After being a hospice Nurse the last 15 yrs and retiring 3 years ago , I dealt with many deaths , families grieving and also had a few men released from prison who were apparently abused and neglected by the healthcare field there, one was a man that went to prison for his second DUI and he was released with cirrhosis of the liver end stage, his pain wasn’t treated there except the last few days there . He said the guard took his pain patch off of him and said he couldn’t leave with that on, so he had nothing. I made sure he had everything he needed as did all of our team members assigned to him. It still hurts my heart today because he wouldn’t go in the house and stayed on the carport and he said that he just wanted to be outside and look at the sky and stars and not be closed up, his last day we got him in the house and his family surrounded him. He finally got peace. I know what the scripture tells us and Jesus said the most important of all is Love! He said if we cant forgive others we can’t be forgiven. We may not like what has been done to our loved ones ( but I don’t want revenge, only justice for my son that died because of ADOC ) I probably will never see that happen but I know that he’s in a better place now , it will be 2 years next week that he was beat in the head causing a traumatic brain injury that caused his death and still no one is held accountable. I forgive them but I don’t forget because we have no closure. Hate will eat you alive and that’s not who I want to be. I’ve been on both sides and it causes misery to both families but unless we can forgive we can’t go forward. People who think “ do the crime do the time” haven’t matured as a person or they wouldn’t have so much hate. I always remind them there is a God!
I taught freshman comp for a community college in a men’s maximum security prison in the early 90s. Prior to that I’d only taught in a public high school.
It definitely gave me a different perspective on our “justice” system and prison systems. Those guys were some of the best students I’ve ever had. Granted, some of them were scheming connivers, but I think that was what worked for them on the inside.
The bottom line is all humans are HUMAN and deserve to have the same basic human rights promised by our Constitution.
Thank you so much for bringing these points of view into individual and collective consciousness. As someone who was wrongfully convicted, it's often difficult to feel the pain of so many families who feel the pain and frustration of loss. It's not that I'm unaware, it's that sometimes our personal pain blinds us to the pain of others. This post has helped me to step outside of myself, if only for a few brief moments, and the result is that I've experienced empathy for a POV that is equally as valid as my own.
Thank you, Beth, for "The Alabama Solution," a film all Alabamians should see. (I saw it on HBO, when it was released. Friends are seeing it this weekend at the Capri, Montgomery's independent film house.) Prison problems seem worse today than they were in 1970, when I covered Roy Haber's lawsuit, Gates v. Collier, for the Delta Democrat-Times.
Wow, Beth. This is a really potent reckoning. Thank you for the reminder that we are capable of holding multiple things as true, and the example of grace when communicating with people who are stuck looking through one lens at just one truth. Being human is hard—and easing suffering where we can is the only thing that makes sense. Beautifully written <3
There's a serious flaw in your assessment. It goes under the assumption that there are no innocents in prison. That the US justice system has not, and does not, railroad innocent people into cages for profit and racial control. It presumes there is no racial bias that seeks to specifically target any class or group based on race or class alone. That the US prison system isn't slavery reformed under the 13th amendment slavery exception clause allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime upon conviction. That they don't simply criminalize, hunt, capture, and cage people for daring to exist. That it isn't all driven by revenue generation through the commodification of human beings.
I love the Alabama solution. I've worked with Kinetik and Bennu for almost 15 years. Both of those brothers are slavery abolitionists. They have literally taught students in Harvard about modern legal slavery and how it exists. In 2022 during the filming of the Alabama solution, they helped us (The Abolish Slavery National Network) to abolish legalized slavery from the Alabama state constitution for the first time by removing the exception clause which had been in the Alabama constitution since 1861.
"Slavery prohibited; involuntary servitude. That no form of slavery shall exist in this state; and there shall not be any involuntary servitude, OTHERWISE than for the punishment of crime, of which the party shall have been duly convicted.”
Also, both Melvin and Robert have maintained their innocence for decades.
Yea... you need to rethink your understanding of the purpose behind the US prison system. I'd start with the creation and use of convict leasing immediately after the 13th amendment was passed. Ida B. Wells is an excellent source. Here's a link.
I appreciate your thoughts. I agree there are many innocent people in prison and I would never presume otherwise. I produced an 8-part podcast series on a wrongful death row conviction in Alabama called "Earwitness." I also agree the purpose of prison is exploitation, profit and control. Glad to hear you loved The Alabama Solution and I appreciate your connection to the men in the film.
