Voices From the Row: Exercised Humanity Is Not a Commodity

Hotep,

This second installment of “Voices from the Row,” has been in the making for quite some time.  This particular writer has been a part of my minute inner circle since 1999.  The infamous D-block was educational for both of us.  Back then, my ideas and concepts were exclusive to fellow prisoners willing to hear the real.  

At 21 years of age, Chino was more than a youngsta out to get a rep.  His focus was far beyond his years, and his ears were receptive to a Mann with something to say.  Real recognize real.  Na mean?

I’ve shared bits and pieces of Chino’s humanity on posts like, “Grey’s Alter Anatomy” (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/2010/09/greys-alter-anatomy.html ) and “On the Move Volume 7: Walking the Walk” (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/2012/04/on-move-volume-7-walking-walk.html ).  It would seem like every two years I find a reason to share something about him with you.  So consider this particular expression the bonus package.

As a long time pillar of strength in our death row community, Chino will now come to the forefront to speak his humanity.  His words will help you to understand that capital punishment is not a solution… it’s a commodity.

100,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2014 by Leroy Elwood Mann

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 Exercised Humanity Is Not a Commodity

Good Friday is, amongst other things, a time to reflect on the passion of the Son of God: the epitome of humanity!  Last week I was asked to shed light on how capital punishment has affected my own humanity.  

I hail from what is known in North Carolina as the ‘Port City’ (Wilmington, NC) by way of a little spot known as Danville, VA.  In the year of 1999, I was convicted of two counts of armed robbery and one count of burglary for which I received 19 – 24 years. 

Shortly thereafter, in a separate case/trial, I was nailed for one count of first-degree murder, one count of first degree kidnapping and one count of armed robbery.  As a result, I was handed a death sentence that year of which I’m still currently under.  

Truth and my humanity wouldn’t allow me to plead guilty to any of these accusations; my humanity wouldn’t allow me to throw another soul beneath the wheels of a southern judicial bus fueled by corruption and the need, at all cost, to convict.

Over the past 16 years, I’ve experienced the unjust sting of racism, incompetent defense lawyers, a suspect appellate lawyer, dispirited family members and the inner workings of a system geared for self benefitting results by any and all means!  But, you’ve heard all this before, right: the chip-shouldered prisoner, executions of innocent folk, police/C.O. brutality, prosecutorial cover-ups etc. 

My experience sells these days, my life being acted out in Hollywood; filling the gaps on the local news.  The woes of the ‘convict’ and those en-route to conviction is a commodity!  Which brings me to the hilt of this here.  Capital punishment hasn’t affected my humanity for humanity is innate.  

Capital punishment is a social aberration that affects life circumstances (wrecks lives), which humanity can correct.  I put forth the challenge to actually exercise humanity instead of talkin’ bout its value!

I close by calling your attention back to the epitome of humanity.  Good Friday centers around the action taken by an individual against inhumanness: true humanity.

Still Alive,

Chino

Copyright © 2014 by Chino

Finding the Good, Volume 2: Inside Observation

“I thought that no one would benefit more from memoir – writing and self-reflection than those whose lives hold a known expiration date.” Tessie Castillo

Journalist/Mom-to-be

Hotep,

The opening quote was extracted from an article written in the 5/2/14 edition of the Raleigh News and Observer (http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/05/01/3826561/death-row-inmates-have-a-humanity.html) by my journaling instructor, Mrs. Tessie Castillo.  Reading this article, I was overwhelmed with a strong sense of reward, ignited by the knowledge that Tessie’s view of death row is influenced by direct interactions with death row prisoners.

“I would challenge those who support the death penalty to spend time getting to know a death row inmate on a personal level.” Her words echo the sentiments of a Mann deprived of blind justice for nearly two decades.  Na mean?

It’s no secret that my personal circumstance doesn’t relate well to the term, “inmate,” but I’ve come to know that Tessie is learning as she teaches.  I applaud her journalistic intrepidity.  Her tutelage has been key to my literary evolvement.  The atrocious acts surrounding the death penalty continues to bridge the gap between what society deems to be “truly evil,” and a humane welcoming into the experience that is” both edifying and moving.”

