today we’re going to have a conversation about children of incarcerated parents
about children of incarcerated parents
about children of incarcerated parents we know and understand the effects of
we know and understand the effects of
we know and understand the effects of mass incarceration but we get stuck up
mass incarceration but we get stuck up
mass incarceration but we get stuck up in the realities of the crime or the
in the realities of the crime or the
in the realities of the crime or the criminal or all of the things that we
criminal or all of the things that we
criminal or all of the things that we see on TV now today the conversation is
see on TV now today the conversation is
see on TV now today the conversation is going to be a whole lot different than
going to be a whole lot different than
going to be a whole lot different than the conversations that we had but again
the conversations that we had but again
the conversations that we had but again that’s what we’re here for a lot of the
that’s what we’re here for a lot of the
that’s what we’re here for a lot of the times when you talk about the effects of
times when you talk about the effects of
times when you talk about the effects of mass incarceration a lot of people like
mass incarceration a lot of people like
mass incarceration a lot of people like to say does the Apple fall far from the
to say does the Apple fall far from the
to say does the Apple fall far from the tree but what we’re really trying to say
tree but what we’re really trying to say
tree but what we’re really trying to say is what I’m talking about today is does
is what I’m talking about today is does
is what I’m talking about today is does the Apple fall far from prison at the
the Apple fall far from prison at the
the Apple fall far from prison at the end of the day the statistics have
end of the day the statistics have
end of the day the statistics have identified that children of incarcerated
identified that children of incarcerated
identified that children of incarcerated parents have a greater likelihood of
parents have a greater likelihood of
parents have a greater likelihood of spending time in prison across their
spending time in prison across their
spending time in prison across their life hood if you look at that in terms
life hood if you look at that in terms
life hood if you look at that in terms of minority children the numbers rise
of minority children the numbers rise
of minority children the numbers rise substantially if you look at it in terms
substantially if you look at it in terms
substantially if you look at it in terms of black male children now they’ve have
of black male children now they’ve have
of black male children now they’ve have been to fied one in three one of the
been to fied one in three one of the
been to fied one in three one of the things that I want to talk about today
things that I want to talk about today
things that I want to talk about today is success and resilience because one of
is success and resilience because one of
is success and resilience because one of the things that we know a whole lot
the things that we know a whole lot
the things that we know a whole lot about are the negative effects of
about are the negative effects of
about are the negative effects of incarceration we know about the risks
incarceration we know about the risks
incarceration we know about the risks and of course those are things that are
and of course those are things that are
and of course those are things that are really important to know I mean it’s
really important to know I mean it’s
really important to know I mean it’s important to know that if at 11 years
important to know that if at 11 years
important to know that if at 11 years old a child parent is incarcerated they
old a child parent is incarcerated they
old a child parent is incarcerated they may go back maybe six years in their
may go back maybe six years in their
may go back maybe six years in their lives and start wetting the bed
lives and start wetting the bed
lives and start wetting the bed and if we’re treating them like their 11
and if we’re treating them like their 11
and if we’re treating them like their 11 year old but in their mind their brains
year old but in their mind their brains
year old but in their mind their brains have been traumatized to go back to the
have been traumatized to go back to the
have been traumatized to go back to the third grade we may be a bit off I want
third grade we may be a bit off I want
third grade we may be a bit off I want to start by letting you know that this
to start by letting you know that this
to start by letting you know that this is just not a conversation about a
is just not a conversation about a
is just not a conversation about a decade worth of research that I’ve done
decade worth of research that I’ve done
decade worth of research that I’ve done the picture that you see in front of you
the picture that you see in front of you
the picture that you see in front of you is my nephew his name is Nasir and we
is my nephew his name is Nasir and we
is my nephew his name is Nasir and we call him Naz his father is incarcerated
call him Naz his father is incarcerated
call him Naz his father is incarcerated I’m dealing with this in my personal
I’m dealing with this in my personal
I’m dealing with this in my personal life within my classroom and anywhere
