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In Honor of Women’s History Month
Izell Robinson
I am Izell Robinson, Minnesota inmate number 210006. I am today- due to the persistent COVID quarantine lockdowns at my facility, I have been limited in my access to share commentaries. Therefore, last month I… Full Transcript
In Solidarity With Asian Americans
Spoon Jackson
Anybody of color in this country has experienced so much discrimination, so to take it out on other people is wrong. Especially, I guess, Asian people has contributed, built a railroad, who helped do what… Full Transcript
Mourning at SCI Chester
Sergio Hyland
What’s up everybody. It’s Uptown Serg reporting live from SCI Chester. On Friday, March 19th, prisoners at SCI Chester, including myself, spent the day mourning yet another death of one of our elders, Bobby Sims.… Full Transcript
Correctional Officer Brutality
Quincy Dion Jones
This is Mr. Quincy Jones. My, uh, CDCR number is B as in boy, I, as in Indio, 92603. I am currently housed in CDCR New Folsom in California. I have recently been a victim of… Full Transcript
On Breonna Taylor
Peter “Pitt” Mukuria
Revolutionary greetings, this is comrade Pitt-Peter Kamal Mukuria, currently here at Red Onion Resort. I’m calling here pertaining a commentary about the disappointing decision in the grand jury hearing about the Breonna Taylor case. So… Full Transcript
COVID-19 in California Prisons
Ivan Kilgore
My name’s Ivan Kilgore and I am the founder of the United Black Family Scholarship Foundation. And I’m calling you from Solano State Prison in Northern California. Let’s go back to March of 2020. What’s… Full Transcript
The Meaning of Abolition
Peter “Pitt” Mukuria
Hey, my name is Peter Kamau Mukuria, currently incarcerated here at Red Onion State Prison in the state of Virginia, Virginia supermax prison. But anyway, so this commentary is regarding a quote from Ruth Wilson… Full Transcript
COVID-19 To Life
Joadanus Olivas
I call this “COVID-19 to Life.” I never believed that jailhouse rumor pertaining to a world catastrophe or an invasion on U.S. soil, which would prompt the correctional officers to go to each cell and… Full Transcript
To The Leadership of BLM
Sergio Hyland
I’m Uptown Serg, and this is a message to the leadership of Black Lives Matter. For years now, you have courageously taken on the burden of being representatives of the black community and our struggle… Full Transcript
My Ghetto Thesis On The N-Word
Joadanus Olivas
Joadanus Olivas, “My Ghetto Thesis On The Word Nigga.” There’s much controversy over the word “nigga.” As a black youth myself, I’m more than familiar with this word. Those from black conscious groups argue that… Full Transcript
Better Education in College Or Prison?
Joadanus Olivas
My name is Joandus Olivas, currently incarcerated. The question is whether you receive a better education in college or in prison. Which of the two ensures that for sure success later in life? Which of… Full Transcript
Police, Prison, and Community Policing
Sergio Hyland
I’m Uptown Serg, and this is “Police, Prisons, and Community Policing.” I’m grateful that society is beginning to acknowledge some of the consequences of overpolicing, but there needs to be a focus on the most… Full Transcript
Cops Canceled
Sergio Hyland
Finally the shows Cops and Live PD have been canceled. For too long, these shows have been instrumental in perpetuating dangerous stereotypes against the black and brown communities. Cops and Live PD are modern-day renditions… Full Transcript
I Can’t Breathe
Sergio Hyland
“I can’t breathe.” Most of America was first introduced to those three words after footage surfaced of the police murdering Eric Garner in New York City. But those words became a part of my life… Full Transcript
Unequal Punishment
Sergio Hyland
As somebody who has grown up under the fiercely one-sided application of law, I think I’m speaking for most people in poor black communities when I say that our demands for equality are limited to… Full Transcript
Say Our Names
Reginald Sinclair Lewis
My name is Reginald Sinclair Lewis. The name of this piece is “Say Our Names.” It is certainly deeply heartening to see throngs of Americans of all ages, races, educations, economic, and social strata, marching… Full Transcript
I Can’t Breathe (We Are All George Floyd)
Khalfani Malik Khaldun
My name is Khalfani Malik Khaldun. I am calling from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. This is my cry of support [], in celebration [] for George Floyd; power to the people and all those that… Full Transcript
Toppling White Supremacy
Sergio Hyland
Toppling white supremacy. I have to admit I was cautiously optimistic when protests and other acts of resistance sprang up across the nation this past month. Mainly, I was worried that the people’s energy would… Full Transcript
How Do You Fight an Unjust Racist System?
Dontie Mitchell
How do you fight an unjust and racist system? Definitely not by being their good nigga. How do you find an unjust and racist system that uses the power of the state to grind people… Full Transcript
This is Izell Robinson, Minnesota inmate number 210006. And this is part two to the series of the parallel lives of North and Kyle, one city, two broken families, and adolescent years of racism versus… Full Transcript