Showing posts with label Prisons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prisons. Show all posts
Monday, June 13, 2016
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
FIGHTING THE CRIME INDUSTRY
"A dear friend of mine who lives in Florida has assured me that her state gives youngsters at the lower elementary level (2nd- and 3rd grades) statewide exams that help that state government decide how much additional prison space will be needed in future years, based upon how many youngsters fail the aforementioned exams. Imagine that! Did someone say, 'Crime Industry'?"
Dear friends,
Many of the young people in Our community, especially the teenage boys, are not either in jail or in contact with the criminal justice system, because they have been lucky thus far. However, it is only a matter of time before they may get swallowed into what is essentially an industry in this country. It is, the Crime Industry.
In fact, I do not care how well you raise your kids, for some reason, particularly, African American youth can fall prey to foolishness. Many great parents and those who work with youth through supportive community programs will attest to that. In other words, even those youngsters who have had all of the right parenting, environment, and so forth, can become food for the vultures of the Crime Industry. It's tough. The Crime Industry does not care about guilt or innocence. They make stuff up. Our children suffer. Also, peer pressure to be like the frauds on the hip-hop records is a major problem.
Again, it must be said: Crime in the USA is an industry just as enterprises that manufacture, for example, food, clothing, real estate, and automobiles are. Crime as an industry makes sense, of course. After all, less crime would mean less police, judges, prosecutors, corrections officers, court officers, prison architects to design prisons and construction companies to build them, food- and other types of vendors, you name it. Moreover, without the salaries and pensions of those groups just mentioned a large part of the overall economy of this country would be destroyed.
Actually, one would think that our energies should be used towards more useful purposes like finding cures to human maladies and the like. However, manufacturing crime is, also, a major component of programming for both print and electronic media - another source of great income for many.
Still, in especially urban settings, we hear talk about need to have more police and less guns in our communities as a means to solving our crime problems. Domestic guns are being made mostly for police purposes and sport hunting. Consequently, without the Crime Industry, the gun industry itself may have succumb by now. Let’s face it. In Philadelphia alone, during 2006, for instance, it has been reported that, at least, 20 people were killed by the police (17 of them unarmed). Consequently, the aforementioned data reveals that more police simply means more guns - and more deaths.
In all fairness, that just mentioned reflects only one side of the Crime Industry. On the other side, we have an inordinate amount of African American and Latino young people who display absolutely no dignity for themselves or respect for others, including a lack of consideration for authority. In other words, we have a population filled with young people who, emotionally and intellectually, seem to want to remain in the infant stage of the human experience.
Many of these youngsters were brought into this world by those who were children themselves. Now, the former are repeating what their parent(s) did. Moreover, these African American and Latino youth are the chief commodities of the Crime Industry, whether as petty thieves, drug-dealers, stooges for either drug distributors or the district attorney and the like, or those who are caught up in the court and prison systems with its probation and parole agents. The worst part of all of this lies with the fact that, in the general population of US society, European American (so-called white) youth, clearly, must commit more crimes, because of their numerically greater levels of poverty; however, they are not victims of a marked group that is "profiled".
At any rate, our children’s current behavior reflects our own. Let’s face it, again, history is the story of generations of families of varying sizes. Historically, these families have been headed by a single mother, because men have died young, gone off to war and been killed, or just left to indulge in selfish behavior. The fantasy of the Ozzie and Harriet two-parent household is a fabrication of Hollywood. Moreover, wisdom suggests that a young person, male or female, having a male figure around to help direct him or her through life's uncertain journey, is essential. Yet, single mothers do quite fine, and have done so for millennia. Hence, what is even more important than having male “mentors” is having a community that supports the development of its youth.
