A WORLD WITH NO SUPER HEROES

by Lord Serious

As election season approaches, this society takes its cue from the pages of its favorite comic books. Superheroes suddenly appear on the scene in crime infested neighborhoods to begin their campaigns to be elected as the next savior of the world. While all of this is happening, a Boogyman is being manufactured to sway public opinion. Mainstream media, the trusted sidekick of the hero, uses explosive headlines and catchy catch phrases to highlight the obvious need for new legislation to save the world. With every pow, boom, and blam, the audience is drawn in more.

The super power of these heroes is neither super human strength, hyper speed, or even enhanced mental abilities. The American politician and his mass media sidekick have only one super power. They control the narrative on crime here in America through the manipulation of graphs and statistics from crime reports.

Many gun control proponents blame the increase in violent crime on the criminal reform policies enacted by many Democrats following the George Floyd protests. However, the facts do not support the narrative that an uptick in violent crime is the result of the knee jerk reactions from Democratic lawmakers, or the de-fund the police movement organized by grassroots leadership.

The troubling thing about the super villains in most comic books is that in their origin story you learn that they used to be a good guy in their past. But when they take a political position in opposition to the zero tolerance policy of the hero. Their uncompromising will places a target on their back and they get labeled the bad guy. But if it were not for the hero and certain choices the hero made, the conditions would not have existed to allow the emergence of the super villain. But this fact gets ignored.

Likewise, our political leaders would rather ignore how their decisions to militarize the police force in impoverish communities, privatize prisons, and the economic shutdown the endorsed during the pandemic influenced the spike in crime and public distrust for police.

The data shows that violent crime such as murder was increasing all throughout the country not just in Democratic localities.The number of homicides spiked almost 30% during the first year of the pandemic in both cities and rural areas, and in both red and blue states. Also, of significance is the fact that, with this increase of violent crime during the pandemic its effects were not evenly spread across all socioeconomic demographics. There weren’t any increase in affluent elderly people being attacked. The risk of being a victim of violent crime still disproportionately affected Black men and those living in impoverished communities.

Pew Research Center found that FBI data on the cause of the increase in violent crime during the pandemic was still unclear. Some of the variety of potential causes included the economic and social changes brought on by the pandemic, as well as policing policy changes in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Significantly, while murder rose 30% and Aggravated Assault rose 12%, rape and robbery declined. And despite this spike in murders, the murder rate during the pandemic was still lower than the levels seen during the early 90’s during the Crack era and Cocaine Wars. Lastly, Americans are more likely to die from suicide or drug overdose than they are to die by murder. The 2020 homicide rate was 7.8 per 100,000 people. That same year Suicide rate was 13.5 deaths per 100,000 people; overdose deaths accounted for 27.1 deaths per 100,000 people.

The heroes sidekick pointed out crime sprees and mob retail theft and blamed it on police reform and policy changes regarding bail and granting parole to violent offenders. But there was no hard proof to support this theory. Yet, Glenn Youngkin successfully won his campaign for the Governor’s house using this narrative.

You see when you are reading comic books or watching movies about comic book heroes. You tend to become so invested into the epic struggle between the forces of good and evil that you fail to think about the perspective of the average citizens living in Metropolis or Gotham City. Not everyone likes Batman, and, not everyone hates the Joker.

Many of them understand that the Bat signal is just a dog whistle informing the world that it has now become politically fashionable to fight crime. The Batman only fights low level and organized crime as a vigilante, because he is a criminal himself involved in all sorts of corporate crime. The same way America’s politicians offer pay to play and federal appointments to their corporate donors. Bruce Wayne uses the image of the Batman to protect the corporate interests of all the Wayne Enterprises of the world.

There are no super heroes or super villains in this world, there are only people. But the people we elect can make good or bad policy decisions that can influence everyday law abiding citizens into making a split second decision to violate the law. Should the crime be a violent offense, the current policies in Virginia do not grant that average citizen a second chance to gain early release through good behavior, whereby they can earn additional good time or even get paroled.

