it was when I realized my eyes had some passion for the pen not the mechanical
passion for the pen not the mechanical
passion for the pen not the mechanical ones but the ones most of my brothers
ones but the ones most of my brothers
ones but the ones most of my brothers and fathers have been in penalizing them
and fathers have been in penalizing them
and fathers have been in penalizing them with the penetration of those unfallen
with the penetration of those unfallen
with the penetration of those unfallen lines that you have the right to remain
lines that you have the right to remain
lines that you have the right to remain silent silence it’s a token that has
silent silence it’s a token that has
silent silence it’s a token that has been given to me that I have carried
been given to me that I have carried
been given to me that I have carried throughout most of my life I was always
throughout most of my life I was always
throughout most of my life I was always embarrassed about where I came from and
embarrassed about where I came from and
embarrassed about where I came from and who is in my family I was young when my
who is in my family I was young when my
who is in my family I was young when my oldest brother brother number one was
oldest brother brother number one was
oldest brother brother number one was sent away for the first time I was young
sent away for the first time I was young
sent away for the first time I was young when my father was in and out of the
when my father was in and out of the
when my father was in and out of the picture throughout my childhood me
picture throughout my childhood me
picture throughout my childhood me oblivious as to why I was in high school
oblivious as to why I was in high school
oblivious as to why I was in high school and brother number two was incarcerated
and brother number two was incarcerated
and brother number two was incarcerated I was in college when brothers number
I was in college when brothers number
I was in college when brothers number one and three were locked up again I
one and three were locked up again I
one and three were locked up again I only had four brothers and yet more than
only had four brothers and yet more than
only had four brothers and yet more than half of them have been incarcerated
half of them have been incarcerated
half of them have been incarcerated throughout my lifetime you were the men
throughout my lifetime you were the men
throughout my lifetime you were the men I was supposed to look up to I always
I was supposed to look up to I always
I was supposed to look up to I always thought the black and brown men who were
thought the black and brown men who were
thought the black and brown men who were not a statistic the black and brown men
not a statistic the black and brown men
not a statistic the black and brown men who were above breaking the law the
who were above breaking the law the
who were above breaking the law the black and brown men who were there for
black and brown men who were there for
black and brown men who were there for their families not the men who were
their families not the men who were
their families not the men who were criminals the men who were behind bars
criminals the men who were behind bars
criminals the men who were behind bars the men who I was ashamed to be related
the men who I was ashamed to be related
the men who I was ashamed to be related to the men who altered my perception on
to the men who altered my perception on
to the men who altered my perception on what it meant to be black and brown in
what it meant to be black and brown in
what it meant to be black and brown in the United States the type of men that
the United States the type of men that
the United States the type of men that people shout black lives matter for yet
people shout black lives matter for yet
people shout black lives matter for yet I was violent still carrying this token
I was violent still carrying this token
I was violent still carrying this token I hated you I protected all men of color
I hated you I protected all men of color
I hated you I protected all men of color as delinquents unworthy of my love and
as delinquents unworthy of my love and
as delinquents unworthy of my love and deserving of my trust but worthy of
deserving of my trust but worthy of
deserving of my trust but worthy of being pigeon-holed because use of the
being pigeon-holed because use of the
being pigeon-holed because use of the description of a thug or criminal you
description of a thug or criminal you
description of a thug or criminal you validated my bias from behind bars and
validated my bias from behind bars and
validated my bias from behind bars and that black out and everything to me but
that black out and everything to me but
that black out and everything to me but now with the birth of my baby brother
now with the birth of my baby brother
now with the birth of my baby brother Dmitri I’ve had to take a step back and
Dmitri I’ve had to take a step back and
Dmitri I’ve had to take a step back and think about how I don’t want him to be a
think about how I don’t want him to be a
think about how I don’t want him to be a statistic how
statistic how
statistic how I want him to be there for his family
I want him to be there for his family
I want him to be there for his family how I don’t want him to end up like you
how I don’t want him to end up like you
how I don’t want him to end up like you no longer can I be silent we often
no longer can I be silent we often
no longer can I be silent we often consider prisoners in the criminal
consider prisoners in the criminal
