Rikers Island is a harsh place to be.
The people whose creative works--drawings, collage, poetry, short stories, etc.--you will view on this web site are or have been incarcerated there.
The purpose of this website is to introduce you to some of these people at their best, to show you that incarcerated people are not necessarily the "monsters," "wild savages," "superpredators," "punks," "crazies," "nut jobs," (yes, we have heard this more than once) everyone has read about in the newspapers and heard from politicians. Such terms are likely used to distance themselves from their own fear that under the same circumstances they could be us. While there are certainly guilty people behind these bars, there are also many innocent ones. Each one, however, is more than their actions.
Norman Mailer said:
"There is a paradox at the core of penology and from it derives the thousand ills and afflictions of the prison system. It is that not only the worst ... are sent to prison, but the best – that is, the proudest, the bravest, the most daring, the most enterprising, and the most undefeated of the poor. There starts the horror."
We thank the contributors for sharing their thoughts, their hopes, their fears, their vulnerabilities. They give us much to think about.
We hope that you enjoy these pages. Please send us your comments. You may also contact us if you are, or know someone who is, a creative person behind bars and would like to be included in these pages.
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Bro. Khalfani Malik Khaldun
Carlisle, Indiana
Understanding the Unseen Casualties
of This Prison Industrial Complex War
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands in times of great challenge and controversy.”
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This essay is something I wanted to write a long time ago. A lot of discussion is going on about the abuse and many of the contradictions that seem to permeate U.S. prison environments. But we rarely hear about our family casualties that occur while we’re serving all this time.
From plantation slavery to prison plantation slavery, New Afrikan men and women are all too familiar with victimization at the hands of the captors. The New Afrikan nation continues to experience casualties due to the Amerikkkan judicial system. This system is enslaving our young at an alarming rate and handing down sanctions tantamount to life sentences. Some are placed on death row.
Having been in prison now for close to 20 years, I am highly qualified to articulate the real impact of my imprisonment on my immediate family. What I overstand even more is that our nation as a whole is being devastated by Amerikkka’s imprisonment boom.
While it is true that the men of our nation were primary targets of this barbaric judicial system, this seems to not simply be the case anymore. Our beloved women are also being targeted for capture. The foundation of the New Afrikan family is thereby crumbling at an overwhelming rate. Our being forced to endure these long stretches of prison also forces us to watch our children become adults right before out very eyes. We are forced to watch our loved ones die for a host of reasons and not be able to do a damn thing about it – only to be denied by our captors a chance to say our last goodbyes by being allowed to attend funerals. These family members that are fortunate enough to live beyond our capture eventually lose interest in our fight for freedom, unable to avoid the fatigue that comes along with disappointments, highs and lows, of this struggle.
We are forced to see this imperialist empire swallow up our children into this system, coupled by our own imprisonment – subjecting us to unwarranted stress and worry, actually causing our reality to become more overwhelming.
Our New Afrikan women are an extremely strong lot. But no matter how long they attempt to tough it out with us, they too are impacted by the separation of this boom of plantation slavery. This war to confront the industrial prison complex has many unseen casualties that are rarely emphasized. I have a great deal of respect for any woman that does overcome the fatigue of standing by her man and continues to put in work on his behalf. This also includes our new Afrikan men who are humble enough to stand by their female mates that may be in this situation.
We also have been forced to see some of our New Afrikan men and women die inside these walls of confinement, some of them murdered by our captors, some due to health complications, and others desperate to relieve their pain have turned to suicide. Others may have lost their lives due to the prison contradictions/violence that permeates these prison plantations all across this empire.
We are also being isolated and placed in control units all over this racist empire. This system allows them to transfer us to destinations unknown far away from our loved ones and companions. These control units deny us all physical or human contact with comrades, other prisoners, and society. All of these units are restricted to non-contact visitation, so we are totally cut off. This has destroyed many of our friendships and loveships that received their encouragement by having the basis of minimal human contact. Our captors have enjoyed this reality because the whole objective is to disconnect our contacts with people in minimum security (that is, society).
On a personal note, I would like to share with you the reality of this war on my life and family. I will cite a dated chronology that occurred impacting my existence:
- In 1987 I entered the prison system on a 25-year first offense to complete 12 ½ years.
- On Dec. 13, 1994, I was accused of murdering an Indiana State Prison guard, of which I declare my innocence.
- On Jan. 31, 1995, the Indiana State Police officially read the warrant and charged me after I refused to be interrogated.
- In 1997, two of my brothers were killed and my mother died from cancer while I was fighting for my life on this murder charge. The system denied my appeal to attend the funerals.
- Between 1995 and 2000 a series of court dates, motions and appeals would be filed and shot down by the high courts not wanting to drop the charges due to speedy trial violations.
- On July 27, 2000 my original sentence ended and I would be paroled fro m the Indiana Department of Corrections, only to be recaptured outside the gates of the State Reformatory and held to stand trial for murder. This was done in front of my loved ones who were there awaiting my release. They were devastated.
- From March 26, 2001 through March 31, 2001 the murder trial proceeded. An all-white jury, with all blacks excluded, judged me. The die was cast and after 7 to 8 hours of deliberation, I was found guilty. It was another casualty to the system and a blow to my already fragmented family.
- On April 20, 2001, after character testimonials were given from family and friends, the judge sentenced me to an enhanced 60-year term.
- All of the first and secondary appeals have been denied by the Indiana Appeals/Supreme Courts.
- I have since filed my post-conviction petitions and have an attorney trying to secure a scheduled court hearing so that it can be reviewed.
- On March 17, 2006 I was forced to defend myself from a brutal attack by three control unit guards. The end result was my being sentenced to solitary confinement segregation for three years.
- I have no physical contact visits and all phone access has been cut off for 12 months. I have not had a contact visit since 2000.
- I have two active state law complaints in against my captors and their peon subordinate officers who have violated my state and federal constitutional rights.
- I remain active on the inside in the face of mounting repression and inhumane conditions, helping other prisoners confront the harassment they are faced with.
I am looking to establish a platonic relationship/communications with a New Afrikan politically conscious woman who is active in the struggle. Please write to me if you are interested in such an adventure. Prison is a lonely existence, having a companion or soul mate helps us to push forward. Any and all help no matter what, it is always welcomed. All letters will be responded to, Keep up the fight against the empire’s prison industrial complex and the unjust judicial system.
A Luta Continua.
Bro. Khalfani Malik Khaldun
No. 874304
(Leonard McQuay)
B-408 SHU
PO Box 1111
Carlisle, IN 47838
rikerscreative@yahoo.com |
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