This November, I think it’s time that we elect people who will make good policies that will serve the public interest more than the corporate interests of their donors.

Lord Serious is the author of four published books. He is a hip hop artist who recently dropped a political protest mix tape against the prison industrial complex called Work Release, Vol. 2 (The Mixtape) which is now available on Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, and other streaming platforms.

I JUST NEED ONE VOTE… BY: Yusef Hasan Sykes SR.

BY: YUSEF HASAN SYKES SR.
FACILITY: RIVER NORTH

I see the aging in the faces of the men housed in these facilities with lengthy sentences.
Their pain I’ve felt and when I looked around after Parole, Second Look and the age change for Geriatric failed, I saw the face of defeat.
Three well-needed bills that left violent offense offenders asking theirselves, “When will the lawmakers pass a bill that will benefit me?”

Dear Mr. or Mrs. Vote that matters,
Its been 28 years since the abolishment of Parole and still they say No to Parole, leaving the offenders under the new law, without a way to be considered for release.
I ask?
I wonder….
Are they aware that a high percentage of us have proven through our change in behavior and accomplishments over the decades spent incarcerated, that we’ve changed?
Did they not hear about or see how successful the turnout was when our loved ones showed up in support of Second Look, that would of gave thousands that chance to give the courts/judges the ability to reconsider sentences that may have been harsh or in matters where one has changed and shown a great propensity for rehabilitation.
Again, are they aware that we’ve changed?

Did they not hear about the benefit Second Look would be to those with violent offenses if they would have given it a chance?

Its time for a change, to Vote Blue and for those seats that need to be filled by those who believe in Second Chances such as, Suhas Subraman, Monty Mason, Russet Perry, Joel Griffin, Clint Jenkins, Saddam Salim, Jessica Anderson, Susanna Gibson, Phil Hernandez and Trish White – Boyd to name a few.

It’s on us to inform our loved ones of the importance in voting and who they are voting for and its on our loved ones to be those votes for the ones ineligible to vote.
Dear Mr. or Mrs. Vote that matters…

Redefining Power: Your Voice is Our Vote

It is of the greatest contradictions anyone in modern day society could endure — to be on the wrong side of the prison bars and have to witness top lawmakers and administrators deeply entrenched in legal troubles. Not troubles perpetuated from a presumption of negligence concerning the workings of their office, but troubles of a more devious, deliberate criminal nature. To further their mockery of the law, they are accused of abusing the power of their respective offices to aid in covering up their foul play.

Our country has spent centuries using prison as a tool of political intrigue. As a nation, we have actively littered the prison yards with the social lepers and political scapegoats of the modern era. Most of these unfortunate souls can trace the origins of their incarceration to a sense of social ostracizing and economical hopelessness. In turn, what factors can the most powerful, most privileged members of our society attribute to their criminality? The stark contrast between the common criminal and “perp” politician brings to mind the philosophical premises governing the difference between ignorance and evil and their role in the wrongdoings of the world. On one hand, ignorance brings about wrongdoing because it is fearful and deprived of power. Evil, as it stands in relation to ignorance, utilizes its power and knowledge to perpetrate wrongdoing. From a position of power, evil thrives on the suffering and increases the wrongdoing of the ignorant.

Corruption is established on this particular ecosystem where the powerful prey upon the less powerful. This dynamic has tainted American politics and has constructed a predatorial culture where it is socially acceptable to sacrifice certain out-groups to bigot political platforms (such as tough on crime, white nationalism, and prison privatization) under the guise of financial security and economical prosperity. All the while, these dark political agendas serve to drive a deeper divide in the only true shield of the common citizen — UNITY. For far too long has the political system been used as the arm of America’s elitist class — sowing dissension — pitting poor against poor, and lower working class folk against migrates, as we all struggle for the scraps that fall from the corporate juggernauts’ table.