Of course, a civil society certainly needs some of those people mentioned at the beginning of this piece (e.g., police, judges, lawyers, and so forth). However, many jobs are created, specifically for and because of the Crime Industry, and maintained by those whose best interests are served by continued criminal behavior in our society. A good example lies with the fact that, all across the country, in many municipalities, district attorneys, are allowed to use confiscated drug money, for instance, for future hires, raising wages in their offices, and improved pensions for the same workers just mentioned. It is not, therefore, in the best interests of prosecutors and their agents to be too “tough on crime”. Dig? As a matter of fact, it makes more sense for such people (DAs, and so forth) to actually regulate crime.
******************************
Here are a few ways that we can fight against the proliferation of the Crime Industry which robs African American people of so much of our potentially productive energy and resources. Can you think of some ways to do the same?
1.) Free Buses To Prisons Program
Transport children to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents. Dr. Seuss books and other “phonics” type of reading materials are a great way to start. Many of these folks who are incarcerated have only first- and second grade reading levels. By learning their phonics better and due to the fact that they are older than their children, thus more experienced in life, invariably, these "parents" will begin to read at a higher grade level, acquiring deeper comprehension as well as greater mental stamina. This means that they will gain new ideas, by reading more informative literature, instead of only consuming thoughts from people who, like them, are locked up as well and just as clueless about how to be productive citizens.
As stated above, many of the brothers in prison either cannot read or read only at first- or second grade levels. More help in the classrooms at the first- or second grade levels (and a relationship with a loving elder) may have kept them trying in school longer. Their children deserve a better chance than they had. Also, regarding females, sisters in prisons are often there because of some knucklehead males. Therefore, young girls will also benefit from having a wider range of caring adults in their lives, whether those elders are incarcerated or not. Note: A dear friend of mine who lives in Florida has assured me that her state gives youngsters at the lower elementary level (2nd- and 3rd grades) statewide exams that help that state government decide how much additional prison space will be needed in future years, based upon how many youngsters fail the aforementioned exams. Imagine that! Did someone say, "Crime Industry"?
2.) Letters to Prisoners Program
Get people to be pen pals with inmates in area prisons. The main problem here will be that we need to make sure that inmates are not being selfish and engaging in deceitful behavior, in order to borrow money or get “favors” done on the outside. Telephone calls should be prohibited from being a way for inmates to connect with their pen pals. Incarcerated people should learn to write, so that they can think about why they are in that situation in the first place. A phone call does not require such reflection; people can just talk and feel good - then hang up.
3.) Convict Redemption Program
Get those convicted of either human or property damages - of any kind, to construct ways themselves to make up for their transgressions against their fellow community members. For example, as part of the “Buses” program, inmates who are not parents can still donate time to read and learn with young people.
Inmates must redeem themselves! Merely proclaiming belief in God or asking to be forgiven does nothing to repair the damage done. Besides, neither apology or claims of religious loyalty has meaning, if the person has not repaired the damage that he or she caused. For example, people go to AA and NA meetings and hold what amounts to religious revival forums. Yet, as far as I know, not a single member of those groups has ever gone back to a victim and said, "Here's the $100 that I stole from you." Instead, that AA or NA person says, "Will you forgive me for what I did?...I believe in God now." Well, guess what? Everyone on death row, conveniently - now - believes in God, after the fact. Moreover, no one can forgive anyone else. Rather, people must forgive themselves, then redeem themselves by trying to undo the wrong committed against the victim. Otherwise, there is no justice. You just have a crook who has gotten away once more.
The three programs mentioned above are only some of the ways that the community can reach out to our fallen brothers and sisters, in hopes that they will be appreciative for the love that the community has shown them, and, thus, return to the community as productive members.
One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Dear friends,
Many of the young people in Our community, especially the teenage boys, are not either in jail or in contact with the criminal justice system, because they have been lucky thus far. However, it is only a matter of time before they may get swallowed into what is essentially an industry in this country. It is, the Crime Industry.
In fact, I do not care how well you raise your kids, for some reason, particularly, African American youth can fall prey to foolishness. Many great parents and those who work with youth through supportive community programs will attest to that. In other words, even those youngsters who have had all of the right parenting, environment, and so forth, can become food for the vultures of the Crime Industry. It's tough. The Crime Industry does not care about guilt or innocence. They make stuff up. Our children suffer. Also, peer pressure to be like the frauds on the hip-hop records is a major problem.