life within my classroom and anywhere
life within my classroom and anywhere and everywhere that I travel in the
and everywhere that I travel in the
and everywhere that I travel in the world this is my niece she’s also
world this is my niece she’s also
world this is my niece she’s also dealing with a father who’s incarcerated
dealing with a father who’s incarcerated
dealing with a father who’s incarcerated she loves going to school she likes to
she loves going to school she likes to
she loves going to school she likes to play with her dolls she does all of the
play with her dolls she does all of the
play with her dolls she does all of the things that young children want to do
things that young children want to do
things that young children want to do but the research whispers in your ear
but the research whispers in your ear
but the research whispers in your ear and leads to those individuals who are
and leads to those individuals who are
and leads to those individuals who are in the school system to think that she’s
in the school system to think that she’s
in the school system to think that she’s only going to be the
only going to be the
only going to be the biggest mistake that her father made and
biggest mistake that her father made and
biggest mistake that her father made and so we popped those bubbles of dreams and
so we popped those bubbles of dreams and
so we popped those bubbles of dreams and we allowed the children to be sad and to
we allowed the children to be sad and to
we allowed the children to be sad and to deal with this reality on their own one
deal with this reality on their own one
deal with this reality on their own one of the things that I’ve done over the
of the things that I’ve done over the
of the things that I’ve done over the course of this lifetime and doing
course of this lifetime and doing
course of this lifetime and doing research in this area was traveling to
research in this area was traveling to
research in this area was traveling to schools this is where a lot of the
schools this is where a lot of the
schools this is where a lot of the children are spending their time more
children are spending their time more
children are spending their time more than sometimes in their own households
than sometimes in their own households
than sometimes in their own households you would think that the conversation
you would think that the conversation
you would think that the conversation there would be a little more easy to
there would be a little more easy to
there would be a little more easy to have but it’s a lot more difficult in
have but it’s a lot more difficult in
have but it’s a lot more difficult in fact the picture that you see in front
fact the picture that you see in front
fact the picture that you see in front of you is an amazing student that
of you is an amazing student that
of you is an amazing student that attends an elementary school in Newark
attends an elementary school in Newark
attends an elementary school in Newark New Jersey I had the pleasure of going
New Jersey I had the pleasure of going
New Jersey I had the pleasure of going to that particular school and meeting
to that particular school and meeting
to that particular school and meeting with groups of students who not only use
with groups of students who not only use
with groups of students who not only use the Yale ruler to be able to tap into
the Yale ruler to be able to tap into
the Yale ruler to be able to tap into their emotional intelligence but we’re
their emotional intelligence but we’re
their emotional intelligence but we’re honest and truthful about where they
honest and truthful about where they
honest and truthful about where they stood and that means that you have to
stood and that means that you have to
stood and that means that you have to have a brave principled and I always a
have a brave principled and I always a
have a brave principled and I always a paw prints ax ‘pl Ortiz in front of you
paw prints ax ‘pl Ortiz in front of you
paw prints ax ‘pl Ortiz in front of you is destiny’s Santiago your typical
is destiny’s Santiago your typical
is destiny’s Santiago your typical student in elementary school you would
student in elementary school you would
student in elementary school you would think from the picture
think from the picture
think from the picture she’s also dealing with her father who
she’s also dealing with her father who
she’s also dealing with her father who is incarcerated dealing with the
is incarcerated dealing with the
is incarcerated dealing with the realities of that everyday within her
realities of that everyday within her
realities of that everyday within her classroom but that doesn’t stop her from
classroom but that doesn’t stop her from
classroom but that doesn’t stop her from utilizing technology to create her own
utilizing technology to create her own
utilizing technology to create her own video games not only does she do that on
video games not only does she do that on
video games not only does she do that on the side she’s winning all of these
the side she’s winning all of these
the side she’s winning all of these amazing awards in math and science and
amazing awards in math and science and
amazing awards in math and science and she’s a loving individual who believes
she’s a loving individual who believes
she’s a loving individual who believes in fixing her community not placing a