But how can we stop this ponzi scheme erected at our expense? Public indifference has always incited the dark agendas of corrupt leaders who offer oversimplified solutions to complex problems. These quick fixes seem harmless enough on the surface, but if one just takes time to get a closer look, we can see the fine print that greatly serves some elitist’s bottom line. Like the leaders of the Confederate South post-Civil War, corrupt leaders like to displace animosities for bad government toward less threatening targets: minorities. The public should be demanding utmost transparency from their leaders, not more political propaganda that’s fixed around the current hot-button issues.

Regardless of any foolproof solutions posed for the individual citizen to execute, not even a perfect plan or strategy can be the least bit effective without getting good, honest leaders into office. Currently, we as incarcerated people cannot vote; but we have plenty of friends, family and loved ones who can. We can help them make the best choice by guiding their research and keeping our ears and eyes open for candidates that serve in the interest of our cause. Oversight, second look, ending mandatory minimums, expanding earned sentencing credits, ending profiteering in prisons, and the list goes on. State elections in Virginia are November 7th. We have plenty of time to get our allies engaged. If you can reach out to 3 people and ask them to reach out to 3 people, and make sure they have plans to vote early, or on November 7th, you can truly make a difference.

The Struggle Never Stops, So Neither Can We.
Peace, Love, and Power,
Q. Patterson

Prompt for the Incarcerated:

How will you make sure you can extend your vote and engage people on the outside to vote?

What are some of the issues you care about that may or may not be on the ballot and why?

If you had the opportunity to speak directly to potential voters, what would you say to convince them that their vote truly matters?

A lot of campaign ads today are focused on gun violence and high crime rates, are there any arguments you (as an incarcerated person) could pose to potential voters that can debunk the assumption that progressive CJR is responsible for the perceived uptick in violence and crime?

A Solution: Body Cams

“What can we do as incarcerated people to ensure that we put the right people in office who care about our lives”?

Well, first of all, we need to tell all our friends and love ones on the outside to vote this year for candidates who are supporting “Second Chance.” Also, for candidates who are willing to push for a new “MANDATORY” legislative law… requiring that [all] Virginia Department of Corrections (VADOC) officials (Wardens, Majors, Unit Managers, Captains, Lieutenants, and Subordinates) to wear “body cam”, and for it to be kelp on at [all] times when enter acting with inmates. This will ensure there’s no misunderstanding as to what was said between the VADOC officials and inmates. The lack of “body cams” have clearly caused major problems within the VADOC…because most investigations end up “UNFOUNDED, due to lack of evidence. These problems could have been avoided years ago…if “body cams” were issued to every VADOC official. We need candidates who will step up and fight for the rights of incarcerated individuals. Look at the life’s that have been lost in the VADOC due to violence. We need everyone to get out there during voting time and vote for candidates who’s will to serve and protect those who are housed within the VADOC. We need everyone to get on board! Please do this for your love ones…because they need you. The time is now!!!

Secondly, we have to be proactive ourselves, and write to those candidates as well. When writing to such candidates, please be respectful and explain to them your thoughts and concerns.

Thank you,

Curtis L. Floyd, #1036136

Political Skepticism!

Political skepticism is something that I have experienced and witnessed as a political prisoner. It comes from constantly being let down by your political constituents and those who have the political power to effect change. The skepticism has become a mental restraint that has kept the minorities from progressing. Why because of the lack of faith in the political powers that be. I am of the firm belief that power is an illusion. As creators we have the power or will to create our conditions. As creators and self governors, we have the ability to relinquish power by simply governing ourselves. True freedom only comes to those who have freed their minds from the mental restraints that have kept them bounded down to earthly thoughts. The right to vote is a tool for freedom that gives us a voice and the right to effect change. The change needed to help further develop our people and our communities. In order to be governed you have to consent to be governed. The political skepticism has held the minorities back as a whole because of the fact that a vast majority of minorities feel as though the system is rigged. Voting is of dire importance for the progression of minorities for the families of the incarcerated and for the tax paying citizens. Your vote matters regardless of past perceptions and beliefs. We have fell into their traps by not going out to vote, and as long as this trend continues ask yourself will we ever be free?