Again, it must be said: Crime in the USA is an industry just as enterprises that manufacture, for example, food, clothing, real estate, and automobiles are. Crime as an industry makes sense, of course. After all, less crime would mean less police, judges, prosecutors, corrections officers, court officers, prison architects to design prisons and construction companies to build them, food- and other types of vendors, you name it. Moreover, without the salaries and pensions of those groups just mentioned a large part of the overall economy of this country would be destroyed.
Actually, one would think that our energies should be used towards more useful purposes like finding cures to human maladies and the like. However, manufacturing crime is, also, a major component of programming for both print and electronic media - another source of great income for many.
Still, in especially urban settings, we hear talk about need to have more police and less guns in our communities as a means to solving our crime problems. Domestic guns are being made mostly for police purposes and sport hunting. Consequently, without the Crime Industry, the gun industry itself may have succumb by now. Let’s face it. In Philadelphia alone, during 2006, for instance, it has been reported that, at least, 20 people were killed by the police (17 of them unarmed). Consequently, the aforementioned data reveals that more police simply means more guns - and more deaths.
In all fairness, that just mentioned reflects only one side of the Crime Industry. On the other side, we have an inordinate amount of African American and Latino young people who display absolutely no dignity for themselves or respect for others, including a lack of consideration for authority. In other words, we have a population filled with young people who, emotionally and intellectually, seem to want to remain in the infant stage of the human experience.
Many of these youngsters were brought into this world by those who were children themselves. Now, the former are repeating what their parent(s) did. Moreover, these African American and Latino youth are the chief commodities of the Crime Industry, whether as petty thieves, drug-dealers, stooges for either drug distributors or the district attorney and the like, or those who are caught up in the court and prison systems with its probation and parole agents. The worst part of all of this lies with the fact that, in the general population of US society, European American (so-called white) youth, clearly, must commit more crimes, because of their numerically greater levels of poverty; however, they are not victims of a marked group that is "profiled".
At any rate, our children’s current behavior reflects our own. Let’s face it, again, history is the story of generations of families of varying sizes. Historically, these families have been headed by a single mother, because men have died young, gone off to war and been killed, or just left to indulge in selfish behavior. The fantasy of the Ozzie and Harriet two-parent household is a fabrication of Hollywood. Moreover, wisdom suggests that a young person, male or female, having a male figure around to help direct him or her through life's uncertain journey, is essential. Yet, single mothers do quite fine, and have done so for millennia. Hence, what is even more important than having male “mentors” is having a community that supports the development of its youth.
Of course, a civil society certainly needs some of those people mentioned at the beginning of this piece (e.g., police, judges, lawyers, and so forth). However, many jobs are created, specifically for and because of the Crime Industry, and maintained by those whose best interests are served by continued criminal behavior in our society. A good example lies with the fact that, all across the country, in many municipalities, district attorneys, are allowed to use confiscated drug money, for instance, for future hires, raising wages in their offices, and improved pensions for the same workers just mentioned. It is not, therefore, in the best interests of prosecutors and their agents to be too “tough on crime”. Dig? As a matter of fact, it makes more sense for such people (DAs, and so forth) to actually regulate crime.
******************************
Here are a few ways that we can fight against the proliferation of the Crime Industry which robs African American people of so much of our potentially productive energy and resources. Can you think of some ways to do the same?
1.) Free Buses To Prisons Program
Transport children to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents. Dr. Seuss books and other “phonics” type of reading materials are a great way to start. Many of these folks who are incarcerated have only first- and second grade reading levels. By learning their phonics better and due to the fact that they are older than their children, thus more experienced in life, invariably, these "parents" will begin to read at a higher grade level, acquiring deeper comprehension as well as greater mental stamina. This means that they will gain new ideas, by reading more informative literature, instead of only consuming thoughts from people who, like them, are locked up as well and just as clueless about how to be productive citizens.
