I had many friends during my incarceration, but none like Gee. We met back in the early 2000s, when Nottoway Correction Center was a tough environment for anybody. Our housing unit, Upper C East Side, was called the Ghetto. The administration gave us that name, and it was exactly that: a ghetto. When I met Gee, we were in the midst of a gang war. The kind that had you checking the stairwell when you marched outside. It was a hectic time, but Gee was the type who smoked cigare

I stirred from my rest, hearing the annoying loud whistle of a correction officer (CO) that ordered us to stand for institutional count. I did, as did my celly. The morning rays crept through the barred window, showcasing that a new day had arrived. Breakfast was these cornmeal pancakes that reminded you of sand being chewed on. I avoided them by the blessing of a friend offering me his Common Fare tray; the pancakes were made without cornmeal. I devoured them, then guzzled d

I'm shaking my head, learning that Gee was under investigation after talking with me about movies an hour ago. It all came from Taz running into segregation, kissing his boy (gay lover) through the tray slot. The warden saw something on the surveillance cameras and now my movie buddy is in segregation under investigation. We're all like this is just another day in prison...and when was commissary coming? Crazy things happen regularly, and nothing stopped our priorities: worki

My entire life I never knew I could be the man center stage, speaking up, but that was due to my upbringing. By the time I was 21 years old, I had moved 13 times, living in multiple states — and I'm not a Military kid. This was all from my mother being involved in countless abusive relationships. To watch the woman who has nurtured you from your first breath it's painful to witness. I always cowered in my corner, unable to deal with what I saw. So instead of reaching out for

Syfa approached me and shared that Link had someone tell him to get off the phone, or there would be problems. I became emotional because Link and I first entered Buckingham Correction Center in February of 2000. We are close friends, allies, comrades, shoot, lifers in this prison madness. Link was locked up in the midnight hours in September. The investigators searched his cell, discovering contraband from the Wood Shop (pieces of wood to make a toy house with). I didn't eve

A new week and I'm carrying a workload that boggles my brain. It's Monday morning, and I'm cross-legged, reading my Bible and praying for a blessed day. The sun crept into view of my barred window as I scooted off my bunk. The cell's door cranked open, blasting cold air from the day room into my congested cell. I'm on the top tier as men shouted, they wanted to be next on the kiosk to check their emails. I sauntered down the tier, stopping at Mike White's cell. He had memory

Most times you hear a story about second chances, then tune it out once it's told. Don't with this one, because Alexis Polite earned this opportunity. Again, as a convicted felon, the work to be seen is impossible, but not today. To begin, Alexis has a 205-year sentence for robbery and abduction. When I heard his story, I shook my head and sauntered off. I saw the men who robbed, and they were always shady, and that made me keep my distance. Now, in most cases, the border to

I cried more times this year than I have in my entire life. I don't know if it's from hearing all these motivational speakers who showed...

It's 6:30 AM and I'm stepping into my beat-up Fila sneakers. The roar of the exhaust fan is swallowing up the early morning conversations...

His name is Chucky. A little man with anger issues, and dealing with being molested as a child. He's been on the juvenile-to-prison...

When you think of Romeo and Juliet, their ending was tragic, and so is this story. Taz and I met during our numerous trips to the...

My first week of college was after a weeklong lockdown. The sour taste of what Strike Force did to my cell had to vanish as I sauntered...

In the 27 years of incarceration, I've been through more than my share of turmoil. Now I endured, survived, and grew through some intense...

A close friend asked me what it means when someone says you have potential. I gave him my response: "It's when you have something in you...

Monday morning, I'm gearing up for a new week of college classes and facilitating Managing My Life. I'm eager, because it's been nearly a...

Most times, I read a book that gives me a few thoughts to ponder on, then I move on to another book. This time I couldn't. I read Jump by...

The day had me smiling because I learned that I'm back in college. A yearlong battle with screwed up paperwork that I'm finally claiming...

We're being quarantined for the weekend, thanks to another outbreak of Scabies. This again had us trapped in our housing unit, only this...

Breakfast was called while the men and I watched the local news. I marched out with my housing unit, heading for another crappy meal....

Education is key. That's the truth for most of us who grew up in the inner cities. I, like most who lived in Housing Projects USA,...