After being a hospice Nurse the last 15 yrs and retiring 3 years ago , I dealt with many deaths , families grieving and also had a few men released from prison who were apparently abused and neglected by the healthcare field there, one was a man that went to prison for his second DUI and he was released with cirrhosis of the liver end stage, his pain wasn’t treated there except the last few days there . He said the guard took his pain patch off of him and said he couldn’t leave with that on, so he had nothing. I made sure he had everything he needed as did all of our team members assigned to him. It still hurts my heart today because he wouldn’t go in the house and stayed on the carport and he said that he just wanted to be outside and look at the sky and stars and not be closed up, his last day we got him in the house and his family surrounded him. He finally got peace. I know what the scripture tells us and Jesus said the most important of all is Love! He said if we cant forgive others we can’t be forgiven. We may not like what has been done to our loved ones ( but I don’t want revenge, only justice for my son that died because of ADOC ) I probably will never see that happen but I know that he’s in a better place now , it will be 2 years next week that he was beat in the head causing a traumatic brain injury that caused his death and still no one is held accountable. I forgive them but I don’t forget because we have no closure. Hate will eat you alive and that’s not who I want to be. I’ve been on both sides and it causes misery to both families but unless we can forgive we can’t go forward. People who think “ do the crime do the time” haven’t matured as a person or they wouldn’t have so much hate. I always remind them there is a God!
I taught freshman comp for a community college in a men’s maximum security prison in the early 90s. Prior to that I’d only taught in a public high school.
It definitely gave me a different perspective on our “justice” system and prison systems. Those guys were some of the best students I’ve ever had. Granted, some of them were scheming connivers, but I think that was what worked for them on the inside.
The bottom line is all humans are HUMAN and deserve to have the same basic human rights promised by our Constitution.
Great Work Beth I'm a fan
I would like to be on the zoom. This is so important. Email shelleymdouglass@gmail.com
Thank you so much for bringing these points of view into individual and collective consciousness. As someone who was wrongfully convicted, it's often difficult to feel the pain of so many families who feel the pain and frustration of loss. It's not that I'm unaware, it's that sometimes our personal pain blinds us to the pain of others. This post has helped me to step outside of myself, if only for a few brief moments, and the result is that I've experienced empathy for a POV that is equally as valid as my own.
Jill@jillmarlar.com
Thank you for this essay and for your documentary….
Thank you, Beth, for "The Alabama Solution," a film all Alabamians should see. (I saw it on HBO, when it was released. Friends are seeing it this weekend at the Capri, Montgomery's independent film house.) Prison problems seem worse today than they were in 1970, when I covered Roy Haber's lawsuit, Gates v. Collier, for the Delta Democrat-Times.
They are so much worse, sadly, and on a such a larger scale. I appreciate you!
This was an amazing read! My book came today.
Thank you Beth
Wow, Beth. This is a really potent reckoning. Thank you for the reminder that we are capable of holding multiple things as true, and the example of grace when communicating with people who are stuck looking through one lens at just one truth. Being human is hard—and easing suffering where we can is the only thing that makes sense. Beautifully written <3
Love you, Maura!
Please invite me to the Zoom conversation, crb5232858@gmail.com.
I'd be interested in a conversation about that book: rhanel (at) hickorytech (dot) net
I would love it if you told the rest of the story. What happened afterwards.
There's a serious flaw in your assessment. It goes under the assumption that there are no innocents in prison. That the US justice system has not, and does not, railroad innocent people into cages for profit and racial control. It presumes there is no racial bias that seeks to specifically target any class or group based on race or class alone. That the US prison system isn't slavery reformed under the 13th amendment slavery exception clause allowing slavery and involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime upon conviction. That they don't simply criminalize, hunt, capture, and cage people for daring to exist. That it isn't all driven by revenue generation through the commodification of human beings.
I love the Alabama solution. I've worked with Kinetik and Bennu for almost 15 years. Both of those brothers are slavery abolitionists. They have literally taught students in Harvard about modern legal slavery and how it exists. In 2022 during the filming of the Alabama solution, they helped us (The Abolish Slavery National Network) to abolish legalized slavery from the Alabama state constitution for the first time by removing the exception clause which had been in the Alabama constitution since 1861.
"Slavery prohibited; involuntary servitude. That no form of slavery shall exist in this state; and there shall not be any involuntary servitude, OTHERWISE than for the punishment of crime, of which the party shall have been duly convicted.”
Also, both Melvin and Robert have maintained their innocence for decades.
Yea... you need to rethink your understanding of the purpose behind the US prison system. I'd start with the creation and use of convict leasing immediately after the 13th amendment was passed. Ida B. Wells is an excellent source. Here's a link.
The Convict Lease System
by Ida B. Wells (1862-1931)
https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/idabwellsconlea.html
I would also suggest reading both Frederick Douglass's speeches regarding the 13th amendment and his denouncement of the emancipation proclamation.
Here are links to those.
"I Denounce the So-Called Emancipation as a Stupendous Fraud"
by Frederick Douglass (1888)
https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/douglassfraud.html
In What New Skin Will the Old Snake Come Forth?: An Address Delivered in New York, New York, on May 10, 1865
https://frederickdouglasspapersproject.com/s/digitaledition/item/17945
Hi Mr. Parthas,
I appreciate your thoughts. I agree there are many innocent people in prison and I would never presume otherwise. I produced an 8-part podcast series on a wrongful death row conviction in Alabama called "Earwitness." I also agree the purpose of prison is exploitation, profit and control. Glad to hear you loved The Alabama Solution and I appreciate your connection to the men in the film.
My best to you.