“It would not hurt you to go see someone in prison ... doing so might
put you in touch with your own humanity.”
Moments after hearing a local radio personality reveal unbridled contempt
for prisoners, I wrote a letter, including the words that head this essay.
Listeners during that segment of “The Frank Ski Morning Show” had been
informed that the brilliant song stylist, Ms Erykah Badu, would soon be
performing for prisoners at the Rikers Island prison, in New York.
In response, the show's producer, Tera Thomas, spoke with the unmistakable
tone of abject contempt. “Why”, she wondered, would people in the entertainment
industry go into prison and “do that” for prisoners? As her monologue of
contempt progressed, some kind staff person interrupted it with music.
I wonder if the producer has even the slightest clue regarding the number
of faithful — and free — listeners who have a family member, friend and/or
loved one doing time in one of Georgia's many prisons?
A taped promotion for “The Frank Ski Morning Show” that is played, it
seems, daily reminds us all that Ms Thomas “... generally doesn't care
what scrubs think”. To label someone a “scrub” is to say that s/he is a
worthless person. I wrote Ms Thomas a letter several months ago and she
has never responded. I entertain no illusions about her response to this
one.
Fame ratings of black radio and television personalities range from
the likes of Ms Tera Thomas, to Ms Oprah Winfrey. It is unfortunate when
they will not publically recognise the humanity of prisoners. It is as
if they do not realise that prison, in and of itself, is more than sufficient
punishment for anyone. Such attitudes in blacks gives energy to the racist
build-more-prisons concept in white bigots in America.
Dehumanising prisoners is the politically correct, right-wing thing
to do. If you doubt my word just ask Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas,
but then Ms Thomas knows that.
The bottom line here is that people like Ms Badu ought to be praised
when they are moved to give performances for prisoners, instead of having
the generosity of their spirit and motives questioned.
While it is true that many people are in prison for having done a bad
thing, the majority of us have done far more good things prior to our convictions.
In fact, some of us, even while on the inside, are doing good things for
people on the outside. Those noteworthy aspects of our lives rarely get
public attention.
It is logical to presume that the talented Ms Badu knows that and, alas,
Ms Thomas does not.
BY BRANDON ASTOR JONES
[The writer is a prisoner on death row in the United States. He welcomes
letters commenting on his columns (include your name and full return address
on the envelope, or prison authorities may refuse to deliver it). He can
be written to at: Brandon Astor Jones, EF-122216, G3-77, Georgia Diagnostic
& Classification Prison, PO Box 3877, Jackson, GA 30233, USA, or email
<BrandonAstorJones@hotmail.com>.
Jones is seeking a publisher for his autobiography, Growing Down.
Please notify him of any possible leads. Visit Jones' web page at <http://www.BrandonAstorJones.com>.]
