p.xiv “And juveniles … without parole.” Ashley Nellis and Ryan S. King, “No exit: Te Expanding Use of Life Sentences in America,” Sentencing Project, July, 2009.
p.xiv “Te UN Convention … or coercion.” Lance Tapley, “Mass Torture in America: Notes from the Supermax Prisons,” Prison Legal News, February, 2009.
p.xiv “Isolation can … mental illness.” Mental Illness, Human Rights, and U.S. Prisons (New York: Human Rights Watch, September 22, 2009.)
p.xiv “Te American public … in Connecticut.” Leah Caldwell, “Iraqi Dungeons and Torture Chambers under New American Trained Management.” Prison Legal News, December, 2004.
p.xiv Jamie Fellner, “U.S.: Improve Weak Standards to End Prison Rape,” Human Rights Watch, April 4, 2011.
p.xiv “A s the ACLU … of whites.” Charles M. Blow, “Drug Bust,” New York Times, June 22, 2011
p.xiv “For Michele Alexander … marginalization.” Te New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in an Age of Colorblindness (New York: New Press, 2010). Robert Perkinson also draws the Jim Crow analogy in Texas Tough.: Te Rise of America’s Prison Empire (New York: Picador, 2010).
p.xv “In 2011 … decriminalizing drugs.” Former leaders of Colombia and Mexico, who served on the Commission, spoke of the great harm the drug war does to their peoples. Mexico has lost 34,000 to the drug war.
p.xv “Re-entry has … reintegrate successfully.” See Jeremy Travis, But Tey All Come Back: Facing the Challenge of Prisoner Re-entry (Washington, D.C., Urban Institute Press, 2005).
p.xvii “To be … be listening.” Kathrin Perutz, “P.E.N. and Prisons,” Witness: Special Issue: Writing from Prison (Fall 1987): 149.
p.xviii The bibliography … through 1981. H. Bruce Franklin, “An Annotated Bibliography of Published Works by American Prisoners and Ex-Prisoners,” Prison Literature in America: The Victim As Criminal and Artist. (New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989), pp. 291-341.
p.xviii Under Reagan … gone under. Joseph Bruchac, “The Decline and Fall of Prison Literature,” Small Press (Jan./Feb. 1987): 28-32.
p.xviii Now, with … been suppressed. McGrath Morris, Jailhouse founalism: The Fourth Estate Behind Bars (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland and Company, 1998). See Life Sentences: Rage and Survival Behind Bars, eds. Wilbert Rideau and Ron Wikberg of The Angolite, New York: Times Books, 1992, and The Ceiling of America: An Inside Look at the U.S. Prison Industry, eds. Daniel Burton-Rose, Dan Pens, and Paul Wright of Prison Legal News, Monroe, Maine: Common Courage Press, 1998.
Routines and Ruptures
p.48 The beat… Fernandez. A 1970s study group in Greenhaven Prison found that over 75 percent of the New York State prison population came from just seven New York City neighborhoods. Prison Life (October 1996): 50.
Work
p.71 You ought … the men. “Ain’t No More Cane on This Brazis.” Sung by Ernest Williams and group, Sugarland, Texas, 1933. Recorded by John A. and Alan Lomax. Library of Congress Music Division, Archive of American Folk Music.
Recorded by John A. and Alan Lomax. Library of Congress Music Division, Archive of American Folk Music.
p.71 Some historians … in 1796. See Christianson, pp.94-106. Christiansen argues that the replacement of penal slavery with racial slavery was legitimized through the Thirteenth Amendment. See also H. Bruce Franklin, “Introduction,” Prison Writing in 20th-century America (New York: Penguin, 1998), pp.1-20.
p.72 Founded in … goods annually. Pollock, 124.
p.72 Since 1990… private companies. Florida Corrections Commision, 1997 Annual Report, p.1.
Reading and Writing
p.97 In prison… high school. The Center on Crime, Communities, and Culture, “Research Brief: Education As Crime Prevention” (September 1997): 4-5.
p.98 Women in prison … the results. For example, the women at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility have published Breaking the Walls of Silence: AIDS and Women in a New York State Maximum Security Prison (New York: Overlook, 1998).
p.98 “A lack … to empathize.” Small Press (Jan./Feb. 1987): 87.
p.98 In “Colorado … of react.” Prison Life (June 1994): 46.
Race, Chance, Change
p.175 In the … white person. Comprising 9 percent of the general population but 16 percent of prisoners, Hispanics are the fastest-growing race behind bars. Marc Mauer, Responding to Racial Disparities in Prison and Jail Populations (The Sentencing Project: Washington, D.C., 1998), pp.1-2.
p.175 “I’ve heard … old biases.” Richard Strarton, “Common Ground,” Prison Life (October 1994): 3.