My name is Antoinne Pitt author of Thinking With A Purpose and C.O.A.T (Countering Overdoses and Addiction Treatment) and vice president of Vanderbilt Media House publishing company. My state # is 1157338 and I am currently being housed at Lawrenceville Correctional Center.

The Vital Right in a Democracy

“There is no more vital right in a democracy than the right to vote. Without it, no other right is secure.”

These are the words of Lawrence Goldstone, author of “Stolen Justice: The Struggle for African American Voting Rights” (Scholastic Focus: New York, 2020). This invaluable book should be required reading for all who are currently in the struggle for voting rights because people not only need to know what they are fighting for, but, they equally need to know about whom they are fighting against. Many people in the struggle for voting rights get so caught up in the here and now that they lose sight of the events that lead to the here and now. In other words, in order to fully understand disenfranchisement today, one must fully understand the historical mindset of those who made it their generational mission to disenfranchise African Americans, and to understand how each generation has it’s own methods by which it use’s to achieve that mission.

The methods used are well documented, but, many today are unaware of the magnitude of those methods, and how those methods brought the American voting system to the brink of collapse.

In 1890, J. J. Chrisman, a Mississippian judge, took pride in declaring: “In plan words, we have been stuffing the ballot boxes, committing perjury, and here and there . . . carrying the elections by fraud and violence until the whole machinery for elections was about to rot down.”

Malcolm X once said: “As time changes, your methods for achieving your objectives must change.”

Mr. Goldstone informs us that by 1900, all of the old Confederate States were in agreement that the time had come to change their methods in by which to deny African Americans the full and equal right of citizenship. He quotes an Alabama lawmaker as saying: “We cannot afford to live with our feet upon fraud. We will not do it. We have disfranchised the African in the past by doubtful methods, but in the future we will do so by law.”

The political events taking place throughout America today are the methods employed more than a hundred years ago by those seeking to continue the course of disenfranchisement.

I have been incarcerated for the past 33 years, and like so many incarcerated men and women, there was a time when I believed that politics (particularly voting) was a waste of time. Thankfully I have matured in my historical and political understanding when it comes to voting. When we do not vote, or at least participate in the process in some way, we become accomplice’s in our own disenfranchisement.

I am currently employed by the Virginia Correctional Enterprise (VCE) where we print letterheads, pamphlets, brochures, businesses cards, and other stationary for State institutions, colleges and universities and nonprofits throughout the State. VCE also supplies the State with it’s Voter Registration Applications. Due to my status as a convicted felon, I can’t vote. However, I find comfort and satisfaction in doing something that helps others in registering to vote. It gives me a sense of inclusiveness and a sense of pride because I feel like I’m a part of the process. Also, I feel like I’m keeping Dr. King’s dream alive when he said:

“Everybody can be great . . . because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”

In closing, I want to leave you with this food for thought:

All of your rights and all of your privileges, as an American citizen, are contained in your right to vote. To forgo or relinquish that right puts all of your rights and privileges in jeopardy. We in the present owe a debt to all who fought for the cause of suffrage in the past. Let us not be unmindful of that obligation. Let us not let their suffering be in vain.

Peace and Blessings to all.

Anthony Maurice Jordan #1161827
Beaumont Correctional Center

Voting: What Does It Really Cost?

Webster defines voting as: a choice or opinion of a person or body of person. A method by which groups of people make decisions.

If the 15th amendment of the United States Constitution states that the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. And also The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a law passed to help enforce the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution. Which states an American citizen shall not be denied the right to vote due to race or skin color.

Why does every convicted felon in Virginia lose this sacred and honorable right? To automatically loss this right after being convicted of a felony offense speaks volume.

In many states, Virginia included; termination of the right to vote by convicted felons is automatic. This actually demonstrates how powerful voting is.

Just think you can be convicted of drinking and driving, serve time for reckless driving. God forbids you can injure or even kill someone, however your right to purchase alcohol isn’t terminated. The penalty for these acts could be a suspension of driving privileges for a period of time and fines. Some cases could result in jail time.

Yes, there’s a process for the restoration of voting rights. But we’re seeing how this process has become politically fueled and motivated.

