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James, 47

James, 47

Stories

Meet James…

“I believe we as prisoners can and should unite by utilizing every resource possible to expose, and subsequently compel legislatures to change laws!”

Incarcerated: All my adult life minus 13 months

Housed: Lakeland Correctional Facility, MI

This is my third life sentence, no murder, no serious physical injuries, no sex crimes or continued pattern of crime. My crime was bad, but not worthy of a Death in Custody sentence. 

My real crime: Exercising my rights to self-representation.  I’ve been reduced to a spiritual being. I’m a realist not buying into bullshit. I believe we as prisoners can and should unite by utilizing every resource possible to expose, and subsequently compel legislatures to change laws. In here, I started a dialogue five years ago with others. I wanted to throw around some ideas and get the legal minds in here familiar with each other.

My two cents at the table concerned having the “Exception clause”  of the 13th amendment rescinded. It happened in Colorado! I highly recommend that if anyone is in contact with any prisoners in Colorado, please let them know that as a result of the “Slavery Exception” clause being removed from their state’s constitution, they can and should assert all rights possible: voting, cellphones, minimum wage jobs etc….  

I know it will take time for the imprisoned mind to awaken; but we need to let them know. I am extra grateful to the men in California who pushed for us all to get stimulus checks.  Big thanks and I hope they will correspond with me, so we can exchange some legal knowledge. California also has the ear of Nancy Pelosi, who can encourage the Federal Government to rescind the 13th amendment’s exception clause. If the Feds do it, the states will have to follow suit. After all, who in their right mind would oppose removing slavery language from anything right now?

Carey, 40

Carey, 40

Stories

Meet Carey…

“I was in a bad place a year ago with drugs and depression and now today I am hopeful and I realize that I matter and I’m beautiful. And that I deserve to live a good normal Free life.”

Incarcerated: 8 years

Housed: West Tennessee State Prison

I have spent the majority of my life in prison for forgery and theft of property. Today I have 40 convicted felonies on record. I once had a family but they have all passed. I had six children who are grown and I hope one day to find. I’ve been a drug addict and a fool up until recently.

I am currently in a therapeutic community program and will graduate in April. I’m reestablishing myself, getting to know Carey again and working on goals to get me to where and who I need and deserve to be. I have another parole date in September of 2022,  I am trying to find a place to live, like a halfway house that will meet my needs.

I want to get into prison reform, activism and become an alcohol and drug counselor. I am starting fresh, from scratch and I need a lot of help. I was in a bad place a year ago with drugs and depression and today I am hopeful. I realize that I matter, I’m beautiful and that I deserve to live a good normal free life. 📸

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HoSQ

jeweler03

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Edwin, 45

Edwin, 45

Stories

Meet Edwin…

My mom has six kids, five boys. Two are doing life, one was murdered. Half a rotten apple is how she got the deal.

Growing up  I never heard the words, I love you.

My crimes stemmed from my own search for love. I spent years in solitary confinement and heard those words from my mother for the first time at the age of 23. It was weird, uncomfortable. I thought she was dying. It was my first contact visit after I got out of the Security Housing Unit (SHU) in Pelican Bay. When I was seven, my mother migrated to California. I was left to grow up on the streets of El Salvador during a civil war. I didn’t have time to be a kid or go to school. My stepdad spoiled me and I became the breadwinner of the family.

When I came to the states, I was behind in school and felt like an outcast. My mother was emotionally detached from me, but close to my  siblings. As a child, my mom was physically and emotionally abused. I have learned that you can’t make someone love you. Love can be tricky, when you haven’t heard those words. The first time I heard them was from a fellow gang member, “Hey, I love you man.” My immediate response was “I am not gay” he told me he thought of me as a brother. 

In solitary confinement, I taught myself to read and write. My “neighbors” in the next cells and I started a competition. We would show each other flash cards made from milk cartons with words from the dictionary and their origins. Whoever got them wrong did pushups. My arms got tired of losing so I wised up. Academically I struggled. Being the breadwinner from the age of seven. I never went to school, no exaggeration. I was exposed to countless acts of violence. I became desensitized to it. I was told I was “no good” by my stepdad. I felt like an outcast when I saw my other siblings being hugged and told that they were loved in my presence. I would just sit there motionless, wondering “Why doesn’t anyone love me?” As a result I grew emotionally detached.

Life taught me early that you can’t make someone love you. I feel love for and a responsibility to the Spanish community. It’s why I write for the San Quentin News and translate for Humans of San Quentin. I want to humanize myself and others. I want people to know that it is ok to call 911, to reach out for help, to speak up. 