consider prisoners in the criminal justice system there were negative light
justice system there were negative light
justice system there were negative light as you just heard I saw my own family in
as you just heard I saw my own family in
as you just heard I saw my own family in such a light I always thought that if
such a light I always thought that if
such a light I always thought that if someone did the crime then well they
someone did the crime then well they
someone did the crime then well they should do the time right I had my own
should do the time right I had my own
should do the time right I had my own biases against prisoners now at this
biases against prisoners now at this
biases against prisoners now at this point I didn’t really understand how the
point I didn’t really understand how the
point I didn’t really understand how the system worked but it really didn’t
system worked but it really didn’t
system worked but it really didn’t matter to me because as long as
matter to me because as long as
matter to me because as long as criminals were off the street and behind
criminals were off the street and behind
criminals were off the street and behind bars well I was okay and I was safe it
bars well I was okay and I was safe it
bars well I was okay and I was safe it wasn’t until the last year and a half or
wasn’t until the last year and a half or
wasn’t until the last year and a half or so after my youngest brother Dmitri was
so after my youngest brother Dmitri was
so after my youngest brother Dmitri was born that I’ve actively began to make an
born that I’ve actively began to make an
born that I’ve actively began to make an effort to educate myself in order to
effort to educate myself in order to
effort to educate myself in order to change that bias you see there is a
change that bias you see there is a
change that bias you see there is a stigma in our society that seldom fades
stigma in our society that seldom fades
stigma in our society that seldom fades away and that stigma is attached to
away and that stigma is attached to
away and that stigma is attached to prisoners essentially for the rest of
prisoners essentially for the rest of
prisoners essentially for the rest of their lives and guess what we contribute
their lives and guess what we contribute
their lives and guess what we contribute to mass incarceration because we
to mass incarceration because we
to mass incarceration because we stigmatize people in the prison
stigmatize people in the prison
stigmatize people in the prison community so in order to understand this
community so in order to understand this
community so in order to understand this stigma we must first understand certain
stigma we must first understand certain
stigma we must first understand certain components of the criminal justice
components of the criminal justice
components of the criminal justice system itself in order in order to
system itself in order in order to
system itself in order in order to understand how it manifested so so in
understand how it manifested so so in
understand how it manifested so so in our current system this country uses the
our current system this country uses the
our current system this country uses the concept of retributive justice or an eye
concept of retributive justice or an eye
concept of retributive justice or an eye for an eye
for an eye
for an eye revenge you get what you deserve or any
revenge you get what you deserve or any
revenge you get what you deserve or any other type of saying that you are
other type of saying that you are
other type of saying that you are familiar with in order to punish and
familiar with in order to punish and
familiar with in order to punish and subsequently incarcerate members in our
subsequently incarcerate members in our
subsequently incarcerate members in our community now these crimes can be either
community now these crimes can be either
community now these crimes can be either violent such as battery or murder or
violent such as battery or murder or
violent such as battery or murder or nonviolent such as theft or drug charges
nonviolent such as theft or drug charges
nonviolent such as theft or drug charges aside from that this country’s reflex
aside from that this country’s reflex
aside from that this country’s reflex response to crime is simply to just lock
response to crime is simply to just lock
response to crime is simply to just lock people up we all know this right
people up we all know this right
people up we all know this right but think about this the United States
but think about this the United States
but think about this the United States the five percent of the entire
the five percent of the entire
the five percent of the entire population of the world is in the United
population of the world is in the United
population of the world is in the United States however we have the highest rate
States however we have the highest rate
States however we have the highest rate of incarceration in the entire world
of incarceration in the entire world
of incarceration in the entire world the US houses 20% of the world’s
the US houses 20% of the world’s
the US houses 20% of the world’s population as prisoners that is no small
population as prisoners that is no small
population as prisoners that is no small number
number
number additionally thinking about people of
additionally thinking about people of
additionally thinking about people of color particularly black and brown
color particularly black and brown
color particularly black and brown people they make up only 29 percent of
people they make up only 29 percent of
people they make up only 29 percent of the US population as compared to white