in fixing her community not placing a
in fixing her community not placing a bandaid when she grows up she wants to
bandaid when she grows up she wants to
bandaid when she grows up she wants to be an attorney and when you meet her you
be an attorney and when you meet her you
be an attorney and when you meet her you could just see you could see the drive
could just see you could see the drive
could just see you could see the drive within her that she’s destined to see
within her that she’s destined to see
within her that she’s destined to see those stars I would like to introduce
those stars I would like to introduce
those stars I would like to introduce you to another magnificent young woman
you to another magnificent young woman
you to another magnificent young woman Madison strumpet who I had the honor of
Madison strumpet who I had the honor of
Madison strumpet who I had the honor of meeting in New Zealand she was dealing
meeting in New Zealand she was dealing
meeting in New Zealand she was dealing with a father who was also incarcerated
with a father who was also incarcerated
with a father who was also incarcerated this happened to her on Valentine’s Day
this happened to her on Valentine’s Day
this happened to her on Valentine’s Day could you imagine the love of your life
could you imagine the love of your life
could you imagine the love of your life being a
being a
being a in a way not for one day or two days or
in a way not for one day or two days or
in a way not for one day or two days or something that happened to go to the
something that happened to go to the
something that happened to go to the hospital but incarceration and I know
hospital but incarceration and I know
hospital but incarceration and I know it’s difficult for individuals to kind
it’s difficult for individuals to kind
it’s difficult for individuals to kind of understand that particular concept
of understand that particular concept
of understand that particular concept but again we’re talking about the
but again we’re talking about the
but again we’re talking about the children who are innocent they have done
children who are innocent they have done
children who are innocent they have done nothing they didn’t ask to be here in
nothing they didn’t ask to be here in
nothing they didn’t ask to be here in the first place they are the silent
the first place they are the silent
the first place they are the silent victims of mass incarceration that
victims of mass incarceration that
victims of mass incarceration that continues to destroy our communities
continues to destroy our communities
continues to destroy our communities destroys conversations but Madison is
destroys conversations but Madison is
destroys conversations but Madison is making a difference she’s a best-selling
making a difference she’s a best-selling
making a difference she’s a best-selling author of an amazing book that talks
author of an amazing book that talks
author of an amazing book that talks about her father and how individuals
about her father and how individuals
about her father and how individuals make mistakes within that book she
make mistakes within that book she
make mistakes within that book she wanted to identify from a child’s
wanted to identify from a child’s
wanted to identify from a child’s perspective what it’s like to have a
perspective what it’s like to have a
perspective what it’s like to have a father in prison and to know that you
father in prison and to know that you
father in prison and to know that you can strive you can reach on you can
can strive you can reach on you can
can strive you can reach on you can still dream and desire all of the things
still dream and desire all of the things
still dream and desire all of the things that you want medicines gone to the
that you want medicines gone to the
that you want medicines gone to the White House she’s traveled all around
White House she’s traveled all around
White House she’s traveled all around the nation and currently she is
the nation and currently she is
the nation and currently she is nominated for the 2017 Children’s Peace
nominated for the 2017 Children’s Peace
nominated for the 2017 Children’s Peace Prize one of our very own Howard
Prize one of our very own Howard
Prize one of our very own Howard University graduates 2017 I call her big
University graduates 2017 I call her big
University graduates 2017 I call her big destiny we had little destiny and now
destiny we had little destiny and now
destiny we had little destiny and now this is big destiny destiny rental Lakes
this is big destiny destiny rental Lakes
this is big destiny destiny rental Lakes kuma Lodi in the school of psychology
kuma Lodi in the school of psychology
kuma Lodi in the school of psychology with a minor in sociology she had the
with a minor in sociology she had the
with a minor in sociology she had the opportunity to take my criminal justice
opportunity to take my criminal justice
opportunity to take my criminal justice class which we take inside of a
class which we take inside of a
class which we take inside of a Correctional Facility the majority of
Correctional Facility the majority of
Correctional Facility the majority of individuals in this class
individuals in this class
individuals in this class our parents destiny was so brave I’ll
our parents destiny was so brave I’ll