The fact that a condemned death row prisoner, and a young white female journalist share the same labor of love, only heightens the validity of the expressions we share with a society that has been led to believe there is no humanity worth saving in a death row prisoner.

Humanity is such a powerful statement.  It’s the condition or quality of being exactly what we are, humans.  Now, try to step outside of our species for a second.  Take on the position of an observer of the humanity that defines the human species.  Then, step into the witness room of an Oklahoma prison, showcasing the execution have allowed the unsuspecting viewers to believe that this is a humane practice of justice for a human tried and convicted of taking the life of another human.

For 43 long minutes, you observe Clayton Lockett kicking, gasping, mumbling, grimacing, grunting and lifting his head and shoulders entirely up from the gurney after he was declared to be unconscious by the “gracious” hosts of this horrific event.  How would you view the quality of our species, then?

The practice of capital punishment in this country has run its course.  In my opinion, it has yet to be proven that capital punishment is a deterrent to murder.  To believe that, you would probably be inclined to think that the over-consumption of chocolate ice cream is a solution to weight loss.  Feel me?  Murder is not the answer to murder. 

White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, expressed his discontent with the eventual massive heart attack of Clayton Lockett; “We have a fundamental standard in this country that even when the death penalty is justified, it must be carried out humanely.  And I think everyone would recognize that this case fell short of that standard.” (News and Observer 5/1/14).

Well, as an observer viewing humanity from inside this box, my assessment of humanity is this: most of what we do, and most of what we believe is motivated by death.  Through death – no matter how horrific or peaceful – Tessie and I are in compliance with the humanity unjustifiably hidden and tucked away somewhere within the halls of Unit 3: “In each of these men there are many things worth understanding, worth supporting, and worth saving.  I will defend their humanity because I experience it every time I walk through those prison doors.”

Spoken like a true “cause crusader” that has discovered the relevance in finding the good.  Asante Sana Tessie.  I’ll see you in class.

Nuff Said,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2014 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Unreasonably Happy

“Even for the most hardened and cynical, hope gives us the right attitude to be able to believe again.”

Hill Harper

Best Selling Author/Actor

Hotep,

Dirty trays.  Cold eggs.  Or, someone sneezing without covering their mouths.  These are the elements that can easily set the tone for a day in prison.  Breakfast is the most difficult meal to endure, in the state’s chow hall.  In most cases, a soymilk and half cup of orange juice is the safest measure of nourishment.  The most important meal of the day can be the most dangerous.  And, I’m not just talking about food consumption.

It’s during this time; I realize how easy it would be to give up on life.  How easy it would be to allow myself to become full with cynicism.  My existence could easily be fed by the corrosion of hate, and my mindset could rot away with disdain.  This psychological combat zone endorses a human being’s caged animal-like responses, to these chow hall fire-fights, as being normal.  To dwell on the morbidity of this circumstance would be the waving of a white flag in the face of my captors.

Then there is hope; a hope that makes me uniquely human.  A hope that has been present since my conception.  A gift passed through the umbilical connection between mother and son.  We never know how many heartbeats we have left, so I wanna take this expression on a 180 degree turn, to face the source of my hope.

You see, my Moms has been an encouraging force whether it be through her vanquishing the heartaches of rearing children, or her distinctive will to see the face of God through the turmoil of family crisis.  There’s much to learn from a woman whose smile and genuine happiness, possess energy capable of redirecting oncoming pessimism, while generating positivity in its wake.  Feel me?

Her connection to the divinity of our Creator regularly reveals her excitement about the unknown experiences life continues to offer.  Even I have been guilty of asking Moms why she’s so happy.  I guess this is what Hill Harper meant when he said, “They accomplished such stunning life changes and subsequent victories because they never gave up on the idea that they had a right to be unreasonably happy.  They knew and believed that they had that right and ability to create their own lives.” In regards to that quote, my Moms is unreasonably happy.  Ya heard?

