I never imagined myself facing the gates of prison by the age of 17 in the summer
of prison by the age of 17 in the summer
of prison by the age of 17 in the summer of last year I stood alongside a
of last year I stood alongside a
of last year I stood alongside a convicted murderer as we stare into the
convicted murderer as we stare into the
convicted murderer as we stare into the San Quentin prison yard looking at the
San Quentin prison yard looking at the
San Quentin prison yard looking at the stretch of neglect the grass my mind
stretch of neglect the grass my mind
stretch of neglect the grass my mind went blank my vision blurred and all my
went blank my vision blurred and all my
went blank my vision blurred and all my energy escaped to my tiding spine and
energy escaped to my tiding spine and
energy escaped to my tiding spine and tingling fingers but I was not a
tingling fingers but I was not a
tingling fingers but I was not a prisoner I was working for the last mile
prisoner I was working for the last mile
prisoner I was working for the last mile an organization they created the first
an organization they created the first
an organization they created the first computer coding curriculum in a US
computer coding curriculum in a US
computer coding curriculum in a US prison aimed to rehabilitate prisoners I
prison aimed to rehabilitate prisoners I
prison aimed to rehabilitate prisoners I was in Table Mountain
was in Table Mountain
was in Table Mountain completing the the Freedom Trail a
completing the the Freedom Trail a
completing the the Freedom Trail a celebratory hike and rite of passage for
celebratory hike and rite of passage for
celebratory hike and rite of passage for men who have recently been released from
men who have recently been released from
men who have recently been released from prison alongside a group of former
prison alongside a group of former
prison alongside a group of former inmates we walked up Mount Tam she’s a
inmates we walked up Mount Tam she’s a
inmates we walked up Mount Tam she’s a very meaningful place for them because
very meaningful place for them because
very meaningful place for them because when they were inside San Quentin
when they were inside San Quentin
when they were inside San Quentin they would look up from the prison yard
they would look up from the prison yard
they would look up from the prison yard and see this mountain now on the outside
and see this mountain now on the outside
and see this mountain now on the outside you get to walk to the top of this trail
you get to walk to the top of this trail
you get to walk to the top of this trail and look back into a place they once
and look back into a place they once
and look back into a place they once lived
lived
lived I remember seeing a group of men former
I remember seeing a group of men former
I remember seeing a group of men former inmates look into the yard with a scope
inmates look into the yard with a scope
inmates look into the yard with a scope looking to see if they could spot their
looking to see if they could spot their
looking to see if they could spot their friends still on the inside they looked
friends still on the inside they looked
friends still on the inside they looked keenly for one thing when they knew ran
keenly for one thing when they knew ran
keenly for one thing when they knew ran laps from the track every morning around
laps from the track every morning around
laps from the track every morning around this time on top of this mountain and
this time on top of this mountain and
this time on top of this mountain and throughout my time with these returned
throughout my time with these returned
throughout my time with these returned citizens
citizens
citizens I spoke with men who shattered every
I spoke with men who shattered every
I spoke with men who shattered every preconception I had about prisoners and
preconception I had about prisoners and
preconception I had about prisoners and challenged my own sense of justice and
challenged my own sense of justice and
challenged my own sense of justice and compassion I like to share the story of
compassion I like to share the story of
compassion I like to share the story of one of the men who I worked with who
one of the men who I worked with who
one of the men who I worked with who gave me permission to tell it to you
gave me permission to tell it to you
gave me permission to tell it to you today Vinnie is a Vietnamese immigrants
today Vinnie is a Vietnamese immigrants
today Vinnie is a Vietnamese immigrants who fled to America and he was eight
who fled to America and he was eight
who fled to America and he was eight years old he was born just after the
years old he was born just after the
years old he was born just after the Vietnam War because his father fought
Vietnam War because his father fought
Vietnam War because his father fought with the Americans
with the Americans
with the Americans his family was labeled as traitors and I
his family was labeled as traitors and I
his family was labeled as traitors and I were constantly threatened and beaten
were constantly threatened and beaten
were constantly threatened and beaten his situation got so poor that Vinnie
