It’s been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, but
a thousand words doesn’t always tell the whole story. E.g.:
Two smiling faces in a prom picture doesn’t necessarily mean the prom
was anything more than a date. A wedding
photo capturing a bride and groom exchanging marital vows shouldn’t be written
off as eternal love. Husband and
wife? Yes. Soulmates?
Not necessarily. Feel me?
Recently I had to take an updated pic for my prison
identification card. It’s currently
posted on the N.C death row website.
Right before the pic was taken, the camera operator instructed me to
state my full name and opus number. The
digital camera recorded my voice as my pic was being taken: “Leroy Mann, 0255136.”
At first glance, you may suggest that I was in a bad
way. You could presume that I was saying
something derogatory. Possibly gritting
my teeth in frustration or maybe even puckering up to blow a kiss at the
camera. Hopefully, the latter isn’t a
popular assumption. LOL. I was simply
doing as I was instructed to do. Real
talk.
All too often, still photos condemn a person’s character and
sometimes, their lives. It’s hard to
smile in front of a camera when you’re behind the wall. My Moms wanted to know why I kept sending her
pics, of me, with long faces. I told her
that I didn’t want to give the impression that I might be having a good time or
that I may be happy in prison. She
simply told me, “get over it Leroy. I
want to see your smile.” How could I not comply?
My bright smile for Moms can be seen on, “A Death Sentence
is No Nap.” (4/21/2010) This particular
post has rubbed some people the wrong way.
Believe me, that wasn’t my intent.
I only wanted to make the Masses aware of my up close and personal
experience with the state’s execution protocol.
Na mean?
The smile in that photo wasn’t meant to be offensive and it
surely wasn’t a display of arrogance. I
was merely fulfilling a request. I thank
God that I’m still able to give my Moms her smile. That’s what’s up! I love you Moms.
Peace,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2011 by Leroy Elwood Mann
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