Lifetime Sentence

There are over 2 million kids in America who are growing up with a parent who is incarcerated. In the state of Georgia alone there are over 200,000 kids who have a father in prison or one who is on probation. This number is outrageous and is steadily climbing. Right now the number of African American jails is 1 in 12 but its said to soon climb to 1 in 3. And you have to sit back and think why is the number climbing? Why can’t these men change their lives around if not for themselves then for their kids. I’ve pondered this and have come up with an answer society gives up on them.

When a person gets out of jail the first thing their expected to do is get a job but how can they get a job when jobs won’t hire you for your criminal history. Almost every job application has that and the minute that they check that box they are written off and the job is given to the next man. Some feel the pressure and the stress to take care of their kids and their home so they go back to the easy money. they do that because that’s the only way they know how. And with jobs not even giving them a chance could you blame them?

Every prisoner who does time walks out serving a lifetime sentence. They are forever labeled. Whether your a murderer, a drug dealer, or someone who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.  They walk around with that mark for life. It’s hard to shake your past especially if you’ve done time. But if we expect the ex-felons to be a productive part of society don’t you think we ought to give them a shot first instead of just writing them off? How can you expect them to become better people when people are constantly closing the door in their faces? Causing them to revert back into their old ways and being apart from their kids who are more likely to repeat the cycle. How can someone prove that they have changed without given the opportunity? Think about this before you start to judge people who go in and out the prison system. For some that’s the only place they actually mean something.

Written By,

Authoress Taquila Thompson

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So This Is How It Is?

“White people murder insanely.  Black people murder on a whim.”  First thoughts...damn here goes that race shit again.  Hell Yeah!!!  This is America where a lot of things are judged based on our race.  It’s something we can’t avoid.  Why not take those thoughts analyze them and see where our opinions come from.  So I put my hands in the pot, stirred it up for a minute and I got something juicy.  You want to taste it?  Well...here it goes.  When your done reading you’ll have the full recipe.

See, I am not without judgment.  I would love to say to say that I live in perfection and the workings of the world could never touch me but then, I would be a walking lie.  However, I am aware of where those judgments come from.  They are daggers coming from opposite directions. One heads my way every time I turn on the television.   Another stabs me in the back when I sit and talk with various people and as I travel from internet site to internet site, I get one in the eye.   But when it comes at me I’m going to try and duck and weave, hoping it doesn’t hit any vital areas of my mind.  I want to maintain my willingness to see both sides.  So, when it comes to the question at hand I can answer it  and move on.  Do we commit certain acts of violence for different reasons based on our race?  The consensus says that’s a fair statement.  

Imagine this...you are sitting in school, class is a little boring but you’re trying your best to stay awake and just when those sleepy eyes are about to close...BANG! BANG!  Gunshots!  After you drop and take cover under your desk you begin to look for the shooter.  You are looking past all the black faces because pre-set in your mind black people don’t do shit like this on the regular.  You’re searching for that crazy white boy that got bullied the day before.  You just know it must be him.   Why?  

Well one “What’s The New’s?”  group member stated it clearly,  “I think white people have more time to meditate and plan and and Fester on their own hatred where its more PERSONAL therefore they make sure they get the right person with black people its more about getting the point across or its an "at that moment" type thing ex. "oh this nigga aint got my money we finna get hime” (T.K.)  

To follow that up another member, put it like this  “This is just my opinion... white people tend to kill for the thrill or recognition. 90% of serial killers are white. The adrenaline factor is a great rush. The thought of being caught or going out in a 'blaze of glory shootout' is what mostly propel them, as well as taunting tho public and law enforcement officials.... albeit, the thrill. Now black people DO tend to murder over respect or revenge. That's usually the case.....80% is for respect or loss of monetary business, 15% is because of revenge. 5% is simply the thrill..... so to answer you question... white ppl- insanely.... black people- aimlessly.... all of it pointless. Just My opinion!!!!!”  (M.E.)

Both of those respondents were black so to be fair let me give you the opinion of a white group member, “I think in general white people kill more for notoriety. Black people kill for what they believe r good reasons. Is a $5 crack rock a good reason tho...most white women involved in murders do so under direction of a white man. How many white women kill under direction of a black man?...” (K. C.)

Shocking!  Of course not.  If you’re keeping it real, many of you know you would have given the same answers.  If you are walking down the street your not going to be concerned about Billy Bob.  You have your defenses up because you don’t know if Whitney has her money for her daily crack dose or Bobby might have broke bad and looked at dude the wrong way as he was leaving.  Bang! Bang!  You will be looking for the black face.  If you’re in church on Sunday make sure there is enough space between the pews to hide.  You never know when the priest will give a sermon the previous week that Sally’s teenage son didn’t like.  Bang! Bang!  Your eyes will be shifting back and forth looking for the white face.  

After this, you might ask, “Well damn, stereotype much?”  At times...so do you, I just admit it and move on!  I don’t let it drive me but I won’t pretend it doesn’t exist.  Do you?  

By D. Flo’essence