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Chimezie, 40

Chimezie, 40

Stories

Meet Chimezie…

Through her letters, poetry, song lyrics, phone calls, visits, deep thought provoking conversation, and mental stimuli, Beauty helped me elevate beyond the wallows of my self pity.

Chimezie, 40
Incarcerated: 20 years
Housed: Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, Shirley, Massachusetts

In the early years of my bid, I never slowed down long enough to write letters. I was always in some form of trouble. If I wasn’t lifting weights, I was chasing someone who owed money. If I wasn’t in the hole, I was headed to the hole. An intellectual connection with a female was the last thing on my mind. I lived in a crime college, and criminality served as my solace. That changed when a friend introduced me to a young lady, I’ll call Beauty.

Beauty and I began exchanging letters, then phone calls, and eventually she came to the prison to visit me. I remained non-committal and detached. My primary focus was on the wrong things. In 2013, the Supreme Judicial Court denied my direct appeal, and the reality of a lifetime prison sentence became a realistic reality. I was devastated. I was on the floor y’all. I tried to pull away from Beauty, but she pulled me closer to her. Through her letters, poetry, song lyrics, phone calls, visits, deep thought provoking conversation, and mental stimuli, Beauty helped me elevate beyond the wallows of my self pity. My mind was able to transcend the imposed limitations of prison and depression, through Beauty’s otherworldly devotion to our bond. Beauty nurtured me back to form with love. When I was close to defeat, I rose to my feet. The universe sent me an angel that changed the trajectory of my life. I’m humbled and forever grateful.I’ve learned firsthand, love is the only emotion strong enough to override human nature. Love is divine power. Inspiration through love is a divine influencer.

To Beauty, you saved me from myself. To the women loving incarcerated citizens of our communities despite conventional wisdom telling them to do otherwise: You are the heartbeat of an often forgotten tribe. To my fellow incarcerated citizens, follow your hearts, and dare to love. Love truly conquers all. May peace be with you. Always and forever.

Gerardo “Jerry” “Junebug”, 39

Gerardo “Jerry” “Junebug”, 39

Stories

Meet Gerardo…

Prior to prison I was a college athlete running track and playing baseball. I had a full time job as a fitness counselor and had a beautiful, kind loving pitbull named Eva.

Gerardo “Jerry,” “Junebug”, 39
Incarcerated: 16 years
Housed: Centinela State Prison, Imperial, California

Prior to prison I was a college athlete running track and playing baseball. I had a full time job as a fitness counselor and had a beautiful, kind loving pitbull named Eva. My life was tied together by sports. I always felt it was my ticket to a brighter future. I constantly found myself surrounded by friends having a good time. Today I realize I never had any real friends because every one of them has turned their backs on me. Being alone has been the hardest adjustment I’ve had to make, now I understand the true meaning of family and friendship. I truly value those who have stood by me during these hard times. It’s easy to take things for granted, but I can’t do that. I embrace the things I don’t have and honor the things I do. I’ve spent many days and nights searching deep inside myself to find where I went wrong and why things turned out this way. I’ve made a lot of changes for the better to become the best version of myself and to praise those who walk this journey by my side and if I’m ever given an opportunity to regain my life, the first thing on my list is to show people how much I appreciate them. We all make mistakes in our lives and sometimes there are consequences for our poor choices. It’s what we do in our efforts to change and learn from our actions.

Even though I am locked up, I’d like to think I can do some good and lend my voice to someone out there in hopes my story can make a difference. My new voice is spoken through my art. It is also the sole reason Humans of San Quentin came to hear of me, through my platform on, Art For Redemption. I came into prison scared and confused and only worthy of drawing stick figures. I was sitting in isolation and my neighbor came to check on me and saw I wasn’t doing well. He suggested I try drawing, but I had no skills. He continued to visit me and each day he gave me tips and showed me his techniques enough to where I could fly on my own; that was 16 years ago. Today, my art has touched every corner of the globe and it’s how I’ve become inspired to continue with people out there in the real world picking me up with praise, letting me know I matter and I’ve done something to draw their interest. My passion lies in the emotions I put on paper, sometimes sad and sometimes happy. It all translates to the same language when a piece is complete. 

Christopher, 26

Stories

Meet Christopher…

We were out eating dinner with her family, when I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. We were married by a lake while on vacation, and have been married ever since and have two more kids.

Christopher, 26
Incarcerated: 2 years
Housed: East Arkansas Regional Unit, Marianna, Arkansas

How I Met My Wife

I was staying with a buddy of mine and we went to pick up a friend of his. While we are chilling and his girlfriend calls. He’s talking to her while texting another girl, and it pisses me off.  So I get on Facebook and send a message to his girlfriend and tell her the truth about what her boyfriend is doing. She asks for proof and I give it to her.  So she broke up with him. She and I stay friends and eventually go on a couple dates. I moved in with her and her daughter Carlee. We were out eating dinner with her family, when I got on one knee and asked her to marry me. We were married by a lake while on vacation, and have been married ever since and have two more kids. She was 20, I was 21 when we got married but we are not together anymore.

Larry, 44

Larry, 44

Stories

Meet Larry…

Certain struggles that every young person needs to go through to find out what it really means to be an adult. I never went through that. I was a boy inside a man’s body.

Larry, 44
Incarcerated: 19 years
Housed: San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California

I haven’t always been triumphant in life. I had a challenging childhood growing up in South Los Angeles. I was 25 years old when I ended the life of another human being. I have served a total of 27 years in juvenile and adult correctional facilities. As an adolescent I was a very skilled poet and began to dream of someday landing a record deal and becoming recognized in the hip-hop community. I made poor choices and landed in juvie. Everything in my life accelerated. I missed my teens and went straight to my twenties. There are things that happen during those years that build a young person’s character. Certain struggles that every young person needs to go through to find out what it really means to be an adult. I never went through that. I was a boy inside a man’s body. I was born with certain gifts but I didn’t have the emotional intelligence to use them in the right way. I was gifted with the ability to lead people and to figure things out in ways that most people can’t. Yet, I didn’t harness the restraint and patience to do the right things with my talents.

Today, I’m making the right moves and channeling my genius into becoming the first resident to leave San Quentin and publish emotional intelligence board games and disrupt the US toy and game industry. Join me and let’s raise the collective emotional quotient around the world.  

Wyatt, 23

Stories

Meet Wyatt…

I’ve battled with addiction and losing the most cherished person to me: my mother. What helps me get through this time is never forgetting the love and memory of my mother.

Wyatt, 23
Incarcerated: 5 years
Housed: East Arkansas Regional Unit, Marianna, Arkansas

I’ve battled with addiction and losing the most cherished person to me: my mother. What helps me get through this time is never forgetting the love and memory of my mother. One day, it led me to wake up and tell myself that I’m through living like this. I want somthing better. I quit getting high cold turkey and continue to push myself further each day. I work out constantly, all in the efforts of making my mother proud, even if she isn’t physically with me. I have almost gotten my GED, (one test away) and will finally have completed a hard-earned goal.

I still plan to achieve more each and every day, not only to become a better man, but to show my mom looking down on me, she didn’t fail in raising me. So, I don’t only write to Humans of San Quentin or to my mother; I’m sharing to anyone who’s looking for that small light at the end of the tunnel.

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