Pag« 8 Portland Observer July 3, 1880 Cell Talk Behind the Walls By Asmar A M u I Sejullah (aka Joe West 4 4(3404 On June 20th U huru O rganization held a com m unity forum entitled “ A Two Way Street: The Black Community and Black Prisoners.” The main objective o f the forum was to enlighten the com m unity on the ills o f the crim in a l justice system and the needs o f the Black prisoners con­ fined in the Oregon Correctional System. In behalf o f the total Uhuru membership and the general Black inmate population, I ’ m pleased to report for the first time the Black com m unity has responded to the call for assistance. The meeting began w ith a historical and psychological critique given by Professor James W. Gadena, Dean o f W illam ette University. Brother Gadena gave a very indept view o f the crim inal justice system and its effect on the lives o f Blackfolks. The highpoint of brother Cadena's rap came when he explained how a whiteman can k ill a nigger and the outcome is manslaughter but when a nigger kills a whiteman the outcome is murder in the first degree. He stated that the police can kill a nigger and it's labelled justicifiable homicide and to round o ff his analogy he stated that a nigger can kill another nigger and it ’s just one less nigger. This is an excellent example o f the hypocriticalness o f the crim inal justice system. Brother Ron Herndon Co- Chairman o f the Black United Front followed with a smoking overview of institutional racism. In essence he stated that Black people should never be surprised when they en­ counter racism in Am erikan in ­ stitutions. he stated that the system is built and perpetuated by racism and that until Black people become committed enough to attack it at the root, it will continue to be the num­ ber one obstruction in w inning freedom. Brother Ron fu rth e r committed the Front to collective action against the racist inadequatacy o f the Oregon C rim in a l Justice System and its racist treatment o f Black prisoners. When one speaks o f Ron Herndon one w ord sticks in the m ind - Dynamic. In my mind he epitomizes what the struggle is all about, his Blackness runs deeper than the skin. Next brother Calvin Henery the c ritic a l president o f the Oregon Commission on M in o rity A ffa irs followed with a collage o f criticism on the apathy o f Black prisoners to help themselves while incarcerated, he drea mixed emotions from the crowd but all things considered he was right on the money in many ways. It’ s always difficult to explain to the oppressed that part o f their oppression is due to their own un­ willingness to face oppression. He summed up his ta lk w ith a very strong commitement to get envolved and offered the support o f his organization in a maximum thrust fo r equal treatm ent fo r Black prisoners. Last but not least on the speaking rostrum was sister Freddye Petette, the Director o f the Portland Urban League. Believe me when I say that sister Freddye was not to be out done by her male counterparts. Ever since the enslavement o f Black people in this country the black woman has played a very instrumen­ tal role in the struggle for Black liberation. Sister Freddye came with her guns loaded for Polar Bear and was diligent and vocal in her attack o f the system. Her voice rolled in the sweetness o f watermelon but carried the punch of a heavyweight. "Brother man this sister combined by Larry Baker 43502! O.S.P. Correspondent speaking expertise with a strong flavor o f humanitarianim, couple with with a excellent understanding o f what it takes for Blackfolks to survive in the system and you have a portrait o f sister Freddyt Petette. She pledged the complete support o f the Urban League and showed genuine concern for the problem that Black inmates face while incar­ cerated. Picture, if you w ill, a room filled with Black faces - all of them shin­ ning with the culmination o f hope and you'll have a small idea of what the Uhuru meeting was like. The only thing that marred the evening was the lack o f adequate time for meaningful dialogue. Perhaps next time we can pick up where we left o ff at, but in the meantime a list o f grievances and concerns is being drawn up to send these brothers and sisters who gave their love and con­ cern. Also present at the forum were Chamers Jones and Hazel Hayes o f the Oregon State Parole Board, William T. Russel also left us with a strong commitement and sister Lois Lewis Berry local Black poetess was her usual supportive self. There are many who are unnamed in this ar­ ticle but it’ s not a underplay o f their presence or support. on behalf o f the entire member­ ship o f Uhuru Organization I would like to thank all parties involved. Words can never truly express our graditude but these words suffice, ‘ ‘ prison is a pale constrasting shadow that smothers the souls o f Blackmen, until other Blackmen and Blackwomen rise to shine their sun on the uglyness o f racism in prison.” We feel the sun shinning between these bars and its warmth is a taste ol freedom.” A ll praise is due to Allah. Prison fosters dependency By Nathaniel Scott Re-entry, tra n s itio n and recidivism : Words I often heard while at the Oregon State Peniten­ tiary. (OSP) When one is actually confronted with release, you find that you are not properly prepared to deal with the situation, because no such programs exist within the State’ s correctional system that would have enlightened you to the tremendous psychological strain that transition entails. The majority o f us w ill have to deal in a world o f economics all of our adult lives and this economic factor is probably the single most baffling factor with which one is confronted. D uring confinement one’ s needs are remedied through call outs, lines and wheeling and dealing to get in a position to be seen by whatever services arc needed. One loses the sense o f using currency, through form s and monthly spending sheets. One will make unnecessary purchases, hastening the depletion o f their meger hundred dollar gate money, simply because the built-in security factor, a side effect o f confinement, was not decoded, which is virtually