I am in my 4th decade of being incarcerated. I spent the first 30 years on San Quentin’s Death row. I am now in my 60’s but fully healthy both physically and mentally. I am a family man with a son and grandchild. Many members of my family are still supportive. I have the most endearing and loving sister Helen. She and I are the only 2 left out of 6 children; mostly all of my elders are gone now.
Once I left Death-row it was difficult for me to transition into the regular general population. Eventfully, with the help of a few old-school brothers I started to figure out my position and how this new prison “Mental Health” institution really worked.
These so-called prisons are really Prison-Trauma Centers (or the new slave plantations). During my time on Death-row I was able to make a few solid gains. I studied law, Cultural Ancient African studies, Astrology, Anthropology, Business Management, Medicine, Health and Nutrition.
I now have a Paralegal degree. Now that I am out here on the main-line I am able to utilize my talents, tools, and life skills. I am the formal inside head coordinator for a world known organization known as “Alternative to Violence Project” (AVP). That would be one of my proudest accomplishments. That alone with my various educational studies has guided me to a greater mission of giving back to society. I took a lot from society, and my family. I was very destructive and violent.
It has enabled me to truly change my life. I hurt people, looking deep inside all that madness, I have re-discovered who I am, seeing and feeling my spiritual beauty and being good and kind is my divine self. I am very remorseful for all the harm and destruction I caused. I am now serving an LWOP sentence. I may never get out,
I sometimes feel like sistah Harriet Tubman during her expedition life-risking journey to free the slaves. I am doing now what needs to be done. Every effect I have upon another person’s life, let it be good and right staying humble and God-fearing. If I must sacrifice my own life and never become free, I look forward every day to help, save, free, and give to another person.
I will never forget about those who came before me. The ancestors, elders, old-school brothers and sisters, without them there would be no today.