our parents destiny was so brave I’ll never forget the class where she stands
never forget the class where she stands
never forget the class where she stands up in the middle of the class and you
up in the middle of the class and you
up in the middle of the class and you could tell they she had to get something
could tell they she had to get something
could tell they she had to get something off a putt chest
off a putt chest
off a putt chest in that particular day we were talking
in that particular day we were talking
in that particular day we were talking about the effects of parental
about the effects of parental
about the effects of parental incarceration on children and she stands
incarceration on children and she stands
incarceration on children and she stands up and she thrusts herself in front of
up and she thrusts herself in front of
up and she thrusts herself in front of the classes she basically blurts out
the classes she basically blurts out
the classes she basically blurts out with tears in her eyes get it together
with tears in her eyes get it together
with tears in her eyes get it together everybody in the class kind of stood
everybody in the class kind of stood
everybody in the class kind of stood back even the incarcerated individuals
back even the incarcerated individuals
back even the incarcerated individuals but they needed to hear the reality the
but they needed to hear the reality the
but they needed to hear the reality the children are waiting the children have
children are waiting the children have
children are waiting the children have dreams
dreams
dreams destiny felt like she was punished she
destiny felt like she was punished she
destiny felt like she was punished she was actually born in prison
was actually born in prison
was actually born in prison so when you tell me that individuals are
so when you tell me that individuals are
so when you tell me that individuals are only going to be just like their parents
only going to be just like their parents
only going to be just like their parents you are completely fooled and of course
you are completely fooled and of course
you are completely fooled and of course we have negative concepts but again what
we have negative concepts but again what
we have negative concepts but again what is reality if we don’t look at the other
is reality if we don’t look at the other
is reality if we don’t look at the other side of the coin destiny is currently in
side of the coin destiny is currently in
side of the coin destiny is currently in Chicago doing a Teach for America where
Chicago doing a Teach for America where
Chicago doing a Teach for America where she’s teaching preschool children to
she’s teaching preschool children to
she’s teaching preschool children to love themselves regardless of the
love themselves regardless of the
love themselves regardless of the reality of the consequences that they
reality of the consequences that they
reality of the consequences that they are placed with this next young lady I
are placed with this next young lady I
are placed with this next young lady I smile as I say it because the more that
smile as I say it because the more that
smile as I say it because the more that I see these pictures of these children
I see these pictures of these children
I see these pictures of these children who lived through parental incarceration
who lived through parental incarceration
who lived through parental incarceration it just makes my heart smile and it fits
it just makes my heart smile and it fits
it just makes my heart smile and it fits so perfectly with the theme of this
so perfectly with the theme of this
so perfectly with the theme of this particular event tonight because
particular event tonight because
particular event tonight because everything is glorious and if you ask
everything is glorious and if you ask
everything is glorious and if you ask the Kea McKnight who is a graduate and
the Kea McKnight who is a graduate and
the Kea McKnight who is a graduate and also the director and writer of the film
also the director and writer of the film
also the director and writer of the film served which walks individuals through
served which walks individuals through
served which walks individuals through her life and her sister and dealing with
her life and her sister and dealing with
her life and her sister and dealing with having an incarcerated mother and father
having an incarcerated mother and father
having an incarcerated mother and father this particular weekend I had the
this particular weekend I had the
this particular weekend I had the enjoyment of flying into Newark New
enjoyment of flying into Newark New
enjoyment of flying into Newark New Jersey they are film festival to be able
Jersey they are film festival to be able
Jersey they are film festival to be able to see the film displayed and it would
to see the film displayed and it would
to see the film displayed and it would bring tears to your eyes I’m so excited
bring tears to your eyes I’m so excited
bring tears to your eyes I’m so excited that I have these stories to share so
that I have these stories to share so
that I have these stories to share so that children don’t think they’re the
that children don’t think they’re the
that children don’t think they’re the only ones I’ve interviewed thousands of
only ones I’ve interviewed thousands of