Family
p.218 Even if… but failed.” Bruchac, The Light from Another Country: Poetry from American Prisons (Greenfield Center, New York: Greenfield Review Press, 1984}: p.151.
Getting Out
p.285 On the … home again. The Listening Chamber (Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 1997).
Death Row
p.301 (Since Pennsylvania., .as whites.) United States of America: Rights for All (New York: Amnesty International Publications, 1998), p.109.
Text Credits
Aberg, William: “Stepping Away from My Father,” “Siempre,” and “Reductions” from The Listening Chamber by William Aberg. Copyright © 1997 by William Aberg. Reprinted by permission of the University of Arkansas Press.
Amberchele,J.C.:”Mel”and “Melody” copyright ©1999 by J. C. Amberchele. “Melody” first appeared in Oasis 2 (1993).
Anderson, Stephen W,: “Conversations with the Dead” copyright © 1999 by Stephen W. Anderson.
Antworth, Scott A.: “The Tower Pig” copyright © 1999 by Scott A, Antworth.
Baca, Jimmy Santiago: “Coming into Language” from Working in the Dark: Reflections of a Poet of the Barrio by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Copyright © 1992 by Jimmy Santiago Baca. Reprinted by permission of Red Crane Books. “Ancestor” from Immigrants in Our Own Land by Jimmy Santiago Baca (Louisiana State University Press, 1979). Copyright © 1999 by jimmy Santiago Baca. “Letters Come to Prison” copyright © 1999 by Jimmy Santiago Baca.
Blake, Allison: “Prisons of Our World” copyright © 1999 by Allison Blake. First appeared in Concrete Garden 4 (1996).
Boudin, Kathy: “For Mumia: 1 Wonder” copyright © 1999 by Kathy Boudin. First appeared in Concrete Garden 4 (1996). “Our Skirt” copyright © 1999 by Kathy Boudin. First appeared in Aliens at the Border (Segue Books, 1997). “A Ttilogy of Journeys” copyright ©1999 by Kathy Boudin.
Bratt, Larry: “Giving Me a Second Chance” copyright © 1999 by Larry Bratt. First appeared in the Washington Post, May 19, 1996.
Buck, Marilyn: “Clandestine Kisses” copyright © 1999 by Marilyn Buck. First appeared in Concrete Garden 4 (1996).
Clark, Judith: “To Vladimir Mayakovsky” copyright © 1999 by Judith Clark. First appeared in Aliens at the Border (Segue Books, 1997). “‘Write a poem that makes no sense’“ copyright © 1999 by Judith Clark. First appeared in Prison Life, February 1997. “After My Arrest” copyright© 1999 by Judith Clark. First appeared in Prison Life, August 1996.
Culhane, Chuck: “Autumn Yard” copyright © 1999 by Chuck Culhane. First appeared in Witness, fall 1987. “There Isn’t Enough Bread” copyright © 1999 by Chuck Culhane. First appeared in The Light from Another Country: Poetry from American Prisons (Greenfield Review Press, 1984). “After Almost Twenty Years” copyright © 1999 by Chuck Culhane. First appeared in Candles Burn in Memory Toum (Segue Books, 1988),
Falcone, Anthony La Barca: “A Stranger” copyright © 1999 by Anthony La Barca Falcone.
Fernandez, Raymond Ringo: “poem for the conguero in D yard” copyright © 1999 by Raymond Ringo Fernandez. First appeared in The Light from Another Country: Poetry from American Prisons (Greenfield Review Press, 1984).
Grindlay, J. R.: “Myths of Darkness: The Toledo Madman and the Ultimate Freedom” copyright © 1999 by John R. Grindlay. First appeared in Confrontation, no. 15 (fall 1977/win-ter 1978). Courtesy of Genevieve Grindlay.
&nbs
p; Haki, Ajamu C. B.: “After All Those Years” copyright © 1999 by Ajamu C. B. Haki. First appeared in Candles Bum in Memory Town (Segue Books, 1988),
Hassine, Victor: “How I Became a Convict” from Life u/thout Parole: Living in Prison Today by Victor Hassine. Copyright © 1996 by Victor Hassine. Excerpted by permission of Roxbury Publishing Co., Los Angeles.
Hogan, Michael: “Spring” copyright © 1999 by Michael Hogan, First appeared in Letters for My Son (Unicorn Press, 1975).
Hunter, Michael Wayne: “Sam” copyright © 1999 by Michael Wayne Hunter. First appeared m Columbia, no. 28(1997).
