A Life Lesson in Appeals

Hotep,

I think reflection is essential to prosperity. Going through life trying to forget the past can be stressful. Personally I choose to embrace the past. All memories, good and bad play a part in preparing me today, for what I am to become in the future. Na mean?

I was living in Philly and a junior in high school when a person I'll call, John for the sake of privacy, was sentenced to die by a North Carolina jury. Twelve years later, I experienced a similar fate. John was one of the first cats to educate me on the appeals process. From July to December of 1997, I remained optimistic about my case under appeal, because I knew I wasn't guilty of the crime I was convicted of. I was still a virgin to state sanctioned executions.

John wasn't my best friend, but he was definitely someone I spoke with on a daily basis. Law, sports or women, the subject matter would vary. I had grown accustomed to John being around. John was given an execution date in mid-December of 1997. It was hard for me to talk to him about who was going to win the Superbowl, when I learned he wouldn't get a chance to see it.

He kept telling me that he wouldn't be executed . He said the state's protocol was to give him a date, because his attorney had missed a filing deadline. He said it so much that I thought he was in denial. Word is bond. The day before his scheduled execution, several officers came into D-block. They escorted John to his cell and commenced to packing his personal property in shipping bags. I felt helpless. John on the other hand, was at ease with the situation. I watched the C.O's stow his photo albums and transcripts without expression.

Before John left D-block, he gave me an unopened deck of cards, and an American Heritage dictionary. He told me I could keep the cards, but he instructed me to hold the dictionary until he came back. I was speechless. I thought, this cat is in a deep state of denial. Feel me?

Even though I really needed a dictionary, I was happy to give it back to John the following evening. It turns out John knew what he was talking about. He eventually got off of death row and is currently serving a life sentence.

As for me, I still have that deck of cards. A symbol of what I've experienced and a reflection that makes me a much better man. I haven't stopped writing since December of 1997. Ya heard?

Keep it 100,

MannofStat

Copyright (c) 2010 by Leroy Elwood Mann