Andrew “Drew”, 45

Stories

Regardless, I’m staying committed to being a better person and I’m inspired by those who succeed. Besides, I’ve been down so long that I have no choice but to come up.

Incarcerated: 9 years
Housed: Stafford Creek Corrections Center, Washington

I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on myself and my circumstances, and now with my sentence getting shorter and loneliness kicking in, I’ve been on a personal quest lately to find my love after lockup, while watching 90 day fiancé on TLC every Sunday and Monday faithfully. While manifesting that special woman I desire in my life to fill this empty void. I’ve resorted to posting ads on a few pen pal sites and to my surprise, I’ve actually connected with some interesting people from all over the world. It’s always refreshing to bridge the gap and bring two worlds together. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to find that special someone.

Imagine it’s late at night, approaching the midnight hours and you’re bored laying in bed watching television, but nothing seems to be worth watching…just when you start to doze off you’re awoken by the sounds of sad music and on the television screen are depictions of dogs and cats. The ASPCA person starts speaking, “for the low amount of only $19.00 a month, that’s less than .63 cents a day…YOU can help one of these abandoned and abused animals that have been left behind cold and starving. Sometimes I feel like a Pound Puppy, trapped in the Humane Society, often viewed and people say things like, “you’re so cute”. However, for whatever reason these same people never actually make the commitment.

Regardless, I’m staying committed to being a better person and I’m inspired by those who succeed. Besides, I’ve been down so long that I have no choice but to come up.

​

Lovette, 48

Lovette, 48

Stories

Incarcerated: 8 years

Housed: Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, New York

I am an inspiring writer who has been utterly transformed through my incarceration. I have gone from a victim mentality to victorious overcomer. I have suffered abandonment from my family to gaining a new family. I advocate for empowerment through my writing crusade and personal struggles. It’s not only helped myself but helped others. Through the blessing of this experience I’ve become stronger, more resilient and more motivated than ever before. Giving back has made  me a part of something larger than myself. Through my interactions and observations I feel I now have a means to impart change in the corrections department. I am thriving and the best part is I’m helping others thrive too. The joy of having persons express to me how my work has helped them hang in or lifted their spirits is the cherry on top of my beyond blessed incarcerated life.

BREAK THE CYCLE
In order to raise stronger men and women
We have to nurture. Protect and invest wisely in them.

Setting strong examples for the youth to follow-
Teaching them depth of character-Not being shallow.

The KEY is education and being a consistent, loving presence in their lives.
Ending GANG VIOLENCE. The senseless killing with guns and knives.

MENTORING THE YOUTH-showing them correctly right from wrong.
Instilling good work ethics so their rap sheets aren’t long.

Stressing the importance of a hard earned dollar-
Being pleased with the works of their own 2 hands—HOLLA!

Training a child up in the way they should go-
Disciplining them lovingly helps them to grow.

Our youth are the future – THE NEXT GENERATION
Responsibility and accountability 4 ALL
To improve this GREAT NATION!
IN A WORLD WHERE YOU CAN BE ANYTHING…
CHOOSE TO BE KIND!

TRIUMPHANT

Listen here now obstacles…
Though you seek to deter me
I’ll go over, around and through-
I refuse to be discouraged or shut down by you!

Struggles in life have made me skilled in navigation
Learning how to maneuver, regroup and move forward-
NOT being crippled by stagnation

Triumphant amid injustice, abuse and sorrow
Many times NOT even wanting to see tomorrow
My experiences made me who I am today
I trusted in My Savior to show my the way

What sought to DESTROY me
I thankfully persevered and overcame
FINALLY coming to a place of HEALING
My life JOYFULLY will NEVER be the same!

TO FORGIVE

FORGIVE as you have been forgiven-
Make amends while you are still living.

Don’t allow grudges to hold you back-
Bitterness causes you to go off track.

Allow love in your heart to let healing begin-
Harboring hatred is a most deadly sin.

Unforgiveness separates us from others-
We’re God’s children; sisters and brothers.

Do something nice for someone who’s hurt you
Show them kindness and mercy – at least try to.

It’s a difficult task but so worth your while-
Who knows-give it a shot to make them smile.

You may restore the relationship – if it was broken –
Granting their secret wish which was unspoken.

Break down the walls with prayer, kind acts and love
Apology gladly accepted – with blessings from above!

Read Her Poetry

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