only ones I’ve interviewed thousands of children all around the world and they
children all around the world and they
children all around the world and they think that they are the only ones going
think that they are the only ones going
think that they are the only ones going through this that they have no one to
through this that they have no one to
through this that they have no one to talk to but wouldn’t you think the same
talk to but wouldn’t you think the same
talk to but wouldn’t you think the same thing too if everybody thought negative
thing too if everybody thought negative
thing too if everybody thought negative about you because of what your parent
about you because of what your parent
about you because of what your parent have done you would zip your lips and
have done you would zip your lips and
have done you would zip your lips and you would throw away the key and that
you would throw away the key and that
you would throw away the key and that would be the end of the conversation I
would be the end of the conversation I
would be the end of the conversation I bet you it would be I know it would be
bet you it would be I know it would be
bet you it would be I know it would be for me but you have children who are not
for me but you have children who are not
for me but you have children who are not only succeeding and being successful but
only succeeding and being successful but
only succeeding and being successful but reaching back through their books
reaching back through their books
reaching back through their books through their films through their
through their films through their
through their films through their resiliency and their advocacy and doing
resiliency and their advocacy and doing
resiliency and their advocacy and doing what we know is right as adults the
what we know is right as adults the
what we know is right as adults the young woman in front of you is a
young woman in front of you is a
young woman in front of you is a graduate and also attending graduate
graduate and also attending graduate
graduate and also attending graduate school at Howard University School of
school at Howard University School of
school at Howard University School of divinity Yasmine Arrington beautiful
divinity Yasmine Arrington beautiful
divinity Yasmine Arrington beautiful soul beautiful energy and the
soul beautiful energy and the
soul beautiful energy and the interesting story about
interesting story about
interesting story about particular individuals I served on the
particular individuals I served on the
particular individuals I served on the board of an organization that she
board of an organization that she
board of an organization that she founded call scholarships for children
founded call scholarships for children
founded call scholarships for children of incarcerated parents and you would
of incarcerated parents and you would
of incarcerated parents and you would not believe how difficult it is to raise
not believe how difficult it is to raise
not believe how difficult it is to raise funds for children of incarcerated
funds for children of incarcerated
funds for children of incarcerated parents to go to school why because of
parents to go to school why because of
parents to go to school why because of the negativity a lot of individuals say
the negativity a lot of individuals say
the negativity a lot of individuals say to me well doc don’t you see the
to me well doc don’t you see the
to me well doc don’t you see the statistics the reality you know where is
statistics the reality you know where is
statistics the reality you know where is this money going
this money going
this money going these children are destined for
these children are destined for
these children are destined for incarceration or you know is it a waste
incarceration or you know is it a waste
incarceration or you know is it a waste of money in their honest they completely
of money in their honest they completely
of money in their honest they completely feel this way this is their reality
feel this way this is their reality
feel this way this is their reality because we don’t show anything else I
because we don’t show anything else I
because we don’t show anything else I can’t point the fingers and say that
can’t point the fingers and say that
can’t point the fingers and say that you’re wrong for even thinking that
you’re wrong for even thinking that
you’re wrong for even thinking that because it’s the reality of what we’re
because it’s the reality of what we’re
because it’s the reality of what we’re seeing in the media it’s the reality of
seeing in the media it’s the reality of
seeing in the media it’s the reality of the research we’ve gone as far as death
the research we’ve gone as far as death
the research we’ve gone as far as death adverse child acts perience they’re
adverse child acts perience they’re
adverse child acts perience they’re saying that if you witnessed violence in
saying that if you witnessed violence in
saying that if you witnessed violence in your community in your household and you
your community in your household and you
your community in your household and you happen to have an incarcerated parent
happen to have an incarcerated parent
happen to have an incarcerated parent you have five years less likelihood on
you have five years less likelihood on
you have five years less likelihood on your life so you’re telling me we’ve