the US population as compared to white
the US population as compared to white people who make up 64 percent but when
people who make up 64 percent but when
people who make up 64 percent but when we look at the incarcerated population
we look at the incarcerated population
we look at the incarcerated population black and brown people make up 59%
black and brown people make up 59%
black and brown people make up 59% disproportionately as compared to white
disproportionately as compared to white
disproportionately as compared to white people who make up only 39% it’s
people who make up only 39% it’s
people who make up only 39% it’s important to mention these statistics
important to mention these statistics
important to mention these statistics because prejudice is real and I know
because prejudice is real and I know
because prejudice is real and I know it’s real because it’s affected how I
it’s real because it’s affected how I
it’s real because it’s affected how I perceive members of my own race which
perceive members of my own race which
perceive members of my own race which cause me to think that black men were
cause me to think that black men were
cause me to think that black men were less valuable which of course isn’t
less valuable which of course isn’t
less valuable which of course isn’t really true
another fun fact the average inmates
another fun fact the average inmates wage is 93 cents an hour so in essence
wage is 93 cents an hour so in essence
wage is 93 cents an hour so in essence the United States feeds off of prison
the United States feeds off of prison
the United States feeds off of prison population more often than not men of
population more often than not men of
population more often than not men of color in order to facilitate its
color in order to facilitate its
color in order to facilitate its implementation in state and federal
implementation in state and federal
implementation in state and federal institutions throughout our nation not
institutions throughout our nation not
institutions throughout our nation not even including private which is a whole
even including private which is a whole
even including private which is a whole separate ordeal so looking at these
separate ordeal so looking at these
separate ordeal so looking at these statistics we can kind of see that well
statistics we can kind of see that well
statistics we can kind of see that well things aren’t really going too well
things aren’t really going too well
things aren’t really going too well because more almost half of former
because more almost half of former
because more almost half of former federal inmates can actually relapse
federal inmates can actually relapse
federal inmates can actually relapse back into criminal behavior which is a
back into criminal behavior which is a
back into criminal behavior which is a term called recidivism and these
term called recidivism and these
term called recidivism and these criminal acts can lead to what I call
criminal acts can lead to what I call
criminal acts can lead to what I call the 3 R’s reah Rus reconviction and a
the 3 R’s reah Rus reconviction and a
the 3 R’s reah Rus reconviction and a return to prison with or without a new
return to prison with or without a new
return to prison with or without a new sentence my brother brother number one
sentence my brother brother number one
sentence my brother brother number one fell into this trap and he paid the
fell into this trap and he paid the
fell into this trap and he paid the price for it and he holds himself
price for it and he holds himself
price for it and he holds himself accountable for it every single day
accountable for it every single day
accountable for it every single day since his release the lack of adequate
since his release the lack of adequate
since his release the lack of adequate resources that people like him don’t
resources that people like him don’t
resources that people like him don’t receive once they are released are one
receive once they are released are one
receive once they are released are one of the things that contribute to this
of the things that contribute to this
of the things that contribute to this concept of recidivism so when someone
concept of recidivism so when someone
concept of recidivism so when someone goes to prison many of their rights and
goes to prison many of their rights and
goes to prison many of their rights and their human rights have been essentially
their human rights have been essentially
their human rights have been essentially taken away such as the right to vote and
taken away such as the right to vote and
taken away such as the right to vote and the right to access affordable housing
the right to access affordable housing
the right to access affordable housing we essentially don’t treat prisoners as
we essentially don’t treat prisoners as
we essentially don’t treat prisoners as if they are human we label them
if they are human we label them
if they are human we label them criminals as I said before and we deem
criminals as I said before and we deem
criminals as I said before and we deem them unfit for normal life back into
them unfit for normal life back into
them unfit for normal life back into society
society
society whatever that even means right but if we
whatever that even means right but if we
whatever that even means right but if we are to use these so-called punitive I 4
are to use these so-called punitive I 4
are to use these so-called punitive I 4 and I system as a basis for our
and I system as a basis for our
and I system as a basis for our judgement of people once they are