So that would lead one to ask the question why terminate the right to vote?

Terminating this right actually silence you. You lose the right to have a say in major events. Many of these events are life changing.

We’re seeing in our divided democracy the increase momentum to limit accessed to voting. While watching some of our leaders spew false voting claim’s after being defeated.

We now have a part of society that believes that voting doesn’t matter. Many citizens fail to vote thinking their votes don’t count.

However just think “Roe v Wade” was repealed by the United States Supreme Court. This was after poor voting turn out led to a particular party winning control. Which afforded this party the right to appoint judges of their similar ideologies to the United States Supreme Court. Please realize that these lifetime appointments have dire consequences, with very limited oversight.

If “Roe v Wade” in 1973 can be repealed what’s next?
For many years the right to vote was a major issue.
I’m embarrassed and ashamed that I lost something that cost someone else so dearly.
However I look forward to regaining this sacred and honorable right.
We all must really pay close attention to the political climate in our divided country.

Just turn on your nightly news, advertisements, PACTS. As well as the billionaire donors. Everyone knows how important each vote is.

Many know how important power is. We’re seeing how even our freedom is often control by which party is in control.

We watched one party abolished parole while another attempted several reinstatement measures. Now our freedom is pending in the courts. With no one stopping to ask ” have we been rehabilitated.”
I agree there must be balance and accountability. There’s many behind theses walls deserving of another chance.

So please VOTE!!!! From our local election to the national election. Every vote matters. Failing to vote eliminates your voice.

If others are fighting so hard to take this right away we should see how important voting is.

And look at the large amount of money that is spent during election seasons. Its mind boggling to think millions are spent during elections, while citizens are homeless and hungry.

Again to all my brothers and sisters behind these walls please make it a priority to inform your family and friends to vote. So what does voting cost: YOUR FREEDOM! And your VOICE!!!!!

Samuel E Harris #1026738
Lawrenceville Correctional Center

Captive, A Poem

don’t go turning sour
just because you’re around someone with power
the man of the hour
sitting in his fancy chair
in his fancy office, like some big tall tower
while robbing everyone bare
the system never plays fair
it gives us all gray hairs
leads us astray
trying to mold us like clay
to play their little games
blames us, its all our fault
but its all a result
of them trying to keep us in check
keeping their foot on our necks.

My name is Jennifer Zukerman. I’m currently at Fluvanna correctional center in Virginia.
This is my first incarceration and I got caught up in a very bad crowd that led me here. I’m glad to say that I’ve used this time to better myself and really analyze my decision making. I’ve found myself in my writing/ poetry. I really love to write and hopefully publish a book one day.

Oppressing the Already Oppressed

I’d like to start this with addressing each one of the promo questions as my spring entry! it will be my completely biased opinions.

For starters, when it comes to “Political Skepticism” I’m personally effected by this tendency. Personally, on a year-to-year basis or four-by-4 basis, when it comes to the presidential election, I feel completely left out ever since I lost my voting rights in 2015. It’s almost as if part of my citizenship was taken away, regardless of the fact that I still pay taxes, love my country, and even stand behind “some” of her systems. I’m only subjected to a few of the beautiful things she has to offer her normal citizens. That is one thing that makes me “Politically Skeptical,” because all politics are supposed to be for the people of her country! Am I not a person of this country? This could lead to the touchy topic of the 13th amendment and the 3/5th laws. but that’s a latter discussion.

When it comes to Glenn Youngkin’s move to take away automatic expungement without letting the people of the Commonwealth know, seems to me to look like another way to oppress the already oppressed. Or in other terms, keeping people down who are already down for mistakes made when they were younger. And refusing to ever give them another shot at the beautiful thing America calls “freedom.” It is really sad how it keeps his pockets fat from receiving funds from the federal government for housing state inmates.
Not being able to vote myself, I’d like to eventually have my voting rights restored so my little ripple can turn into waves in America’s lake.

In the meantime I can help further educate people who are able to currently vote and getting the severity of the matter through to them. Whether they are 18 or 80, they’re needed for a better future! This would be my way of getting involved, even know I’m not fully able to participate.