Jaco, Roger: “Killing Time” copyright © 1999 by Roger Jaco. First appeared in Creative Righters Anthology, 1978-1980 (1981), Courtesy of Gladys Jaco,
Johnson, Henry: “The Ball Park,” “The 5-Spot Cafe,” and “First Day on the Job” copyright © 1999 by Henry Johnson. First appeared in The S-Spot Cafe (Castillo Cultural Center, 1990). “Dream of Escape” copyright © 1999 by Henry Johnson. First appeared in Candles Burn in Memory Town (Segue Books, 1988). All works courtesy of Mary Johnson,
Jones, M. A.: “An Overture” copyright© 1999 by M. A.Jones. First appeared in Fortune News, 1980. “Prison Letter” copyright © 1999 by M. A. Jones, First appeared in Fortune News, 1982. “Vivaldi on the Far Side of the Bars” copyright© 1999 by M. A.Jones. First appeared in The Light from Another Country: Poetry from American Prisons (Greenfield Review Press, 19S4). “To Those Still Waiting” copyright © 1999 by M. A. Jones.
Kelsey, Robert: “Suicide!” copyright© 1999 by Robert Kelsey. First appeared in Fortune News, 1995.
Lewis, Reginald S.: “In the Big Yard” copyright © 1999 by Reginald S. Lewis. First appeared in Fortune News, 1989.
Masters, Jarvis: “Recipe for Prison Primo” copyright © 1999 by Jarvis Masters. First appeared in Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row by Jarvis Masters (Padma Publishing, 1997).
McLuckie, Lori Lynn: “Trina Marie” copyright© 1999 by Lori Lynn McLuckie. First appeared in Fortune News, 1992.
Metzger, Diane Hamill: “The Manipulation Game: Doing Time in Pennsylvania” from Crime and Punishment: Inside Views, edited by Robert Johnson and Hans Toch. Copyright © 1999 by Diane Hamill Metzger. Appears by permission of Roxbury Publishing Co., Los Angeles. “Uncle Adam” copyright© 1999 by Diane Hamill Metzger. First appeared in Fortune News, 1985.
Montgomery, Vera: “solidarity with cataracts” copyright © 1999 by Vera Montgomery. Courtesy of Albert Montgomery. First appeared in the Greenfield Review, fall 1987.
Moriarty, Robert).: “Pilots in the War on Drugs” copyright© 1999 by Robert J. Mori arty. First appeared in Fortune News, 1991.
Mulryan, Paul: “Eleven Days Under Siege” copyright © 1999 by Paul Mulryan. First appeared in Prison Life, October 1994.
Nolan, Patrick: “Old Man Motown” copyright © 1999 by Patrick Nolan,
Norman, Charles P.: “Pearl Got Stabbed!” copyright © 1999 by Charles P. Norman.
Norton, Judee: “Norton #59900” copyright© 1999 by Judee Norton. First appeared in Fortune News, 1993. “Arrival” copyright © 1999 by Judee Norton.
Orlando, William: “Dog Star Desperado” copyright © 1999 by William Orlando.
Rodriguez, Alejo Dao’ud: “Ignorance Is No Excuse for the Law” copyright © 1999 by Alejo Dao’ud Rodriguez.
Rosenboom, Daniel: “The Night the Owl Interrupted” copyright© 1999 by Daniel Roseboom,
Rosenberg, Susan: “Lee’s Time” copyright © 1999 by Susan Rosenberg. First appeared in Prison Life, October 1994.
Ross, Anthony: “Walker’s Requiem” copyright © 1999 by Anthony Ross. First appeared in Fortune News, 1996.
Rutan, Robert M.: “The Break” copyright © 1999 by Robert M. Rutan. Ruias, Jackie: “Easy to Kill” copyright© 1999 by Jackie Ruzas. First appeared in Candles Bum in Memory Town (Segue Books, 1988). “Where or When” and “Ryan’s Ruse” copyright © 1999 by Jackie Ruzas.
St, John, Paul: “Behind the Mirror’s Face” copyright © 1999 by Paul St. John.
Saucier, Michael: “Cut Partner,” “Gun Guard,” and “Black Flag to the Rescue” copyright © 1999 by Michael Saucier.
Saunders, Barbara: “The Red Dress” and “After Lights Out” copyright © 1999 by Barbara Saunders.
Schillaci, Jon: “Americans” and “For Sam Manzie” copyright © 1999 by Jon Schillaci.
Sissler, Joseph E,: “I See Your Work” copyright© 1999 by Joseph E. Sissler.
Stratton, Richard: “Skyline Turkey” copyright © 1999 by Richard Stratton. First appeared in Story, 1992.
Taber, David: “Diner at Midnight” and “The Film” copyright © 1999 by David Taber. Taylor, Jon Marc: “Pell Grants for Prisoners” copyright © 1999 by Jon Marc Taylor. First appeared in the Nation, January 25, 1993.
Waters, Easy: “Chronicling Sing Sing Prison” copyright © 1999 by William Eric Waters. Wise, J. L. Jr.: “No Brownstones, Just Alleyways and Corner Pockets Full” copyright © 1999 by j. L. Wise.
