Love in Thy Lap

I was having a very intense conversation this morning about the prison system and more specifically the opportunities for those who have done their time…and here’s my opinion on it.

A good friend of my hit my phone and told me to tune into Hot 97 as they had a super job summit discussion going on. I caught the tail end of it. With that a gentleman had a question/comment. He said a lot but basically the effect was this: What advice do you have for a guy who has kids, who’s done time and is trying to do better but employers aren’t giving job opportunities weather you lie or tell the truth on an application? When your children are hungry your going do anything to get them some type of food…and so on…

The cycle continues…I know people who have been in this situation and it was not easy to watch. First I’d never tell anyone to lie. Don’t let people make you feel ashamed of choices you’ve made and PAID for already. I in turned did all I could to help my friend who was in this situation. Did he do the crime? Yes. Did he serve his time? Yes. Here’s the thing his mindset was this: I made a mistake, I did the sentence that was given to me….I’m now ready to get my foot back onto the right path. What he was met with instead was a really rough road of no opportunity. Aside from doing the programs, the time and the isolation there was still more to deal with. Now I’m not saying it should be easy. Nothing worth having will ever come easy convict or not. In terms of survival however what is someone to do..enters the selling and the relapse into crime etc. My friend was lucky he had some people in his corner willing to be there for him. To give him strength in a time of hardship. Yet for our brothers and sisters who don’t have that support what of them. Its so easy to say your debt is done once you leave prison. But guess what is not. It doesn’t go away. Pops up that should I lie or tell the truth. The moment you check that box whether you offer an explanation all they see is CRIMINAL. Further more when your sending them back from isolation into an environment that I feel was designed for them to fail in the first place what do you expect.

So your home..you woman is looking at you with the “when you goin work” your kids are looking at you like “we hungry” and your looking at yourself feeling less and less as a man as your unable to provide. Yet everyday, suit on, head up, mind right…no one is hearing or seeing this.

The system is severally flawed… 

I worked in a prison before…a well oiled machine. smh

to be continued…