could tell them about how to prevent themselves from coming here, to death row as a captive?

MNY: Like many have told me, don't touch the stove, you'll get burned. And I still did it and it took that burn to learn. Instead, I'll tell you to get a piece of paper, and write down what you want from life and what it will take to get there. What are your desires, what do you want? Focus and place your energy on that list. Tape it next to the mirror so, when you look at yourself each day, not only do you see yourself, you see what could be your future right next to the mirror. Good or bad, there will be obstacles—which are like tests. You have the most important tool in your life, which is common sense. A brain. Utilize it.

XZ: When we was kids, I remember seeing those so-called "motivational speakers" come try to tell us what to do, and I was like, "These fools sound hella corny, and soft." But I've never spoken to nobody literally hanging on a cross on death row before. So we at Papco believe your words can be real to our next generation because, no matter how we sound, we are coming from a realistic position. And ain't nobody forcing us to do this. We doing this because not only we qualified to do it, but I believe I owe my community to give back in this way. So I said all of that to ask you why, why are you choosing to advocate for the positive development of our youth?

MNY: Because I've been ROBBED of my life. I blame myself. But your character and who you are or become are based on your peers, your surroundings. Kids see, learn from others—or tell me, did you learn how to tie your shoes all by yourself?

XZ: Let's go deeper, yeah? The other day I heard you speaking on the effects of alcohol in your family. I'm not going to ask you to do a review of your war. for this question, I want to do something different. I want you to literally target your brother as if he was reading this interview. Be straight out. Get at him, right now. What do you want to say to him?

MNY: I would rather keep that part private, no disrespect. But I'll say to the next person with similar problems that a drug, alcohol, or real drugs only weaken your mind, way, or life. They don't make you prosper or reach a higher level of human knowledge. You can waste life by not accomplishing much or everything you desire, but why waste the brain? The possibilities... it is disguised way of hurting yourself. Throwing everything away. This, I will share with you. My words are short and simple. I have explained all that, and I believe there must be other ways that DON'T WORK! I'd rather say grab all the kids, look into their faces, and ask yourself—would you like for them to be hungry, lost on the streets, or suffer, cry, or have them go through all that pain? When you answer that, do something about it!

XZ: You see, this is how we get down at Papco. People need to understand that just because we are on death row doesn't mean we stop being who we are. Feel me? Some of our people are in as much trouble as everybody else, and bars, cells, and yards don't define us. Your brother now has all of us as brothers, and ain't nobody saying to stop drinking. Men, we saying as men, figure out what life is worth. Is your life worth driving buzzed? You ain't got to be drunk to crash or fall down and not be able to get back up again. Regain control. You ain't got to knock down the whole damn bottle to have a good time. Problems are to be solved, not avoided by getting pissy drunk. Okay, we are not there, but you are. You have us still here with you, forever. You are the new leader of our New Generation and, young bro, let me tell you—you got a house full of little girls who is going to become teenagers one day. You need to gain control now because they are watching you lose control. What is too many drinks worth? Real talk, ask yourself—what is too many drinks worth to you? Now ask the girls what you mean to them. Compare both answers, and wake up.

MNY: Thank you.

XZ: Speaking of waking up. Man, what an honor it is for me to collaborate with you on the take a stance against all forms of discrimination project. I'm no artist, and I had no idea of how "The Stance" symbol/glyph was going to appear on a T-shirt until you made it come alive with your talented artwork. How long have you been an artist, and what is, if any, in your opinion about how the arts are being taken out of the schools?

MNY: I've been drawing since I was 11. I had tagger friends, and I used to go to ART classes at a studio where I used to draw on the streets. It's a good thing. I also used to enjoy plays and see people play instruments, such as piano, guitar, etc. If I was able to raise money, I'd open up a studio for the kids and try to intervene as much as I could. I would like one in each place (San Francisco and LA), and make big events for people to be attracted, and share good info like what you have in mind. People and people alone can make it happen. We just need the will and a network!

XZ: Tell the people what you plan to do with your percentage of the proceeds from the sale of the first version of "The Stance" T-shirt in our campaign to eradicate discrimination in all its forms, all over the world.

MNY: I know there's many charities, etc. that I can donate to, which I will. But I want it to be at a more personal level! Like, see that a kid in Oakland who was poor and in a poor family get clothes, shoes, food, etc. And urge the people to do the same for the next person (like in the movie Pay it Forward).

My last words
"A man is but product of his thoughts;
what he thinks, that he becomes."
By Mohandas K. Gandhi

Mine
"If you water the plants—you will get the outcome that you want, the growth."
(Beautiful plants)

XZ: There it is, there. I want to end this a lot like how this same conversation ended in the scripture. You have a lot to offer this world, men. Your value has not yet been measured. Take me with you when you come into your kingdom.

MNY: Today, you will reign with me in paradise.

XZ: What about this cat hanging to the left of us?

MNY: Man, living stupid is one thing, but dying stupid comes with a greater cost because no one wants to be left behind in any realm. He can get right or left, but only he can get what he wants. What's with the biblical tone in all of this?

XZ: Because people don't realize how the death of Jesus' story is almost identical to how we also ended up having this conversation from death row circa 2012.

MNY: I get it. That's crazy, huh?

XZ: Yep, criminally insane.

Location: California death row, San Quentin State Prison
Golgotha, The Place of the Skull
Questions by: Sniper XZYZST
Response by: Manny