judgement of people once they are
judgement of people once they are released we must understand that
released we must understand that
released we must understand that according to that system they have been
according to that system they have been
according to that system they have been deemed fit for reentry or else they
deemed fit for reentry or else they
deemed fit for reentry or else they would still be locked up but that isn’t
would still be locked up but that isn’t
would still be locked up but that isn’t necessarily the case because employers
necessarily the case because employers
necessarily the case because employers can still deny employment based off of
can still deny employment based off of
can still deny employment based off of their criminal history so when we look
their criminal history so when we look
their criminal history so when we look at the institutional level we can see
at the institutional level we can see
at the institutional level we can see how the stigma manifests itself on a
how the stigma manifests itself on a
how the stigma manifests itself on a social context as well but let me ask
social context as well but let me ask
social context as well but let me ask you this is it possible to implement an
you this is it possible to implement an
you this is it possible to implement an additional system
additional system
additional system such as rehabilitation for example in
such as rehabilitation for example in
such as rehabilitation for example in order to aid in reversing the amount of
order to aid in reversing the amount of
order to aid in reversing the amount of people who are sent to prison in the
people who are sent to prison in the
people who are sent to prison in the first place is it possible for a person
first place is it possible for a person
first place is it possible for a person for prisoners to strengthen their ties
for prisoners to strengthen their ties
for prisoners to strengthen their ties with the outside world while they are
with the outside world while they are
with the outside world while they are actually in prison
actually in prison
actually in prison is it possible to ban the box on
is it possible to ban the box on
is it possible to ban the box on criminal history for job applications
criminal history for job applications
criminal history for job applications now it could be me just being a
now it could be me just being a
now it could be me just being a millennial idealist but I think anything
millennial idealist but I think anything
millennial idealist but I think anything is possible we just have to start
is possible we just have to start
is possible we just have to start thinking about what our government can
thinking about what our government can
thinking about what our government can do in order to aid in answering these
do in order to aid in answering these
do in order to aid in answering these questions but more importantly we have
questions but more importantly we have
questions but more importantly we have to start thinking about what we can do
to start thinking about what we can do
to start thinking about what we can do individually so that your friends and
individually so that your friends and
individually so that your friends and your family members could potentially
your family members could potentially
your family members could potentially have the opportunity to succeed in life
have the opportunity to succeed in life
have the opportunity to succeed in life if they are ever in prison the day that
if they are ever in prison the day that
if they are ever in prison the day that I met my younger brother Dmitry Johnson
I met my younger brother Dmitry Johnson
I met my younger brother Dmitry Johnson is the day that I wanted and decided
is the day that I wanted and decided
is the day that I wanted and decided that I had to make a change internally
that I had to make a change internally
that I had to make a change internally if I ever wanted to make that happen so
if I ever wanted to make that happen so
if I ever wanted to make that happen so what did I do
what did I do
what did I do these are a few of the things that I did
these are a few of the things that I did
these are a few of the things that I did in order to try to reverse my bias and
in order to try to reverse my bias and
in order to try to reverse my bias and to overcome that bias of the prison
to overcome that bias of the prison
to overcome that bias of the prison community and by no means are my perfect
community and by no means are my perfect
community and by no means are my perfect I still have a lot of work to accomplish
I still have a lot of work to accomplish
I still have a lot of work to accomplish in order to overcoming that bias but
in order to overcoming that bias but
in order to overcoming that bias but this is what I’m doing now so the first
this is what I’m doing now so the first
this is what I’m doing now so the first thing that I did was I took a class at
thing that I did was I took a class at
thing that I did was I took a class at my university I had the privilege to do
my university I had the privilege to do
my university I had the privilege to do so so why not in which more majority of
so so why not in which more majority of
so so why not in which more majority of the class was to visit a local women’s
the class was to visit a local women’s
the class was to visit a local women’s juvenile detention center and interact
juvenile detention center and interact
juvenile detention center and interact with the inmates there in addition to
with the inmates there in addition to
with the inmates there in addition to learning about mass incarceration one