your life so you’re telling me we’ve
your life so you’re telling me we’ve gone as far as death but we refuse to
gone as far as death but we refuse to
gone as far as death but we refuse to see life yasmine brings life when she
see life yasmine brings life when she
see life yasmine brings life when she applied to college she identified that
applied to college she identified that
applied to college she identified that there were no scholarships for children
there were no scholarships for children
there were no scholarships for children in her situation she created one amazing
in her situation she created one amazing
in her situation she created one amazing and not only did she create it she
and not only did she create it she
and not only did she create it she raised thousands of dollars to send
raised thousands of dollars to send
raised thousands of dollars to send individuals all across the nation into
individuals all across the nation into
individuals all across the nation into different schools when I first met her
different schools when I first met her
different schools when I first met her she was on black girls rock and she is
she was on black girls rock and she is
she was on black girls rock and she is one of the reasons that I’ve traveled to
one of the reasons that I’ve traveled to
one of the reasons that I’ve traveled to DC to take this position at Howard
DC to take this position at Howard
DC to take this position at Howard University because I wanted to get
University because I wanted to get
University because I wanted to get closer to that I was sick of reading in
closer to that I was sick of reading in
closer to that I was sick of reading in the research all of the negativity to
the research all of the negativity to
the research all of the negativity to tell you the truth I interviewed
tell you the truth I interviewed
tell you the truth I interviewed children of incarcerated parents in
children of incarcerated parents in
children of incarcerated parents in their bedrooms with the doors closed in
their bedrooms with the doors closed in
their bedrooms with the doors closed in the way that the research spoke I was
the way that the research spoke I was
the way that the research spoke I was shivering in my boots to go and see
shivering in my boots to go and see
shivering in my boots to go and see children and I have to be honest but as
children and I have to be honest but as
children and I have to be honest but as soon as I went they greeted me at the
soon as I went they greeted me at the
soon as I went they greeted me at the door with like tips and cookies I mean
door with like tips and cookies I mean
door with like tips and cookies I mean they were absolutely amazing and
they were absolutely amazing and
they were absolutely amazing and phenomenal
phenomenal
phenomenal they were remorseful they had respect
they were remorseful they had respect
they were remorseful they had respect they had beautiful energy and I’ll never
they had beautiful energy and I’ll never
they had beautiful energy and I’ll never forget this one young fella he had the
forget this one young fella he had the
forget this one young fella he had the entire room set up for the interview
entire room set up for the interview
entire room set up for the interview yeah two little pillows sitting down he
yeah two little pillows sitting down he
yeah two little pillows sitting down he was waiting for me to come to have a
was waiting for me to come to have a
was waiting for me to come to have a conversation about his life he didn’t
conversation about his life he didn’t
conversation about his life he didn’t understand why his grandmother refused
understand why his grandmother refused
understand why his grandmother refused to tell him the truth about his
to tell him the truth about his
to tell him the truth about his incarcerated father he said to me I know
incarcerated father he said to me I know
incarcerated father he said to me I know that my daddy ain’t in boot camp because
that my daddy ain’t in boot camp because
that my daddy ain’t in boot camp because my cousin comes home on the weekends
my cousin comes home on the weekends
my cousin comes home on the weekends where’s my truth I had to explain to him
where’s my truth I had to explain to him
where’s my truth I had to explain to him that it wasn’t out of a place of malice
that it wasn’t out of a place of malice
that it wasn’t out of a place of malice that a lot of the times in the research
that a lot of the times in the research
that a lot of the times in the research the grandparents and the caregivers and
the grandparents and the caregivers and
the grandparents and the caregivers and the loved ones don’t know how to have
the loved ones don’t know how to have
the loved ones don’t know how to have the conversation they don’t know where
the conversation they don’t know where
the conversation they don’t know where to start in fact a lot of the times they
to start in fact a lot of the times they
to start in fact a lot of the times they are forced into silence is what the
are forced into silence is what the
are forced into silence is what the research says where you tell individuals
research says where you tell individuals
research says where you tell individuals you better not say anything about that
you better not say anything about that
