Comments for Prison Culture http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog How the PIC Structures Our World... Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:12:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The “Magic” of A Peacemaking Circle by Cheryl Graves http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/02/21/the-magic-of-a-peacemaking-circle/#comment-13588 Cheryl Graves Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:12:19 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7807#comment-13588 Thank you Mariame! It's wonderful to have the power of circles re-affirmed through Clay's piece. I especially appreciate the Audre Lorde quote and know that circles can be that safe space to exchange some of the anger for clarity and transform some of the pain through healing. There's so much cricital restorative work being done throughout the city and it's really important that we shine a light on it. Thank you Mariame! It’s wonderful to have the power of circles re-affirmed through Clay’s piece. I especially appreciate the Audre Lorde quote and know that circles can be that safe space to exchange some of the anger for clarity and transform some of the pain through healing. There’s so much cricital restorative work being done throughout the city and it’s really important that we shine a light on it.

]]> Comment on On Chris Brown, ‘Forgiveness’, and Accountability… by Brett Henley http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/02/15/on-chris-brown-forgiveness-and-accountability/#comment-13562 Brett Henley Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:17:33 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7735#comment-13562 MK, One of the more balanced views on the issue. I can't speak from personal experience, but I can say with conviction that people too often generalize what are truly complex issues with many, many layers. I don't care for Chris Brown ... but the real question that everyone should be asking is whether/how he can be rehabilitated so that the cycle ends. Thanks! MK,

One of the more balanced views on the issue. I can’t speak from personal experience, but I can say with conviction that people too often generalize what are truly complex issues with many, many layers.

I don’t care for Chris Brown … but the real question that everyone should be asking is whether/how he can be rehabilitated so that the cycle ends.

Thanks!

]]> Comment on From the Annals of It Has Always Been About Racism… by Stephanie Damon-Moore http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/02/09/from-the-annals-of-it-has-always-been-about-racism/#comment-13532 Stephanie Damon-Moore Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:44:47 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7701#comment-13532 Thanks for sharing that (horrifying) article. It's important to keep things like that in mind when we are more often encouraged to think that things like life in prison are there to keep heartless murderers off the streets. With more people serving life sentences than ever before, and 2/3 of those people of color, that article is frighteningly relevant today. Especially because thanks to three strikes laws, many of those with life sentences got them for crimes about as serious as Mr. Thomas'. Thanks for sharing that (horrifying) article. It’s important to keep things like that in mind when we are more often encouraged to think that things like life in prison are there to keep heartless murderers off the streets. With more people serving life sentences than ever before, and 2/3 of those people of color, that article is frighteningly relevant today. Especially because thanks to three strikes laws, many of those with life sentences got them for crimes about as serious as Mr. Thomas’.

]]> Comment on Why Assata Shakur Still Matters? by Leo http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/02/08/why-assata-shakur-still-matters/#comment-13525 Leo Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:49:07 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7635#comment-13525 Thanks for this amazing story and yes I support your facts about young people wanting to read and it should b engaging and relevant to their experiences and interests. Brittany like other young are the future leaders of this world and it does not matter if they are poor or rich, black,brown,blue or white the sky is the limit for them. The powerful words of Assata Shakur still relevant to me today. It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains. Once again thanks and our young people will find their way. Thanks for this amazing story and yes I support your facts about young people wanting to read and it should b engaging and relevant to their experiences and interests. Brittany like other young are the future leaders of this world and it does not matter if they are poor or rich, black,brown,blue or white the sky is the limit for them.

The powerful words of Assata Shakur still relevant to me today.

It is our duty to fight for our freedom.
It is our duty to win.
We must love each other and support each other.
We have nothing to lose but our chains.

Once again thanks and our young people will find their way.

]]> Comment on Photo of the Day… by prison culture http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/28/photo-of-the-day-2/#comment-13488 prison culture Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:03:12 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7502#comment-13488 For those who cannot identify everyone in the photos... The Honorable Elijah Muhammad Malcolm X MLK Jr Huey Newton Rosa Parks Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture) Assata Shakur George Jackson Angela Davis For those who cannot identify everyone in the photos…
The Honorable Elijah Muhammad
Malcolm X
MLK Jr
Huey Newton
Rosa Parks
Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture)
Assata Shakur
George Jackson
Angela Davis