his situation got so poor that Vinnie
his situation got so poor that Vinnie started selling hot tea on the corner
started selling hot tea on the corner
started selling hot tea on the corner because he thought that if he made some
because he thought that if he made some
because he thought that if he made some money maybe his mom could stop working
money maybe his mom could stop working
money maybe his mom could stop working 20 hours a day and he might get this
20 hours a day and he might get this
20 hours a day and he might get this year after
year after
year after while the situation became unlivable so
while the situation became unlivable so
while the situation became unlivable so his mom brought his family to America
his mom brought his family to America
his mom brought his family to America Vineet told me his first three months in
Vineet told me his first three months in
Vineet told me his first three months in the u.s. were like paradise he finally
the u.s. were like paradise he finally
the u.s. were like paradise he finally found out what a real education was like
found out what a real education was like
found out what a real education was like and you didn’t realized that he was
and you didn’t realized that he was
and you didn’t realized that he was pretty good at math but he was also a
pretty good at math but he was also a
pretty good at math but he was also a very vulnerable target for bullies at
very vulnerable target for bullies at
very vulnerable target for bullies at the age of 12 he was roughly 3-1 and
the age of 12 he was roughly 3-1 and
the age of 12 he was roughly 3-1 and spoke no English the first time he was
spoke no English the first time he was
spoke no English the first time he was jumped he came back to his mom and
jumped he came back to his mom and
jumped he came back to his mom and showed her the bruises and she asked him
showed her the bruises and she asked him
showed her the bruises and she asked him what he did and suggested he must have
what he did and suggested he must have
what he did and suggested he must have given someone a bad look people don’t
given someone a bad look people don’t
given someone a bad look people don’t just hit you for no reason she said well
just hit you for no reason she said well
just hit you for no reason she said well then he didn’t know the reason and he
then he didn’t know the reason and he
then he didn’t know the reason and he didn’t think he did anything but the
didn’t think he did anything but the
didn’t think he did anything but the next day at school he kept his head down
next day at school he kept his head down
next day at school he kept his head down the entire day didn’t look at anyone and
the entire day didn’t look at anyone and
the entire day didn’t look at anyone and still he was sought out and beat up so
still he was sought out and beat up so
still he was sought out and beat up so he went back to his mom and she
he went back to his mom and she
he went back to his mom and she maintained that there must have been a
maintained that there must have been a
maintained that there must have been a reason well soon enough he found out
reason well soon enough he found out
reason well soon enough he found out what this reason was he was different he
what this reason was he was different he
what this reason was he was different he looked different spoke different behaved
looked different spoke different behaved
looked different spoke different behaved different and he couldn’t escape that
different and he couldn’t escape that
different and he couldn’t escape that eventually is getting beat up so
eventually is getting beat up so
eventually is getting beat up so constantly they would stop coming home
constantly they would stop coming home
constantly they would stop coming home to show his mother because he couldn’t
to show his mother because he couldn’t
to show his mother because he couldn’t bear to see her cry and look at her face
bear to see her cry and look at her face
bear to see her cry and look at her face of hopelessness all the bullying got so
of hopelessness all the bullying got so
of hopelessness all the bullying got so severe that he moved schools every time
severe that he moved schools every time
severe that he moved schools every time you walked out the door he felt like his
you walked out the door he felt like his
you walked out the door he felt like his life was in danger and at the new school
life was in danger and at the new school
life was in danger and at the new school nothing changed this school wouldn’t
nothing changed this school wouldn’t
nothing changed this school wouldn’t help the police wouldn’t help and a deep
help the police wouldn’t help and a deep
help the police wouldn’t help and a deep anger began to fester inside Vinnie he
anger began to fester inside Vinnie he
anger began to fester inside Vinnie he felt isolated and helpless did he have
felt isolated and helpless did he have
felt isolated and helpless did he have any help did he have any real outlet of
any help did he have any real outlet of
any help did he have any real outlet of course not
course not
course not so sophomore year he drops out of school