you better not say anything about that or else threatening so then we don’t
or else threatening so then we don’t
or else threatening so then we don’t allow their truth to come out it is
allow their truth to come out it is
allow their truth to come out it is theirs and you know how children are
theirs and you know how children are
theirs and you know how children are they have a lot of questions where are
they have a lot of questions where are
they have a lot of questions where are we are we there yet did we get here what
we are we there yet did we get here what
we are we there yet did we get here what time when is this all of those
time when is this all of those
time when is this all of those particular things and definitely they
particular things and definitely they
particular things and definitely they want to know about the love of the
want to know about the love of the
want to know about the love of the individuals in their lives just because
individuals in their lives just because
individuals in their lives just because a parent goes to prison does not mean
a parent goes to prison does not mean
a parent goes to prison does not mean ever that the child loses that love in
ever that the child loses that love in
ever that the child loses that love in fact we all know that distance makes the
fact we all know that distance makes the
fact we all know that distance makes the heart grow fonder right when I talk
heart grow fonder right when I talk
heart grow fonder right when I talk about children I’ve incarcerated parents
about children I’ve incarcerated parents
about children I’ve incarcerated parents a lot of the times I get individuals
a lot of the times I get individuals
a lot of the times I get individuals that say to me doc you know you should
that say to me doc you know you should
that say to me doc you know you should go in every day you making it sound real
go in every day you making it sound real
go in every day you making it sound real good at peachy cream that’s is that
good at peachy cream that’s is that
good at peachy cream that’s is that really the reality yeah it’s the reality
really the reality yeah it’s the reality
really the reality yeah it’s the reality I’m not saying it’s everyone I’m just
I’m not saying it’s everyone I’m just
I’m not saying it’s everyone I’m just saying that every single individual that
saying that every single individual that
saying that every single individual that has a parent in prison doesn’t
has a parent in prison doesn’t
has a parent in prison doesn’t necessarily end up serving a sentence or
necessarily end up serving a sentence or
necessarily end up serving a sentence or even going into the juvenile justice
even going into the juvenile justice
even going into the juvenile justice system now I wanted to throw somebody in
system now I wanted to throw somebody in
system now I wanted to throw somebody in there that had a couple of twists and
there that had a couple of twists and
there that had a couple of twists and turns this is another student graduate
turns this is another student graduate
turns this is another student graduate of Howard University choir me at Rice
of Howard University choir me at Rice
of Howard University choir me at Rice he’s all over the news right now
he’s all over the news right now
he’s all over the news right now his father was incarcerated and served a
his father was incarcerated and served a
his father was incarcerated and served a life sentence at the same time one of
life sentence at the same time one of
life sentence at the same time one of his best friends was murdered in his
his best friends was murdered in his
his best friends was murdered in his community and Philly he decided to
community and Philly he decided to
community and Philly he decided to Dibble and dabble with the streets and
Dibble and dabble with the streets and
Dibble and dabble with the streets and found himself in the juvenile justice
found himself in the juvenile justice
found himself in the juvenile justice system and today he’s graduated never
system and today he’s graduated never
system and today he’s graduated never went into the adult system and is living
went into the adult system and is living
went into the adult system and is living his life like any individual would and
his life like any individual would and
his life like any individual would and would want to yes
would want to yes
would want to yes the Apple may have gotten a little bit
the Apple may have gotten a little bit
the Apple may have gotten a little bit closest to the prison but it didn’t go
closest to the prison but it didn’t go
closest to the prison but it didn’t go in there
in there
in there in fact it helped him in my juvenile
in fact it helped him in my juvenile
in fact it helped him in my juvenile justice class he comes in and speaks to
justice class he comes in and speaks to
justice class he comes in and speaks to the individuals in his attire and it’s
the individuals in his attire and it’s
the individuals in his attire and it’s absolutely amazing that you can do it it
absolutely amazing that you can do it it
absolutely amazing that you can do it it hurt that boy he didn’t have anybody to
hurt that boy he didn’t have anybody to
hurt that boy he didn’t have anybody to really talk to when I talked to him he
really talk to when I talked to him he
really talk to when I talked to him he still has questions about his father’s
