Daniel Gwynn 1/3/13
Reply ID: y9hd

Nicki,

Firstly, I wish to commend you on your journey as a single mom and student. I know from my own experience that it's not easy doing it all by yourself. I have the utmost respect for you and all single mothers.

I deeply appreciate your comments, and I did understand your meaning, although I do not agree with the "Puppy" analogy. We're more like caged Tigers, because we also get angry and lash out.

About 9 years ago, the administration attempted to remove our TVs & radios from our cells. This action was squashed immediately after the guards spoke up stating that, "The TVs & radios are what kept the prisoners sedated, and the focus off the guards". Their jobs would literally become a lot harder & more dangerous without them.

We're grown men locked down in 8x10' cages 24/7, and ordered around like dogs. Our nature rebels against oppression & disrespect. Many of us still remember what the "White Man" has done to our people: Slavery; Racism; Lynchings; etc. The majority of the prisoners here are black, and the majority of the guards are white. The conditions of our confinement are oppressive, and racist guards don't help it none.

In Philadelphia (PA.), the streets were littered with corruption, racism & discrimination by "white" cops, prosecutors, judges & politicians -- who've all put us in here via lies & deceptions. The police forced us to sell their drugs & weapons, or get beat down or locked up; The judges & prosecutors would look the other way, and hand out stiff sentences; and politicians would use us to advance their careers or some political agenda.

In sum, although I personally bear no animosity towards white people, we have a broken system full of triggers that could incite Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to overcome his non-violent stance and lash out. The bad behavior of some guards, the oppressive conditions, in conjunction with our emotional & mental distress can cause us to become that caged Tiger lashing out.

Daniel Gwynn