Finally, America would truly benefit from knowing what she wanted if every citizen was able to vote!

Thank you for your patience, and your time is greatly appreciated as well!

Jaime Reinard
Harrisonburg, VA

What Would FREEDOM Look Like If I Was Able to Vote?

I am one out of thousands in the Department of Corrections that’s convicted of a Felony.
I am one out of thousands ineligible to vote in the upcoming election.
I am one out of thousands who believes that all votes matter.
I’m just one….

We took action during the General Assembly and educated our families on Senate Bills and House Bills that could give us the opportunity to gain our FREEDOM back. Bills such as Second Look, Parole, Earned Sentence Credit, Fish back, Juvenile Parole and Geriatric.

We encouraged our families to let their voices be heard and show up in support at the Virginia Prison Justice Network rally, Second Look Lobby Day and to contact Delegates like Don Scott, Marcus Simon, Vivian Watts, James Leftwich and the list goes on.

We stood with 40 Strong, Sistas in Prison Reform, ACLU, Humanization Project, Nolef Turns and Coalition For Justice in solidarity at Monroe Park. Not only did our families have the opportunity to let the years and decades of missing us be felt through their expressed words, Democrats and Republicans were able to see the faces of the ones who care for us dearly. Our families presence, emails, letters and voices roared for us and left a mark. They now know that we matter and that our families are standing with us in this FREEDOM fight.

This FREEDOM fight to be able to vote….

This FREEDOM fight to be able to be free….

This FREEDOM fight to be able to be looked at as a civilized human being, instead of the felonies that come across the screen when they type in our names along with that seven digit number that belongs to the state.

This FREEDOM fight to be able to feel the impact from thousands of convicted felons if we were eligible to vote, be successful in filling the one hundred seats up for reelection in the Virginia House of Representatives, with legislators who believe that bills need to be voted in to give a mass amount who have earned it, another chance at FREEDOM.

This FREEDOM fight just to be able….

I am one out of thousands who knows what FREEDOM will look like to me.

FREEDOM….

FREEDOM will allow me to be there physically as that male model for my sons and daughters.
FREEDOM will allow me to be able to encourage my daughter that she is as smart as any teenager in her school.
FREEDOM will allow me to be there to show my sons that its so much more to them and to be who they dream to be.
FREEDOM will allow me to be able to walk with my daughter on campus and listen to her tell me about her major.
FREEDOM will give me the opportunity to show that I’m far from that young man that walked through those revolving doors.

FREEDOM will allow me to be able to show I’ve grown and that Yusef Hasan Sykes Sr., from Newport News, Virginia has become a writer for Prison Journalism Project, the author of Caught Up, Belly of The Beast(Being Revised), Soulmates Aishah & Muhammad, Recovery, NASEERF on Amazon, a writer in the Virginia Techs Center for Humanities Unlocked Vol.2 Winter 2023 journal on Amazon, a two time graduate from Stratford Career Institute in Plumbing and Creative Writing and the list goes on.

June 11th will mark 17 years that I’ve been incarcerated and over the time I’ve learned that change doesn’t happen overnight, but as long as we stand in solidarity together and remain relentless, we can’t be denied.
When the General Assembly met early this year we sent emails and made phone to our families to inform them about the bills being raised and events to attend. When the General Assembly met early this year we wrote, The Governor, Lt. Governor, Delegates and Republicans in support of bills being raised. Our efforts and our family’s efforts made a difference, but we still have a long way to go. This November, we have to put even more effort towards filling the one hundred seats in the Virginia House of Representatives. Families have to be contacted to inform them about the ones going up to be elected and about the rally’s during that time. We can’t wait until November, we have to start now. When the General Assembly met, I was relentless and I will continue to be relentless and encourage my family members to vote and let their voices continue to be heard.

In solidarity, we stand with Brilliance Behind Bars….

Yusef Hasan Sykes Sr.
Freedom Fighter
River North Correctional Center, #1199406