still has questions about his father’s
still has questions about his father’s incarceration and he’s grown I’m talking
incarceration and he’s grown I’m talking
incarceration and he’s grown I’m talking to adults 50 60 and even younger than
to adults 50 60 and even younger than
to adults 50 60 and even younger than that who still have questions because
that who still have questions because
that who still have questions because we’re so afraid to talk about it people
we’re so afraid to talk about it people
we’re so afraid to talk about it people think that because we say mass
think that because we say mass
think that because we say mass incarceration or we call it a rites of
incarceration or we call it a rites of
incarceration or we call it a rites of passage that everybody is walking around
passage that everybody is walking around
passage that everybody is walking around talking about it not that’s not the case
talking about it not that’s not the case
talking about it not that’s not the case in fact we talk about it very rarely in
in fact we talk about it very rarely in
in fact we talk about it very rarely in our communities even less within our
our communities even less within our
our communities even less within our households Tony Lewis jr. native
households Tony Lewis jr. native
households Tony Lewis jr. native Washingtonian I like to bring him up all
Washingtonian I like to bring him up all
Washingtonian I like to bring him up all the time because he’s the epitome of
the time because he’s the epitome of
the time because he’s the epitome of success he is a community man he’s
success he is a community man he’s
success he is a community man he’s married he has two beautiful children
married he has two beautiful children
married he has two beautiful children and that guy in the khaki collar shirt
and that guy in the khaki collar shirt
and that guy in the khaki collar shirt that you see that’s his dad he’s
that you see that’s his dad he’s
that you see that’s his dad he’s incarcerated he’s serving a life
incarcerated he’s serving a life
incarcerated he’s serving a life sentence without the possibility of
sentence without the possibility of
sentence without the possibility of parole man he loves his father he wrote
parole man he loves his father he wrote
parole man he loves his father he wrote a book called slug and it’s absolutely
a book called slug and it’s absolutely
a book called slug and it’s absolutely amazing I use it in all of my criminal
amazing I use it in all of my criminal
amazing I use it in all of my criminal justice classes and he talks about the
justice classes and he talks about the
justice classes and he talks about the reality of growing up in the streets of
reality of growing up in the streets of
reality of growing up in the streets of DC was he ever incarcerated no does he
DC was he ever incarcerated no does he
DC was he ever incarcerated no does he love his father yes is he a strong
love his father yes is he a strong
love his father yes is he a strong community man yes
community man yes
community man yes is he a strong black brother yes is he a
is he a strong black brother yes is he a
is he a strong black brother yes is he a child of an incarcerated parent yes but
child of an incarcerated parent yes but
child of an incarcerated parent yes but what does that mean we all have trials
what does that mean we all have trials
what does that mean we all have trials and tribulations so when you hear that
and tribulations so when you hear that
and tribulations so when you hear that question about incarceration and they
question about incarceration and they
question about incarceration and they say does the Apple fall far from the
say does the Apple fall far from the
say does the Apple fall far from the tree when in fact they’re looking at
tree when in fact they’re looking at
tree when in fact they’re looking at does it fall far from prison I dare you
does it fall far from prison I dare you
does it fall far from prison I dare you to think about the positive side there’s
to think about the positive side there’s
to think about the positive side there’s always good in everything you would be
always good in everything you would be
always good in everything you would be fooled to think that everything is
fooled to think that everything is
fooled to think that everything is negative and
negative and
negative and that makes you sick to think that way
that makes you sick to think that way
that makes you sick to think that way and it’s difficult to even find your way
and it’s difficult to even find your way
and it’s difficult to even find your way back from all of that find good and
back from all of that find good and
back from all of that find good and everything because I find the good and
everything because I find the good and
everything because I find the good and children of incarcerated parents I will
children of incarcerated parents I will
children of incarcerated parents I will continue to love the ones within my
continue to love the ones within my
continue to love the ones within my family and all of the ones that I come
family and all of the ones that I come
family and all of the ones that I come in contact with peace and thank you
in contact with peace and thank you
in contact with peace and thank you [Applause]
”
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