As stated above, many of the brothers in prison either cannot read or read only at first- or second grade levels. More help in the classrooms at the first- or second grade levels (and a relationship with a loving elder) may have kept them trying in school longer. Their children deserve a better chance than they had. Also, regarding females, sisters in prisons are often there because of some knucklehead males. Therefore, young girls will also benefit from having a wider range of caring adults in their lives, whether those elders are incarcerated or not. Note: A dear friend of mine who lives in Florida has assured me that her state gives youngsters at the lower elementary level (2nd- and 3rd grades) statewide exams that help that state government decide how much additional prison space will be needed in future years, based upon how many youngsters fail the aforementioned exams. Imagine that! Did someone say, "Crime Industry"?
2.) Letters to Prisoners Program
Get people to be pen pals with inmates in area prisons. The main problem here will be that we need to make sure that inmates are not being selfish and engaging in deceitful behavior, in order to borrow money or get “favors” done on the outside. Telephone calls should be prohibited from being a way for inmates to connect with their pen pals. Incarcerated people should learn to write, so that they can think about why they are in that situation in the first place. A phone call does not require such reflection; people can just talk and feel good - then hang up.
3.) Convict Redemption Program
Get those convicted of either human or property damages - of any kind, to construct ways themselves to make up for their transgressions against their fellow community members. For example, as part of the “Buses” program, inmates who are not parents can still donate time to read and learn with young people.
Inmates must redeem themselves! Merely proclaiming belief in God or asking to be forgiven does nothing to repair the damage done. Besides, neither apology or claims of religious loyalty has meaning, if the person has not repaired the damage that he or she caused. For example, people go to AA and NA meetings and hold what amounts to religious revival forums. Yet, as far as I know, not a single member of those groups has ever gone back to a victim and said, "Here's the $100 that I stole from you." Instead, that AA or NA person says, "Will you forgive me for what I did?...I believe in God now." Well, guess what? Everyone on death row, conveniently - now - believes in God, after the fact. Moreover, no one can forgive anyone else. Rather, people must forgive themselves, then redeem themselves by trying to undo the wrong committed against the victim. Otherwise, there is no justice. You just have a crook who has gotten away once more.
The three programs mentioned above are only some of the ways that the community can reach out to our fallen brothers and sisters, in hopes that they will be appreciative for the love that the community has shown them, and, thus, return to the community as productive members.
One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus Read full post
Monday, October 22, 2012
Libya's and the West's crooked governments alike released prisoners (originally posted March 23, 2011)
“BP faced a new outcry Thursday about whether the Scottish and British governments sought to smooth BP's oil exploration contract talks with Libya by releasing prisoners, including the man convicted of bombing the Pan Am plane that went down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The bombing killed 270 people, including 189 Americans..” - Steven Mufson, Washington Post, July 16, 2010
Dear friends,
The chaos that is going on right now in Libya is directly tied to the greed of the major Western governments, including the US and Israel (for whom the US continues to fight as a proxy), and their multinational corporate sponsors, along with the Khadafy regime. Exacerbating the whole mess is the release of prisoners, often murderers and drug thugs, by the Libyan government to undermine any genuine protest that may be occuring there.
To be sure, that practice of using criminals as cannon fodder is hardly either new or unfamiliar to Western powers especially. For example, about British settlements like the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Charlotte M. Waters wrote, "The colonies were used too as dumping ground for prisoners and undesirables generally, in spite of protests from the colonists. Criminals, prisoners of war, and inconvenient Irish were thus got rid of. Royalist prisoners after Worcester shared the fate with 2,000 Irish girls and boys deported by order of the Government. Kidnapping was not uncommon. Such emigrants were sold by auction..." (Waters, An Economic History of England).