so sophomore year he drops out of school
so sophomore year he drops out of school one day at the age of 16 vanina’s friend
one day at the age of 16 vanina’s friend
one day at the age of 16 vanina’s friend are coming back from the gym they’re
are coming back from the gym they’re
are coming back from the gym they’re hanging out in the friend’s driveway now
hanging out in the friend’s driveway now
hanging out in the friend’s driveway now Vinnie’s bully at the time was having a
Vinnie’s bully at the time was having a
Vinnie’s bully at the time was having a bad day when he saw his victim he pushed
bad day when he saw his victim he pushed
bad day when he saw his victim he pushed Vinnie into the friend’s house and
Vinnie into the friend’s house and
Vinnie into the friend’s house and started punching him now this bully was
started punching him now this bully was
started punching him now this bully was a big guy he knocked Vinnie ah – welcome
a big guy he knocked Vinnie ah – welcome
a big guy he knocked Vinnie ah – welcome back up with his punches Benny didn’t
back up with his punches Benny didn’t
back up with his punches Benny didn’t know why was happening
know why was happening
know why was happening then the guy left so Vinnie lit ball cut
then the guy left so Vinnie lit ball cut
then the guy left so Vinnie lit ball cut takes off his shirt
takes off his shirt
takes off his shirt wiped the blood off his face turns to
wiped the blood off his face turns to
wiped the blood off his face turns to his friend and says it’s okay let it go
his friend and says it’s okay let it go
his friend and says it’s okay let it go then the bully comes back this time with
then the bully comes back this time with
then the bully comes back this time with more aggression the first time he starts
more aggression the first time he starts
more aggression the first time he starts pummeling him yelling racial slurs at
pummeling him yelling racial slurs at
pummeling him yelling racial slurs at him dehumanizing him reminding him of
him dehumanizing him reminding him of
him dehumanizing him reminding him of all the times ever been tortured and
all the times ever been tortured and
all the times ever been tortured and harassed Vidya proms himself along the
harassed Vidya proms himself along the
harassed Vidya proms himself along the go they never wanted to feel like this
go they never wanted to feel like this
go they never wanted to feel like this again he remembered mine clouded with
again he remembered mine clouded with
again he remembered mine clouded with anger that his friends uncle was a
anger that his friends uncle was a
anger that his friends uncle was a hunter who kept his guard in the house
hunter who kept his guard in the house
hunter who kept his guard in the house he ran to the house still in a fit of
he ran to the house still in a fit of
he ran to the house still in a fit of rage ran down his bully with a gun and
rage ran down his bully with a gun and
rage ran down his bully with a gun and shot him a dark cloud fell over Vinnie
shot him a dark cloud fell over Vinnie
shot him a dark cloud fell over Vinnie on the one hand he knew he would never
on the one hand he knew he would never
on the one hand he knew he would never have to go through this again and then
have to go through this again and then
have to go through this again and then reality set in and he realized the
reality set in and he realized the
reality set in and he realized the horrible thing he had done is our
horrible thing he had done is our
horrible thing he had done is our essence defined by the worst thing we’ve
essence defined by the worst thing we’ve
essence defined by the worst thing we’ve ever done
ever done
ever done when Vinnie told me his story he started
when Vinnie told me his story he started
when Vinnie told me his story he started by telling me I’m better than that
by telling me I’m better than that
by telling me I’m better than that second in my life I’m better than that
second in my life I’m better than that
second in my life I’m better than that poor decision at the age of 16 Vinnie
poor decision at the age of 16 Vinnie
poor decision at the age of 16 Vinnie was tried as an adult and sentenced to
was tried as an adult and sentenced to
was tried as an adult and sentenced to 29 years to life in prison well inside
29 years to life in prison well inside
29 years to life in prison well inside prison Vinnie realized that he couldn’t
prison Vinnie realized that he couldn’t
prison Vinnie realized that he couldn’t do anything they learned English so we
do anything they learned English so we
do anything they learned English so we learned the language put himself through
learned the language put himself through
learned the language put himself through the college inside president got his GED
the college inside president got his GED
the college inside president got his GED start a support and political group for
start a support and political group for
start a support and political group for prisoners were sentenced as children
prisoners were sentenced as children
prisoners were sentenced as children start reading a letter a date of local
