Inside and Out, Developing
Revolutionary Relationships and Unity With Our People in Mass
Incarceration and Political Prisoners, It's Organization Our Duty!
Written By :
Kilaika Anayejali Kwa Baruti
Many of us know of someone who is locked away in city jails, state, and
federal prisons. We know that these individuals are there due to a
variety of circumstances. We know also, that although evidence had not
fully been submitted or ignored, there are people there that are
wrongfully locked away. We know that there are those that may have
committed a crime and given a sentence, but acquired more time because
of their struggle for survival in these Prison Industrial Complexes.
A man or woman for instance may be given five years and two weeks later
have to face a life sentence just for their will to survive, maybe an
act of self-defense.
There
again are many circumstances and realities that we on the outside can
imagine, but never truly have a perfectly clear picture or understanding
of the life they face in the Prison Industrial Complexes. Although
this is so, we should still seek to have a perfectly clear analysis
which will serve as our tool that will ensure we will not be
disconnected. The people whom face such conditions are our family,
friends, and comrades and even more so, it could be us. This article
was written with the intent to encourage the reader to think in a manner
of collective thought and not one adopted with characteristics of
individualism. We must continue encouraging Afrikan people to know that
what affects one, affects us all. Many of our Brothers and Sisters are
imprisoned and are undergoing physical, mental, and spiritual abuse in
these dungeons.
Every
day there is a war to remain alive and well, even though they may never
see the light of freedom as you and I may see not being confined in the
darkness of prison, being held in captivity. They have to battle with
abuse from other prisoners and prison guards. An attempt to fight back
results in the reality of being thrown in the hole, solitary
confinement, mail being confiscated and even death. The psychological
torture is unimaginable for you and I. The struggle for survival is one
that may result in them committing an act that brings harm to another
physically, even if it is just, it could result in more time added to
their sentence; a double jeopardy, which is a lose-lose situation. Can
you picture the many scenarios? Can you picture being a political
prisoner, incarcerated because injustice was brought to you and it was
your human right to defend yourself or another? Now you are facing a
life sentence and because of your stance and ideas or political
ideology, you will always be a threat to the system. You are given 99
years and at each moment, each second of that 99 years you are viewed as
a security threat, as an agitator, as a trouble maker, so the hounds
are always at your foot trying to intimidate you. They will
consistently try to break down your will hoping you will lose all sanity
and just die and wither away.
This
is the case for many people that look like us, people that we love.
Guess what, they can continue to live. How? Through us they live on.
What a difference a pen and piece of paper make, what a difference an
expression of letting someone know they are not forgotten makes.
The
Prison Industrial Complex is merely a modern day slave camp, a place
for people who resist particularly, a place for capitalistic ventures.
It is a place to house you and I with the intent of keeping us
powerless as a nation. Believe it or not some of the best in our
society are in these places. It is our duty to keep them alive. There
are many who enter these dungeons with no political or social ideology
and given the conditions of their environment, they turn out to be the
most astute and profound thinkers the world has seen. You can find
people like George Jackson, people who have created within themselves
the utmost discipline. They have transformed themselves to be the best
in society, into revolutionaries that have been produced right there in
prison. However, it makes them more of a threat. We must protect them.
We must stay connected. We must let our enemy know we are watching
them and make sure they keep their filthy hands where we can see them,
keep their paws off of our Sisters and Brothers. We must demand when it
is necessary that they receive medical treatment, we must ensure their
rights are not violated. We must make sure they are not forgotten. We
must make sure that they know they are never forgotten.
This
is the duty that you and I carry. We need them just as much as they
need us. They still have the capabilities to make contributions to this
society and particularly, our struggle for liberation. We must ensure
that all hands are on deck. I encourage you all to seek information on
who is who amongst our political prisoners. I encourage you to write
them consistently. I ask that you be their voice in the world. I ask
that you let those that are incarcerated know that there is life outside
of the dungeon walls and help them develop themselves through
political, social, and cultural education. Do not sleep on your family
and friends that are locked away. Let them know they are not alone.
They could be transformed by the knowledge and information that you
share with them and even in the simplest terms, a small hello is life
changing. Most of all, it could be one of us and regardless if we
acknowledge it or not, to be forgotten is one of our biggest fears.
Collective unity in thought and action is our tool for true liberation.
We must utilize it in every instance and in every circumstance. This
is just one, let’s stay connected. Salute!!!
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