learning about mass incarceration one
learning about mass incarceration one thing that I noted while I was there was
thing that I noted while I was there was
thing that I noted while I was there was that these young women were extremely
that these young women were extremely
that these young women were extremely talented in singing and dancing and one
talented in singing and dancing and one
talented in singing and dancing and one thing that I particularly connected with
thing that I particularly connected with
thing that I particularly connected with them the most on was their writing which
them the most on was their writing which
them the most on was their writing which was amazing I could have simply brushed
was amazing I could have simply brushed
was amazing I could have simply brushed these girls aside do their inmate status
these girls aside do their inmate status
these girls aside do their inmate status I didn’t have to care I could have just
I didn’t have to care I could have just
I didn’t have to care I could have just gone because well it was a part of the
gone because well it was a part of the
gone because well it was a part of the participation grade and we all know that
participation grade and we all know that
participation grade and we all know that participation grade is important for
participation grade is important for
participation grade is important for classes but this was the first time that
classes but this was the first time that
classes but this was the first time that I truly interacted with people who were
I truly interacted with people who were
I truly interacted with people who were in car
in car
in car aside from my family members I kept
aside from my family members I kept
aside from my family members I kept thinking about Dimitri and how he could
thinking about Dimitri and how he could
thinking about Dimitri and how he could potentially end up in this situation in
potentially end up in this situation in
potentially end up in this situation in a matter of years and statistically if
a matter of years and statistically if
a matter of years and statistically if you’re sent to prison as a child you’re
you’re sent to prison as a child you’re
you’re sent to prison as a child you’re more than likely going to be
more than likely going to be
more than likely going to be incarcerated again as an adult the
incarcerated again as an adult the
incarcerated again as an adult the second thing that I did was I began to
second thing that I did was I began to
second thing that I did was I began to work at a nonprofit organization called
work at a nonprofit organization called
work at a nonprofit organization called the Lewisburg prison project Lewisburg
the Lewisburg prison project Lewisburg
the Lewisburg prison project Lewisburg Prison project provides advocacy
Prison project provides advocacy
Prison project provides advocacy information and legal assistance
information and legal assistance
information and legal assistance regarding conditions of confinement who
regarding conditions of confinement who
regarding conditions of confinement who are prisoners and inmates nationwide
are prisoners and inmates nationwide
are prisoners and inmates nationwide particularly regarding conditions of
particularly regarding conditions of
particularly regarding conditions of confinement were interested when those
confinement were interested when those
confinement were interested when those conditions are considered illegal or
conditions are considered illegal or
conditions are considered illegal or inhumane and many times it’s both
inhumane and many times it’s both
inhumane and many times it’s both believe it or not my involvement with
believe it or not my involvement with
believe it or not my involvement with the Lewisburg Prison project has
the Lewisburg Prison project has
the Lewisburg Prison project has dramatically influenced my understanding
dramatically influenced my understanding
dramatically influenced my understanding of what’s going on inside prison such as
of what’s going on inside prison such as
of what’s going on inside prison such as where prisons are even built in the
where prisons are even built in the
where prisons are even built in the first place who has access to certain
first place who has access to certain
first place who has access to certain vaccinations like hepatitis C flaws in
vaccinations like hepatitis C flaws in
vaccinations like hepatitis C flaws in programs like federal good time which is
programs like federal good time which is
programs like federal good time which is a program that was used to replace
a program that was used to replace
a program that was used to replace federal parole
federal parole
federal parole the Eighth Amendment and what is
the Eighth Amendment and what is
the Eighth Amendment and what is actually considered cruel and unusual
actually considered cruel and unusual
actually considered cruel and unusual punishment in the prison system and what
punishment in the prison system and what
punishment in the prison system and what is not they’re learning about some of
is not they’re learning about some of
is not they’re learning about some of these things that happen inside I have
these things that happen inside I have
these things that happen inside I have developed my empathy for people or
developed my empathy for people or
developed my empathy for people or prisoners once they are actually
prisoners once they are actually
prisoners once they are actually released I’ve also developed more
released I’ve also developed more
released I’ve also developed more questions such as what would a better
