I’ve led a study here on the 10 Commandments for a few months now, and as my group came to number eight about stealing, everyone seemed to think that it only applied to material possessions. Yet, as we got to talking about it, they came to realize that stealing applies to commandments six, seven, eight, nine, and ten. For instance, murder steals life, adultery steals spouses, etc. Number nine, false testimony steals justice. It steals your character. It steals reputations. It steals dignity and fair second chances.
You know, I’ve never been one to make excuses for my mistakes or bad choices or other people who’ve made bad choices, and we’re paying the consequences for our journey. But like I briefly spoke about one of my other commentaries, I was called a lesbian approximately 250 times during my trial, and in 1986, this word and label alone shaped my life in my trial. At 21, I felt like I had no voice, out of fear and judgment, because it was still a crime in Kentucky. And even in my pre-sentence investigation report, I was called a “dominant female type.” Well, let me assure you: for 40 plus years in prison, I have no dominance, no violence, or anything of the sort on my record.
In our criminal justice system, though, there are prisoners that are still being denied parole, denied fair treatment, and more things based on stereotypes, differences, lies, and stealing tongues. Let’s think about it for a moment: 250 times of being called a lesbian. In 1986, was this to inflame a jury? Was it to get me more time? Now consider this: when the actual killer was on the stand, and my lawyer asked him, “What did Karen Brown do?” He answered, “Karen said, ‘I can’t do it. I can’t do it.” My question is: Why were these words not repeated 250 times?
Our Kentucky governor is often saying that all children are God’s children. He was the first Kentucky governor to speak at a fairness rally. I know other progressive governors may do this also, and we’re blessed by it. While I’m so appreciative of these stances they take, there are those of us in prison, like myself, for decades, who were judged by lifestyles instead of forensic evidence, our accomplishments, of who we are now, decades later. In my opinion, there are stealing tongues and there are healing tongues. A stealing tongue. can take a word and hurt people. A healing tongue, they need actions put behind them.
This is Karen, and I’m pleading to be judged by who I am today, and for all of us to be treated fairly, based on faith, growth, character, not appearances. For instance, I’ve led praise and worship here in our chapel since 1999, but there are still churches that won’t let me play music for them based solely on how I look. Please don’t steal the rest of my life based on hate-filled words. This is Karen asking for people to support Prison Radio, so they can keep giving us a voice and an outlet for truth, for reform, and for a second chance in our journey of life.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