Wood, David: “Feathers on the Solar Wind” copyright © 1999 by David Wood.
Xenos, Dax: “Death of a Duke” copyright © 1999 by Dax Xenos, First appeared in Fortune News, 1985.
About the Authors
(Unless otherwise indicated, prizes mentioned below were awarded in the PEN Prison Writing Contest.)
William Aberg (b.1957) grew up in Maryland, from where he fled to the Southwest to escape arrest for a series of drug-acquiring crimes. Caught and imprisoned in Arizona, he entered Richard Shelton’s writers’ workshop, which transformed his life. “Many of my poems are extreme icons of emotional exile: separation, hopelessness, needle and spoon. Others arise from humor or reverie, or a combination of the two. Ultimately, they arrive out of necessity.” He earned an A. A. degree from Pima College in Tucson. His first sentence, from 1979 to 1984, an era of revitalization in prison programming, contrasted sharply with his second (for possession of World War I rifles) from 1994 to 1997. “The deadness in the eyes, the psychic numbness, of prisoners and staff was appalling.”
“Reductions” won first prize in poetry in 1982. The Listening Chamber, published by the University of Arkansas Press, won the University of Arkansas Poetry Award. A Russophile and amateur photographer in the Washington D.C. area, Aberg played bass in local bands, and continues to write poems and short stories. He is currently living in a Maryland nursing home.
J. C. Amberchele was born in Philadelphia in 1940 and attended a Quaker school, then colleges in Pennsylvania and New York, before earning a B.A. in psychology. “A drug trafficker for fifteen years,” by his own account, he has served time in a Mexican federal prison as well as in Colorado and Minnesota. He began writing early in his sentence, borrowing instruction books from the prison library. “Writing began for me as a desire to be heard, to be accepted, but soon moved into a form of self-discovery that became mind-opening,” he says. With fellow prisoners in the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility, he helped to start a literary magazine and writers’ workshop, which, along with other programs, were canceled in 1992. After immersing himself in Christian mysticism and Buddhism, he discovered the “Headless Way,” developed by the British philosopher Douglass Harding.
Published in Quarterly West, Writer’s Forum, Blue Mesa, Portland Review, and Oasis, Amberchele won three fiction prizes, for “The Ride” (1990), “Melody” (1992) and “Mel” 1993. These pieces and others became the novel How to Lose (2002), which was translated and published in France as Le Prix a Payer. His commitment to Douglas Harding’s work is displayed in his two non-dual spirituality books. The Light that I am and The Almighty Mackerel and His Holy Bootstraps.
“Born in St. Louis (1953–2002) and raised in New Mexico, I was passing through California when I shot someone during an eighty-dollar bungled burglary and found myself a permanent resident,” Stephen Wayne Anderson wrote from San Quentin’s condemned row, where he was sent in 1981. “That residency grows short; my lease is coming due.” Having ignored educa
tion as a youth, he made up for it in prison. His favorites: Emerson, Dickinson, Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Coleridge, and Stephen King. “I received a book whose footnotes were all in Latin and became thoroughly pissed off. I invested in a Latin course so as to read them. By the time I taught myself enough of the basics I no longer had the book which had caused my original motivation.”
“Conversation with the Dead” won first prize in poetry in 1990; “Friday Crabs” won second prize in poetry in 1991. “We carry imminent destruction with us constantly,” Anderson said. “We eat, sleep and breathe death.” But he also wrote, “A sentence of death made me realize the value of life, and of living.” And “As I walk to that greater darkness, I will go wearing chains. Their chains. Not mine.” When he received his execution date in 2002, his lawyers mounted a powerful clemency appeal, and members of PEN wrote letters on his behalf, to no avail. Anderson refused to see anyone in his last days so he could compose himself privately. The Captain who oversaw the row told the Los Angeles Times that Anderson walked to his death with remarkable dignity.
Scott Antworth (b.1965) was born and raised in Augusta, Maine. After serving four years in the army, he was arrested in 1987 and served time until 2003. While in prison, he earned a B.A. in social sciences from the University of Maine.
Antworth’s “Lawn Sale of Truth” tied for third place in fiction in 1997. “The Tower Pig” took first prize in 1999, and “Shortimer’s Sunrise” tied for second place in 2000. “I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember,” he says, “but only started getting serious at it a few years ago, when some wonderful guidance transformed what would otherwise have been empty time.” He names Hemingway, Paul Theroux, and Jaimee Wriston Colbert as having had the greatest impact on him. His work has appeared in Flying Horse and in two collections—Trapped Under the Ice (1995) and Frontiers of Justice Vol. 2 (1998)—published by the Biddle Publishing Company.
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