Only a couple of years ago, British Petroleum (BP...remember them?)needed to cut a deal with the Libya government, regarding oil exploration opportunities. Part of the bargain was for the oil giant to obtain the release of one of Libya’s heroes, a man who had been convicted and was serving a life sentence for the air plane bombing over Lockerbee Scotland that killed almost 300 people, mostly Americans. Forget about the “War on Terror”. Business is business. Right? Right.
But where were all of the loudmouth right-wingers who love to boast about their unmatchable “patriotism” all of the time? Apparently, they all caught laryngitis together. In the Washington Post just last year (7/16/10), in an article called “Libyan controversy adds to BP's woes”, staff writer Steven Mufson reported: BP faced a new outcry Thursday about whether the Scottish and British governments sought to smooth BP's oil exploration contract talks with Libya by releasing prisoners, including the man convicted of bombing the Pan Am plane that went down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The bombing killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.
Additionally, quoting a confidential source, Mufson went on to say how the Obama administration fit in with all of this: The Libya deal was done with the full blessing of the U.S. government, said the source, who sought anonymity to preserve his business relationships. There was always a policy of no surprises with the U.S. government.
The released murderers and drug thugs who were mentioned earlier have no plans for doing anything but what they have been known to do. They wouldn’t be interested in creating a civil society, even if they knew how to. Anarchy – not the Khadafy regime or the Western governments and their corporate sponsors - rules in Libya right now. That makes perfect sense. After all, this is about greed. And as I’ve said so many times before, greed is always bad, because greed is always short-sighted, from the cheating spouse to BP, the nuclear power plant owners, and so many other “free market” and “free enterprise” hooligans. As our dear brother Macolm X insisted: The guys runnin’ this place ain’t nothin’ but Jesse James, Frank James, and the Whatchumacallit brothers.
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXSCLIlh17o
Read full post
Dear friends,
The chaos that is going on right now in Libya is directly tied to the greed of the major Western governments, including the US and Israel (for whom the US continues to fight as a proxy), and their multinational corporate sponsors, along with the Khadafy regime. Exacerbating the whole mess is the release of prisoners, often murderers and drug thugs, by the Libyan government to undermine any genuine protest that may be occuring there.
To be sure, that practice of using criminals as cannon fodder is hardly either new or unfamiliar to Western powers especially. For example, about British settlements like the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Charlotte M. Waters wrote, "The colonies were used too as dumping ground for prisoners and undesirables generally, in spite of protests from the colonists. Criminals, prisoners of war, and inconvenient Irish were thus got rid of. Royalist prisoners after Worcester shared the fate with 2,000 Irish girls and boys deported by order of the Government. Kidnapping was not uncommon. Such emigrants were sold by auction..." (Waters, An Economic History of England).
Only a couple of years ago, British Petroleum (BP...remember them?)needed to cut a deal with the Libya government, regarding oil exploration opportunities. Part of the bargain was for the oil giant to obtain the release of one of Libya’s heroes, a man who had been convicted and was serving a life sentence for the air plane bombing over Lockerbee Scotland that killed almost 300 people, mostly Americans. Forget about the “War on Terror”. Business is business. Right? Right.
But where were all of the loudmouth right-wingers who love to boast about their unmatchable “patriotism” all of the time? Apparently, they all caught laryngitis together. In the Washington Post just last year (7/16/10), in an article called “Libyan controversy adds to BP's woes”, staff writer Steven Mufson reported: BP faced a new outcry Thursday about whether the Scottish and British governments sought to smooth BP's oil exploration contract talks with Libya by releasing prisoners, including the man convicted of bombing the Pan Am plane that went down over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. The bombing killed 270 people, including 189 Americans.
Additionally, quoting a confidential source, Mufson went on to say how the Obama administration fit in with all of this: The Libya deal was done with the full blessing of the U.S. government, said the source, who sought anonymity to preserve his business relationships. There was always a policy of no surprises with the U.S. government.
