trip to the go-cart

A bus came in on Friday full of new inmates. I’ve noticed that for the past ten years since I've been in this prison, the majority of the incoming are here on non-violent low-level drug charges. I watch the new inmates closely as the grim reality of the next several decades seeps into their hearts and minds. If you watch closely you can almost see the light of hope dim in their eyes.

The seasoned veterans file into their ranks, instantly accepted by the miserable new convicts. The veterans lean in to get the current happenings from the outside world. I shake my head in pity as I get up to greet a Chicago homie, surrounded by the "Go-Cart". That’s the nickname we give our so called "car" here in the feds because there’s only a few of us on this unit.

The new inmate’s name is “lil’ Two T's", he thinks he’s a Blackstone from Terror Town, he’s only twenty-two years old. I ask him what he’s in for and he says "I caught a 'ron’ (heroin) case out in Iowa." Me and one of the older guys from Chicago exchanged looks that said "not another one". No inmate in this prison who caught their charge out in Iowa has a single digit sentence. I was reluctant to ask the next question but I had to, I just had to know. "What they do to you?" I asked. Two-T's eyes dropped to the floor and his long dreads swayed back and forth as he shook his head. "Them white folks gave me 37 years."

No matter how many times I witness this heart breaking scenario the long sentences the judges hand out always surprise me. I want to tell him that everything 'gon be a'ight, but instead I tell him, "Sunday, Bro, we at the Law Library early."

The United States said they declared a War on Drugs. They are waging war on young black and brown people. They are waging war on minorities that in their current condition would not earn $60,000 in a year working a regular job for themselves. So they lock them up, make them work for pennies in the prison industry while the prison industrial complex literally makes millions of dollars per month off these young, non-violent drug offenders. The War on Drugs is just a big slavery round up.

Liquor, sugar, cigarettes, and prescription pills kill more Americans then crack or heroin. The War on Drugs is causing the destruction of minority families all for the purpose of greed. There are hundreds of young black and brown men in this prison who could not afford true legal assistance and are getting railroaded by the courts who should be protecting their rights.

I came across some old gang literature that states that we are not to use drugs. Now you can debate and interpret that statement to suit your cause how you feel, either way, the literature prohibits the use of drugs. This is no longer being taught to gang members today.

Anyone who promotes the distribution or taking of illicit scheduled substances to our youth or anyone else is a J. Edgar Hoover CoIntelPro double cross agent, especially if he/she is a so-called gang member. The use and sale of narcotics within the ranks of the gang were introduced by moles planted by the FBI in the early 60's to disrupt any unity that blacks were forming in those days. The dope boys and trappers are nothing less than a continuance of this operation plain and simple. If you do not believe what I am saying, a few hours on a real good search engine will serve to enlighten the doubtful among you. #MY2CENTZ