Ojore is an innocent man wrongly convicted in 1999 for crimes he adamantly insists he did not commit. He is housed on California’s Death Row at San Quentin State Prison. Ojore is a published poet whose pen is raw and unrelenting in expression and emotion. His poetry speaks to the real life experiences of love, struggle and hardships of prison, poverty, and growing up Black in America.
This collection of poems describes his background and early life in the projects of Newark and L.A. and his personal journey during 21 years of incarceration. These are poems about growing up on the streets: loyal and not so loyal relationships, anger with the failings of the police and legal systems and the ongoing legacy of slavery.
But Ajamu also wants to share the joy of being alive. He celebrates his family: the warmth and love of his mother, aunt Sista, grandfather and his pride in his daughter. He looks beyond his own life to his deep connection with his ancestors and reaches out to connect with others be it the Tuareg people of North Africa or earthquake survivors in Haiti.
Challenging and moving, these poems ask us not only to review the conviction of an individual and the preconceptions we have about equality in our society, but also to find a profound reverence for life itself.
Author’s Biography:
I am a father, grandfather, poet, artist and essayist, but more importantly I am an innocent man stranded on California’s Death Row. Decades living on the row has shaped me into a prisoner of conscience and conscience. Not only have I had time to self-reflect but I have engaged in self-rehabilitation, growth and development. While fighting for my life, justice and freedom, I have written my death row memoir, three poetry books and I’m currently writing a second manuscript. If you wish to learn more about my life, my plight and to stay abreast of my growth, development, writings, productivity or #ojorespeaks, here is my link to www.crandellmckinnon.wixsite.com/freeojore, social media: @justice.for.ojore, reeojore
