Hotep,
A scraped knee…a busted lip… a jammed thumb. The discomfort of these ailments is enough to
make a child cry. In some cases, even an
adult will shed a tear due to some physical anguish. No matter how you look at it, pain is just a
part of life. Whether it is physical or
emotional, at some point pain will breed a tear. Na mean?
Throughout my stint in prison, I’ve experienced the pains of
a torn ACL, a severely strained Achilles heel, a broken finger, several foot
surgeries and a toothache that would make a shark go vegan. Ya heard?
Crying as a result of these pains was never a factor. I guess it would appear as though I’ve become
immune to physical pain, but that’s far from being the case.
As I’ve grown older and become somewhat wiser, I’ve come to
understand the tear as being a jewel of one’s soul. For me, physical pain is no longer worthy of
my soul’s treasure chest. Now the birth
of my grandseed is worthy of a tear. The
sight of my Moms during her toddler years warrants a tear. Happiness and gratitude have the capabilities
to muster waterfalls of my inner jewelry, but know this; the thought of my
years inside this box is definitely worthy of a jewel or two. Word is bond!
Last month, the release of the “West Memphis Three” made
headlines. One of the 3, Damien Echols
was sentenced to die. The other two
defendants were serving life sentences for the murders of 3 eight year old
boys. It is believed that the murders were
a by-product of satanic cult activities.
Damien Echols wore all black clothing.
He listened to heavy metal music and even considered himself a Wiccan.
For 18 years, the courts viewed these men as grotesque
murderers. Many were convinced of Damien
Echols’ guilt, but there were others who were immediately skeptical. They felt he was singled out for being an
outsider in a small town. Supporters
such as singers, Eddie Vedder and the Dixie Chicks held benefit concerts on
their behalf. Books were written and a
documentary was made to jump-start the “Free the West Memphis 3” movement.
After nearly two decades of being referred to as “child
killers,” Judge David Laser vacated their previous convictions and ordered a
new trial. Prosecutors then allowed the
men to enter “Alford” guilty pleas, a plea that permits a defendant to maintain
his/her innocence while admitting that pleading guilty is in their best
interest. Real talk.
16 years in this box for a murder I didn’t commit. A hip-hop artisit in love with his
craft. My promotional photos were a
comprehensible display of my hip-hop culture and there is no doubt that I was
singled out for being an outsider in a small town. The jewels of my soul flow heavily when I
weigh these factors of my case, but you can believe the faucet will continue to
flow when I walk out of this prison to make the most of my second chance. That’s what’s up!
Keep it 100,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann
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