questions such as what would a better
questions such as what would a better prison system look like
prison system look like
prison system look like is it rehabilitation is our retributive
is it rehabilitation is our retributive
is it rehabilitation is our retributive system our punitive system actually
system our punitive system actually
system our punitive system actually working is it a combination of the two
working is it a combination of the two
working is it a combination of the two is it something else
is it something else
is it something else that I hadn’t thought of yet how do we
that I hadn’t thought of yet how do we
that I hadn’t thought of yet how do we push our government to act on fair
push our government to act on fair
push our government to act on fair treatment and prison policies is it even
treatment and prison policies is it even
treatment and prison policies is it even possible for our current administration
possible for our current administration
possible for our current administration to act on fair treatment and policies in
to act on fair treatment and policies in
to act on fair treatment and policies in the prison community why do we continue
the prison community why do we continue
the prison community why do we continue to treat these people like animals like
to treat these people like animals like
to treat these people like animals like chattel now I don’t really have an
chattel now I don’t really have an
chattel now I don’t really have an answer to this question and if someone
answer to this question and if someone
answer to this question and if someone in this audience does have to answer
in this audience does have to answer
in this audience does have to answer this question any of these questions for
this question any of these questions for
this question any of these questions for that matter please let me know after
that matter please let me know after
that matter please let me know after this is over but I do have an answer to
this is over but I do have an answer to
this is over but I do have an answer to this how can i as a member of my
this how can i as a member of my
this how can i as a member of my national community or within my local
national community or within my local
national community or within my local communities get involved and become and
communities get involved and become and
communities get involved and become and increase my awareness of what’s
increase my awareness of what’s
increase my awareness of what’s happening in the prison community
happening in the prison community
happening in the prison community well one thinking to do is you can write
well one thinking to do is you can write
well one thinking to do is you can write a letter to a prisoner I know it sounds
a letter to a prisoner I know it sounds
a letter to a prisoner I know it sounds cliche but it’s actually it actually
cliche but it’s actually it actually
cliche but it’s actually it actually does have a profound effect on both
does have a profound effect on both
does have a profound effect on both parties involved have a conversation
parties involved have a conversation
parties involved have a conversation with someone who is formerly been
with someone who is formerly been
with someone who is formerly been incarcerated volunteer at an
incarcerated volunteer at an
incarcerated volunteer at an organization such as the Lewisburg
organization such as the Lewisburg
organization such as the Lewisburg Prison project in which you can actually
Prison project in which you can actually
Prison project in which you can actually do both of the former two questions more
do both of the former two questions more
do both of the former two questions more than likely you’ll see that there’s not
than likely you’ll see that there’s not
than likely you’ll see that there’s not really that much of a difference between
really that much of a difference between
really that much of a difference between those who are incarcerated and those of
those who are incarcerated and those of
those who are incarcerated and those of us who have never been incarcerated in
us who have never been incarcerated in
us who have never been incarcerated in our entire lives my brothers have all
our entire lives my brothers have all
our entire lives my brothers have all been released my father is no longer in
been released my father is no longer in
been released my father is no longer in jail and they’re free free
jail and they’re free free
jail and they’re free free but that doesn’t mean I can be happy
but that doesn’t mean I can be happy
but that doesn’t mean I can be happy about it or that I can be silent about
about it or that I can be silent about
about it or that I can be silent about it or that I can be happily silent about
it or that I can be happily silent about
it or that I can be happily silent about it silence is a token and many of us
it silence is a token and many of us
it silence is a token and many of us choose to carry it in our pockets
choose to carry it in our pockets
choose to carry it in our pockets because we have the right to do so I
because we have the right to do so I
because we have the right to do so I have chosen to throw my token of silence
have chosen to throw my token of silence
have chosen to throw my token of silence away I have decided and challenge myself
away I have decided and challenge myself
away I have decided and challenge myself to do something my question for you now
to do something my question for you now
to do something my question for you now is will you thank
is will you thank
is will you thank [Applause]
”
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