Hey, this is Kenneth Zamarron, calling from Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle, Indiana. This is called “Turning 31.”
Turning 31, and today I spent half my life in a draconian prison. At 16, I immediately learned to fight for state-issued food. At 17, I learned I was mature enough for 100 years in the IDOC. At 18, I became a full-fledged member of one of the most dangerous Latino gangs. I had no hope. At 19, I was placed in the secure housing unit, known as the SHU. At 20, people started to forget about me in the free world. Prisoners became my family. At 21, I was sent back to the secured housing unit, the SHU. At 22, I started to examine my life and, like Socrates stated, I learned that an “unexamined life is not worth living.” At 23, I knew regret and grief. At 24, a rare disease started to affect my body. At 25, I truly started to learn to read and write, and fight for my rights. At 26, I truly wanted a different life. At 27, I became a full-fledged dropout of one of the most dangerous Latino gangs in the IDOC. At 28, I started to learn law. At 29, I filed a federal lawsuit. At 30, I won a federal lawsuit. At 31, I accepted fate that I may die in prison, but I will nonetheless attempt to live a meaningful life, and I will continue to fight for my rights and others while I’m in the IDOC.
Today, I’m 31.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