The released murderers and drug thugs who were mentioned earlier have no plans for doing anything but what they have been known to do. They wouldn’t be interested in creating a civil society, even if they knew how to. Anarchy – not the Khadafy regime or the Western governments and their corporate sponsors - rules in Libya right now. That makes perfect sense. After all, this is about greed. And as I’ve said so many times before, greed is always bad, because greed is always short-sighted, from the cheating spouse to BP, the nuclear power plant owners, and so many other “free market” and “free enterprise” hooligans. As our dear brother Macolm X insisted: The guys runnin’ this place ain’t nothin’ but Jesse James, Frank James, and the Whatchumacallit brothers.
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXSCLIlh17o
Read full post
Thursday, June 28, 2012
African American girls and young women are part of the Prison/Industrial Complex too
"...it’s a hard-hitting problem as efforts to stop the mass incarceration of black girls are practically nonexistent." - Charlotte Young
Dear friends,
There is now a consensus that the fastest growing population in the US Prison/Industrial Complex is African American girls and young women. There's always a lot of talk about young Black men needing mentoring. How about their female counterparts? After all, regarding females, young sisters in prisons are often there because of their relationships with knucklehead males. Therefore, both girls and young women will also benefit from having a wider range of caring adults in their lives, as well. On the link below is a piece that should make a lot of concerned folks think about stopping this trend.
"Liberation!" - Dr. Barbara Love
G. Djata Bumpus
http://atlantapost.com/2011/03/16/numbers-of-young-african-american-women-in-prison-rise/ Read full post
Dear friends,
There is now a consensus that the fastest growing population in the US Prison/Industrial Complex is African American girls and young women. There's always a lot of talk about young Black men needing mentoring. How about their female counterparts? After all, regarding females, young sisters in prisons are often there because of their relationships with knucklehead males. Therefore, both girls and young women will also benefit from having a wider range of caring adults in their lives, as well. On the link below is a piece that should make a lot of concerned folks think about stopping this trend.
"Liberation!" - Dr. Barbara Love
G. Djata Bumpus
http://atlantapost.com/2011/03/16/numbers-of-young-african-american-women-in-prison-rise/ Read full post
Friday, February 3, 2012
The Prison/Industrial Complex (originally posted 10/2010)
“The fastest growing form of incarceration in the United States is immigration detention…”
Dear friends,
In the past, I’ve written about the Crime Industry. Well, just as 19th Century oil conglomerates would be the predecessors of today’s Automotive/Aerospace/Oil Complex, the aforementioned Crime Industry has led to te development of the “Prison/Industrial Complex”.
To be sure, this all keeps us aware of the reality that, in a society where our values are a reflection of the market, instead of vice versa, new markets must constantly be created in order to feed the insatiable greed of the market as it now stands.
In any case, on the link below is a Website that provides some very important takes on the durrent role of prisons in our particular advanced political economy - or process of social reproduction, as it were. Please check it out.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.diversityinc.com/article/8063/The-Prison-Industrial-Complex-Biased-Predatory-and-Growing/
Read full post
Dear friends,
In the past, I’ve written about the Crime Industry. Well, just as 19th Century oil conglomerates would be the predecessors of today’s Automotive/Aerospace/Oil Complex, the aforementioned Crime Industry has led to te development of the “Prison/Industrial Complex”.
To be sure, this all keeps us aware of the reality that, in a society where our values are a reflection of the market, instead of vice versa, new markets must constantly be created in order to feed the insatiable greed of the market as it now stands.
In any case, on the link below is a Website that provides some very important takes on the durrent role of prisons in our particular advanced political economy - or process of social reproduction, as it were. Please check it out.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.diversityinc.com/article/8063/The-Prison-Industrial-Complex-Biased-Predatory-and-Growing/
Read full post
Friday, April 1, 2011
US Prisons, the new Jim Crow - a brilliant 25 minutes-long video lecture
Dear friends,
The video on the link below by author Michelle Alexander: The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness.
The speech was made a few months ago. Check it out!