]]> Comment on Police Violence Zine: Coming Soon… by Linda Polk http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/21/police-violence-zine-coming-soon/#comment-13461 Linda Polk Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:34:51 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7222#comment-13461 You can take any two adults, even VERY nice adults, and put them in a situation where one is in charge of insuring "appropriate" conduct from the other, and you will have BIG trouble. I was blessed as a child to have no interactions with police officers - other than my teachers saying I could trust them to get me home if I ever got lost. My first real encounters with the "Po'lice" began when I visited jails and prisons as an adult. My original experiences were generated by my effort to become a teacher in a prison - no problems there. My 1st encounter with officials in jails came when I visited incarcerated women as part of my "church work". I counted both of these as positive interactions. In both settings it was assumed that I would "behave" myself, so when I began 6 years of prison visits with Andy, I logically expected fair and kind treatment. For the most part, that is what I received - with the exception of the one correctional officer who said she would expel me from visitation if I didn't immediately terminate my "out bursts" (I was laughing - as those who know me would expect.) Prison visitation is a unique experience because there are ALWAYS people watching, and expecting you to "mess up". Most conversations with correctional officers appear pleasant and to contain mutual respect, but felonism (prejudice against felons) is often lurking inside the minds of CO's, twisting the content of the conversation into something that could be evidence of guilt. Some CO's are jealous of the fact that some inmates have people who love them, people who appear to be their perfect match, while they are single or stuck in a loveless relationship. If I were in their shoes, I suspect it would be difficult to refrain from blaming the convict - everyone else does. My hat is off to all CO's who manage to consistently interact with those in prison, and their family members without adopting felonism, and to all those with the title of "felon" on their backs who do not become prejudice against CO's. May we all learn to see each other as humans - all deserving of support when one of us is hurting badly enough to go hurt another. You can take any two adults, even VERY nice adults, and put them in a situation where one is in charge of insuring “appropriate” conduct from the other, and you will have BIG trouble. I was blessed as a child to have no interactions with police officers – other than my teachers saying I could trust them to get me home if I ever got lost. My first real encounters with the “Po’lice” began when I visited jails and prisons as an adult. My original experiences were generated by my effort to become a teacher in a prison – no problems there. My 1st encounter with officials in jails came when I visited incarcerated women as part of my “church work”. I counted both of these as positive interactions. In both settings it was assumed that I would “behave” myself, so when I began 6 years of prison visits with Andy, I logically expected fair and kind treatment. For the most part, that is what I received – with the exception of the one correctional officer who said she would expel me from visitation if I didn’t immediately terminate my “out bursts” (I was laughing – as those who know me would expect.) Prison visitation is a unique experience because there are ALWAYS people watching, and expecting you to “mess up”. Most conversations with correctional officers appear pleasant and to contain mutual respect, but felonism (prejudice against felons) is often lurking inside the minds of CO’s, twisting the content of the conversation into something that could be evidence of guilt. Some CO’s are jealous of the fact that some inmates have people who love them, people who appear to be their perfect match, while they are single or stuck in a loveless relationship. If I were in their shoes, I suspect it would be difficult to refrain from blaming the convict – everyone else does. My hat is off to all CO’s who manage to consistently interact with those in prison, and their family members without adopting felonism, and to all those with the title of “felon” on their backs who do not become prejudice against CO’s. May we all learn to see each other as humans – all deserving of support when one of us is hurting badly enough to go hurt another.

]]> Comment on Laura Scott, Female Prisoner #23187 by D http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/08/laura-scott-female-prisoner-23187/#comment-13392 D Mon, 09 Jan 2012 03:21:47 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7306#comment-13392 This is fantastic. I look forward to hearing about her story. love this blog. thank you. This is fantastic. I look forward to hearing about her story.

love this blog. thank you.

]]> Comment on Friday Musical Interlude: Fire in the Booth by Fire In the Booth « BROTHA WOLF http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/06/friday-musical-interlude-fire-in-the-booth/#comment-13387 Fire In the Booth « BROTHA WOLF Sun, 08 Jan 2012 04:19:26 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7154#comment-13387 [...] Prison Culture. Fire In The Booth Lyrics by Akala Yes, I grew up on the dole in a single parent family Been [...] [...] Prison Culture. Fire In The Booth Lyrics by Akala Yes, I grew up on the dole in a single parent family Been [...]

]]> Comment on Police, Prisons and The History of Black Protest by prison culture http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/05/police-prisons-and-the-history-of-black-protest/#comment-13376 prison culture Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:47:09 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7186#comment-13376 Thanks so much for this feedback. I love this lead and will explore it more fully. Thanks for reading. Thanks so much for this feedback. I love this lead and will explore it more fully. Thanks for reading.

]]> Comment on Police, Prisons and The History of Black Protest by AJM http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/2012/01/05/police-prisons-and-the-history-of-black-protest/#comment-13373 AJM Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:38:11 +0000 http://www.usprisonculture.com/blog/?p=7186#comment-13373 This is a brilliantly concise statement: "Since slavery, black people in the U.S. have found themselves in conflict with the instruments of state power which have sought to control our bodies, our labor, our families, and our very freedom". One thing that would be interesting to explore here is how the relationship between the state and black people has changed under shifting conditions of imperialism: the intrinsic logic of capital as it seeks to reproduce and expand itself. This would perhaps open up the analysis on a wider plateau (particularly on the linkages between labor and prison) while enabling you to link black freedom struggle in the US during the Keynesian era (1945-1975) and under neoliberal globalization (1975-present)to broader transnational struggles as well in both periods. This is something that King recognized as urgent in his naming of the three evils of capital, racism, and militarism. Just some food for thought. Keep bringing it, love your blog. This is a brilliantly concise statement:

“Since slavery, black people in the U.S. have found themselves in conflict with the instruments of state power which have sought to control our bodies, our labor, our families, and our very freedom”.

One thing that would be interesting to explore here is how the relationship between the state and black people has changed under shifting conditions of imperialism: the intrinsic logic of capital as it seeks to reproduce and expand itself. This would perhaps open up the analysis on a wider plateau (particularly on the linkages between labor and prison) while enabling you to link black freedom struggle in the US during the Keynesian era (1945-1975) and under neoliberal globalization (1975-present)to broader transnational struggles as well in both periods. This is something that King recognized as urgent in his naming of the three evils of capital, racism, and militarism.

Just some food for thought. Keep bringing it, love your blog.

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