start reading a letter a date of local
start reading a letter a date of local legislators and got one big law and many
legislators and got one big law and many
legislators and got one big law and many too concerning criminal justice for
too concerning criminal justice for
too concerning criminal justice for youth he went through the program of the
youth he went through the program of the
youth he went through the program of the company where I was where I work at the
company where I was where I work at the
company where I was where I work at the time was an entrepreneurship program
time was an entrepreneurship program
time was an entrepreneurship program Critias owned business marked out the
Critias owned business marked out the
Critias owned business marked out the business plan and pitched it he
business plan and pitched it he
business plan and pitched it he rehabilitated himself he became a new
rehabilitated himself he became a new
rehabilitated himself he became a new person
person
person after 20 years inside prison he was let
after 20 years inside prison he was let
after 20 years inside prison he was let out on account of good behavior and his
out on account of good behavior and his
out on account of good behavior and his accomplishments now on the outside he
accomplishments now on the outside he
accomplishments now on the outside he mentors the youth and
mentors the youth and
mentors the youth and suddenly bad past he is a great job at a
suddenly bad past he is a great job at a
suddenly bad past he is a great job at a Silicon Valley tech accelerator he
Silicon Valley tech accelerator he
Silicon Valley tech accelerator he spends time that he missed with his
spends time that he missed with his
spends time that he missed with his family and he connects with people
family and he connects with people
family and he connects with people sharing his story and helping anyone in
sharing his story and helping anyone in
sharing his story and helping anyone in any way that he can I can’t really do it
any way that he can I can’t really do it
any way that he can I can’t really do it justice and explain how good and kind of
justice and explain how good and kind of
justice and explain how good and kind of a person he is how much he has to give
a person he is how much he has to give
a person he is how much he has to give and how much he wants to give one thing
and how much he wants to give one thing
and how much he wants to give one thing Vinnie taught me is to judge the person
Vinnie taught me is to judge the person
Vinnie taught me is to judge the person not just their history when we reduced
not just their history when we reduced
not just their history when we reduced prisoners to their crimes or to numbers
prisoners to their crimes or to numbers
prisoners to their crimes or to numbers they become insulated from the real
they become insulated from the real
they become insulated from the real effects on real people by dismissing the
effects on real people by dismissing the
effects on real people by dismissing the humanity in these people we allow
humanity in these people we allow
humanity in these people we allow ourselves to ignore the systemic
ourselves to ignore the systemic
ourselves to ignore the systemic problems that cause crime in order to
problems that cause crime in order to
problems that cause crime in order to tackle a big issue like mass
tackle a big issue like mass
tackle a big issue like mass incarceration we must begin with
incarceration we must begin with
incarceration we must begin with fundamental compassion in a willingness
fundamental compassion in a willingness
fundamental compassion in a willingness not to see these prisoners as just
not to see these prisoners as just
not to see these prisoners as just prisoners there’s people with a story as
prisoners there’s people with a story as
prisoners there’s people with a story as loved ones family members fathers sons
loved ones family members fathers sons
loved ones family members fathers sons mothers daughters people who matter
mothers daughters people who matter
mothers daughters people who matter there’s a great human potential that is
there’s a great human potential that is
there’s a great human potential that is being locked up and we are doing a
being locked up and we are doing a
being locked up and we are doing a global disservice by neglecting to
global disservice by neglecting to
global disservice by neglecting to nurturing these former prisoners have
nurturing these former prisoners have
nurturing these former prisoners have been turned away at every corner in
been turned away at every corner in
been turned away at every corner in their lives and died like each of you
their lives and died like each of you
their lives and died like each of you have a choice to break this cycle
have a choice to break this cycle
have a choice to break this cycle we must find and celebrate the humanity
we must find and celebrate the humanity
we must find and celebrate the humanity and everyone that we meet thank you
and everyone that we meet thank you
and everyone that we meet thank you [Applause]
”
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