One Love, One Heart, One Spirit,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://video.wpt2.org/video/1748253821/
Read full post
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Urgent!!! Thousands of Georgia Prisoners - of ALL colors - on strile together
"The real beauty of this whole affair is: regardless of either skin color or culture, these brothers are sticking together. Historically, prison revolts of any kind have been “racially” divided. "
Dear friends,
Flipping through some tv channels last night, I stopped at a DemocracyNow.org broadcast as a song by one of my old Panther comrades, Elaine Brown, played. The host then introduced Elaine and interviewed her about an extremely important story that is developing in the state of Georgia right now. Not surprisingly, the drama is completely missing from the mainstream media.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/14/prisoner_advocate_elaine_brown_on_georgia
It involves thousands of male prisoners who have joined together in a peaceful way to bring about change in their current living conditions. The real beauty of this whole affair is: regardless of either skin color or culture, these brothers are sticking together. Historically, prison revolts of any kind have been “racially” divided.
The only thing missing from this equation is: communities must develop programs to bring these brothers back to their/our communities for the good of all.
For example, churches, fraternities, sororities, even well-established gangs like the Crips and the Bloods, as well as other such community institutions can sponsor “Free Buses To Prisons Programs” where children are transported to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents or neighbors.
At any rate, on the link below, you will find a list of their present demands.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff2/historic-georgia-prison-strike-ignored-by-media-prisoners-guards/
Read full post
Dear friends,
Flipping through some tv channels last night, I stopped at a DemocracyNow.org broadcast as a song by one of my old Panther comrades, Elaine Brown, played. The host then introduced Elaine and interviewed her about an extremely important story that is developing in the state of Georgia right now. Not surprisingly, the drama is completely missing from the mainstream media.
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/12/14/prisoner_advocate_elaine_brown_on_georgia
It involves thousands of male prisoners who have joined together in a peaceful way to bring about change in their current living conditions. The real beauty of this whole affair is: regardless of either skin color or culture, these brothers are sticking together. Historically, prison revolts of any kind have been “racially” divided.
The only thing missing from this equation is: communities must develop programs to bring these brothers back to their/our communities for the good of all.
For example, churches, fraternities, sororities, even well-established gangs like the Crips and the Bloods, as well as other such community institutions can sponsor “Free Buses To Prisons Programs” where children are transported to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents or neighbors.
At any rate, on the link below, you will find a list of their present demands.
Cheers!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://newsone.com/nation/newsonestaff2/historic-georgia-prison-strike-ignored-by-media-prisoners-guards/
Read full post
Friday, May 21, 2010
Smith on the Supreme Court's recognition of Redemption for Youth
"A life without parole sentence improperly denies the juvenile offender a chance to demonstrate growth and maturity," Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority."
Dear friends,
The US Supreme Court is not necessarily known for its fairness. However, just recently, they’ve made a decision that is encouraging about the future of that body.
On the link below, Elmer Smith tells us about the ramifications of the Court’s special decision to not hold juveniles accountable for life, for their crimes/mistakes. Hopefully, one day, that will happen for all inmates. Redemption is possible, after all. Yet, if there’s no light at the end of the tunnel, who wins?
Besides, after either 30 or 40 years in prison, it seems unlikely for a person to do anything to ever land himself/herself in jail again? Moreover, we have to start making sure that second- and third-graders have enough love in their lives from the community, so that they try harder and stay in school. It starts way back there. As well, we need community, as opposed to “government” programs that address issues while folks are incarcerated, so that they will want to contribute, as opposed to destroy their communities, when they come back. Dig?
Below, here are a few ways that we can fight against the proliferation of the Crime Industry which robs African American people of so much of Our potentially productive energy and resources. They are:
1.) Free Buses To Prisons Program
Transport children to prisons for the explicit purpose of having reading lessons with their incarcerated parents. Dr. Seuss books and other “phonics” type of reading materials are a great way to start. Many of these folks who are incarcerated have only first- and second grade reading levels. By learning their phonics better and due to the fact that they are older than their children, thus more experienced in life, invariably, these "parents" will begin to read at a higher grade level, acquiring deeper comprehension as well as greater mental stamina. This means that they will gain new ideas, by reading more informative literature, instead of only consuming thoughts from people who, like them, are locked up as well and just as clueless about how to be productive citizens.
