It's not too often that we take time in our day to reflect on the many good things we have: a job, healthy kids, a home in a safe neighborhood, food on the table, and the list could obviously go on for pages. After all, we are so preoccupied with the hustle and bustle...
Martin Lockett
We Are Better Than This
We are no doubt in a time where evil has been on the rise, public discourse has turned hostile, demagoguery appears to be a winning recipe for political office, and the divides among demographics in our melting pot are as pronounced as I can remember in all of my...
Why Bother
Any woman in a relationship with a man in prison can attest to the fact that there will, unfortunately, be many in their families and inner-circle of friends who don't approve of their relationships. Many who are critical of these relationships, however, are not...
Recycle Me
With over 2 million citizens of this country locked in cages, one can't help but feel as though our lives are dispensable. One can't help but feel as though our society deems us not worthy of correction that would send us back to our communities as assets rather than...
The Ripple Effect
For too many years of my life I assumed my actions affected me and only me. So what if I chose to drink away my pain? So what if I messed up, got arrested, and got sentenced to many years in prison: I'm the one doing the time, or so I thought. I couldn't see beyond...
A Speech on Rosa Parks, Civil Rights, & The People
The following speech was delivered at the Weusi Umoja Social at OSCI — August 22, 2018 Good evening. I hope everyone is enjoying their time tonight with their friends and family. As it was just mentioned, this year we chose to honor Rosa Parks. She is obviously a...
Prisoners Need Love, Too
I cannot tell you how many times I have witnessed or have heard about men in this situation either meeting a woman via a pen pal website — or otherwise — and developing a strong relationship or even getting married, only to have it go awry. The euphoria of knowing...
Addiction: A Choice Or A Disease?
Many have exclaimed, "Addiction is NOT a disease — it's a choice!" A disease, they'll say, is something that you have no control over; it suddenly afflicts you when you least expect it and wreaks havoc on your life. People don't do anything to bring about disease in...
Learn, Baby, Learn
I was on the yard today simply enjoying the 75-degree weather. I'd taken a seat on one of the metal benches located on the inner edge of the track when a guy walked up to me, took it upon himself to sit down and start chatting. Now, I'm one of those people who...
Roseanne Barred
I won't lie, I was shocked to see ABC cancel their highest-rated sitcom over its star Roseanne Barr's racist tweet against former Barack Obama cabinet member Valerie Jarrett. In this day and age, where money seems to rule the day, it was both courageous and refreshing...