In the book, “Letter to an Incarcerated Brother,” (http://www.incarceratedbrother.com ) Hill Harper speaks to a brother doing time without the outside support of his mother.  The responses from this particular brother exude a disturbingly negative outlook on a life that should be filled with limitless opportunities.  The lack of a mother’s happiness and encouraging presence can be damaging to the potential growth of a man behind the wall.

I thank God for you, Moms.  Through you, I’ve learned the power of being unreasonably happy.  It’s only unreasonable to the people unfamiliar with true happiness.  I’m unreasonably happy about the relationship we share.  Your gift of hope has given me the right attitude to believe in myself when the odds are stacked against me.  I assure you; there are no white flags in my character.

Happy Mother’s Day, Beautiful Lady!!

Your Son,

Leroy

Copyright © 2014 by Leroy Elwood Mann

Picking up the Pace: a time to thrive

Hotep,

The pace of my passion is moving full steam ahead.  Ya heard?  I mean, I’ve been writing between the hours of 12:30am – 7am throughout this month of March Madness.  

Today is April 3, 2k14. The tempo of my penmanship increased beyond belief.  So many projects have been occupying my time, I haven’t had the chance to give the blogosphere the full breakdown on how my writing classes have been progressing.

On Monday (3/24/14), Mrs. Tessie Castillo – my journaling instructor – critiqued my rewrite of  “Finding the Good.” (http://word2themasses.blogspot.com/2013/04/finding-good.html) To her credit, she’s an excellent writer, so I respect her breakdowns of my work.  

She gave me a printout of her drug policy, posted on the Huffington Post.  It’s called, “White People Are Not Exempt From Drug Overdose” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tessie-castillo/white-people-are-not-exem_b_3975732.html ). It is absolutely a fabulous article.

Tessie also included an outline on the structure of writing a pitch.  In two paragraphs or less, she wants me to sell her on why “Finding the Good” would be a good read, for the Huffington Post.  I couldn’t believe it; the Huffington Post?! 

That’s the largest blog in the world – 34 million followers and counting.  I was so amped, I completed my rewrite in the wee hours of Tuesday morning.  I didn’t sleep a wink that night.  Real talk.

Tessie reads W2TM regularly, so this is a strong vote of confidence she’s showing, by possibly giving me the opportunity to run this particular piece on the Huff Post.  Crazy, right?  SMH  I can’t wait for her to read the pitch package I’ve prepared – along with the updated rewrite.

On Wednesday (3/26/14), I turned in a written assignment titled, “Hey! Hey! Solitary is Torture.” The teacher, accomplished memoirist Jonathan – Wilson Hartgrove (“Strangers At My Door” & “Becoming the Answers to your Prayers”) gave the class the prompt, “Solitary Is Torture” the week prior.  It was an optional exercise, but I’m always up for the challenge.  Na mean?

This prompt had to be expounded in a narrative sense, so I used an inspirational cartoon character from my childhood, to tell a detailed story about solitary confinement.  Just trying something different.  I’m looking forward to his critique.

Thursday (3/27/14) was surreal.  The “Hidden Voices”committee (Lyden, Cathy, Lamar and Jessica) returned.  This meeting has a much different vibe when I introduced our literary team as, “FFLOW” (Fanatical Fists Lights Out WordPlay).  Big Bank, Bucktown and Lyle presented some heartfelt spoken word.  I closed out the session with a recital of, “Pace of Passion.” It was truly a great moment in my life.  Word is bond!

My sister Deb came to see me on Friday (3/28/14).  I shared the entire week’s events with her, so it was a pleasantly emotional union between brother and sister.  She then made me aware of my homegirl/editor’s decision to take a one year assignment in Dubai.  

I knew she was gunning for this position because she’s a career driven woman.  It’s one of the many things I admire about her.  Congrats Boss Lady! Turn Up!!

It would seem like monumental career opportunities are happening form the both of us, simultaneously.  It’s crazy because I told her right before Christmas that 2k14 was going to be a big year for us, and we’ve still got 8 months to go.  Just doing what we do.  Welcome to our time to thrive!

Stay Tuned,

MannofStat

Copyright © 2014 by Leroy Elwood Mann