As stated above, many of the brothers in prison either cannot read or read only at first- or second grade levels. More help in the classrooms at the first- or second grade levels (and a relationship with a loving elder) may have kept them trying in school longer. Their children deserve a better chance than they had. Also, regarding females, sisters in prisons are often there because of some knucklehead males. Therefore, young girls too will also benefit from having a wider range of caring adults in their lives, whether those elders are incarcerated or not. Note: A dear friend of mine who lives in Florida has assured me that her state gives youngsters at the lower elementary level (2nd- and 3rd grades) statewide exams that help that state government decide how much additional prison space will be needed in future years, based upon how many youngsters fail the aforementioned exams. Imagine that! Did someone say, "Crime Industry"?
2.) Letters to Prisoners Program
Get people to be pen pals with inmates in area prisons. The main problem here will be that We need to make sure that inmates are not being selfish and engaging in deceitful behavior, in order to borrow money or get “favors” done on the outside. Telephone calls should be prohibited from being a way for inmates to connect with their pen pals. Incarcerated people should learn to write, if they know how to, so that they can think about why they are in that situation in the first place. A phone call does not require such reflection; people can just talk and feel good - then hang up.
3.) Convict Redemption Program
Get those convicted of either human or property damages - of any kind, to construct ways themselves to make up for their transgressions against their fellow community members. For example, as part of the “Buses” program, inmates who are not parents can still donate time to read and learn with young people.
Inmates must redeem themselves! Merely proclaiming belief in “God” or asking to be forgiven does nothing to repair the damage done. Besides, neither apology or cla”ims of religious loyalty has meaning, if the person has not repaired the damage that he or she caused. For example, people go to AA and NA meetings and hold what amounts to religious revival forums. Yet, as far as I know, not a single member of those groups has ever gone back to a victim and said, "Here's the $100 that I stole from you." Instead, that AA (Alcohol Anonyous) or NA (Narcotics Anonymous) person says, "Will you forgive me for what I did?...I believe in ‘God’ now." Well, guess what? Everyone on death row, conveniently - now - believes in “God”, after the fact. Moreover, no one can forgive anyone else. Rather, people must forgive themselves, then redeem themselves, by trying to undo the wrong committed against the victim. Otherwise, there is no justice. You just have a crook who has gotten away once more.
The three programs mentioned above are only some of the ways that the community can reach out to Our fallen brothers and sisters, in hopes that they will be appreciative for the love that the community has shown them, and, thus, return to the community as productive members.
One Love!
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20100519_Elmer_Smith__New_hope_for_juveniles_sentenced_to_life.html#axzz0oOFI15cq
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Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Smith on Jails and Lotteries
"of cooperation ...we're starting to see among the states.We reported yesterday that a half-dozen states have expressed a willingness to ease Pennsylvania's prison overcrowding by housing some of our excess inmates.
Right on the heels of that, we got the announcement that the people who run the Mega Millions game and the ones who put Pennsylvania in the Powerball lottery have agreed to get together so that every state that has lotteries can offer both multistate games..."
Dear friends,
With the "prosperity" of America's Crime Industry comes the successful Gambling Industry. This all, of course, feeds the Pain nad Misery Industry. Therefore, it should be no surprise then that our government has both The Patriot Act and Homeland Security in place. After all, at some point, all of the hostility that the aforementioned industries bring may backfire on those who are in power.
Nevertheless, on the link below, with his usual brilliant insight and analysis, Philadelphia Daily News columnist Elmer Smith helps us to consider the consequences just mentioned.
One Love,
G. Djata Bumpus
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20091016_Elmer_Smith__Jails_and_lotteries__Sure_thing_for_states.html
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