necessary before adjustment can be obtained. L iving w ith in a fixed budget is a strange and alien thing. The ordeal o f not being able to cope w ith the situation, leads to frustration and boredom, and one finds himself drifting towards past behavorial patterns, where enter­ tainm ent and appeasement are readily available. One is lost because o f forced habit: regimentation. A ll twenty- four hours o f your day have been allotted. Even your recreation is at prescribed times, and you find that those whose company you crave, are either occupied securing a living or engaged in other commitments. If, fo r some reason your jo b is te r­ minated or you are released without one, as w ith term inal leave, job searching becomes a tiresome and endless chore. Hostility manifest it­ self and the desire to strike a blow at the establishment seeps into your brain. These pit falls and situations can be laid on the door steps o f the Oregon Correctional System, and in my opinion is a tremendous cause o f recidivism , a factor that w ill not ease the burden o f the taxpayers purse string until someone see fit to present proper orientation upon re­ entry into society. To work toward ‘ STORE over coming these and other stum­ bling blocks, 1 enrolled at Portland Community College and became in­ volved in a small amount o f com­ munity service work. 1 also began spending more time partaking o f free public entertainment; such as the library, parks, and other such places that offered arts and crafts. I became involved in a religious ser­ vice group, that offered instant and verbal action, and that has allowed me to become aware o f the fact that others are striving in the midst o f troubles. I realize that there is no set pat­ tern or blue print for those who wish not to add to the recidivism list, and that with each individual the way will vary. However, it is my earnest opinion that defeat o f purpose starts with idleness and one becomes prone to subjections that lead to illogical and unhelpful patterns o f thought. The creation o f new interests and/or different values and modes o f liv in g , sometimes require a lifetime to accomplish, but unless one desires to repeatedly be on the recidivism list and never enjoy the fruits o f life as God intended, one must look fo r ways to combat depression, boredom, frustration, loneliness and the absence and loss o f material things. One must even learn to live on a smaller scale than one intended. A clear and concise presence o f mind must be m ain­ tained, and one must strive with all their might to be an individual in society and not a number at OSP. As a present parolee whose dedication is based on principles, principles o f freedom and equality, I realize that these principles can not be realized behind prison walls. Community By Glenn Gilbert 438014 ...I sentence you for the rest o f your natural life. The judge’ s words s till echoed within me as I walked down the long hallw ay that took me in to the bowels of this state penitentiary. It is too late to say I am sorry, or to say anything at all. I am here and I am living this harsh reality. There are no places to hide even if one wanted to. There is only the con- stani visual supervision wherever I go. At first, I felt paranoia with everyone looking at me. Even the convictv look to see who is invading their animal world. Existence and survival seem to be the necessary compliance but the longer I am here the easier it becomes. I am no longer the new guy down the tier as he cries late at night. I too know o f the abject loneliness that charges into me every time my cell door is slammed shut for the night, so I can sympathize with him in many ways. But what the hell, he is only serving a 18 month sentence for d rivin g on a suspended d riv e r’ s license and will soon be back outside these sinster gray walls. I d on’ t know with any certainty if I will ever walk out o f here. That in itself is a harsh punishm ent - the not knowing. I try not to dwell on the thought. I have accomplished much for I now wake up every morning with a smile upon my face, m ainly because I have survived another 24 hour day. Ya! I gave the state another day and the days stretch into years and the years blend themselves in to my existence. Existence? Why at times I question my own existence and even God’ s existence, for how can a just and merciful God allow this place? At the same time 1 see the need tor prisons according to our society that now clamors for longer and longer prison sentences without thinking ot the alternatives. I am determined to benefit from this sojorn into another life and world. I have endless hours for in­ trospection and quiet thought. I have adjusted to the loud endless ringing o f bells that dictate all in­ mate movement. I have found my niche but I do not necessary like it. I am not supposed to. I am now almost com fortable living in this little cage. I am conforming, but, it is so very hard. Gne becomes even more conscious o f the little things that we lake for granted that are missing from prison life. The little things that we perhaps do not even see or hear, like the rain drop that falls upon a tree leaf and knocks it to the ground, thus, allowing it to complete nature’ s cycle. Or the laughing sound o f children at play, the sounds o f living. The barking o f a child’ s dog as they romp and play. These sights and sounds are foreign to me now and I can only relate with them in memories o f my own children at play. Now I must visit w ith them in the sterile inhospitable atmosphere o f the prison visiting room. I am so far removed from my family and loved ones that it hurts to think about it, but i t ’ s these very thoughts that provide the inner strength required to exist in here. Strength is required in coping with the daily decisions that vary from day to day from “ do I want to eat breakfast or n o t” to smiling when confronted by a fresh new prison guard wanting to exercise his new found authority. Even in prison I realize that my living conditions are not permanent and are fragile to say the least, easily upset by the adm in istra tio n or fellow convicts. We are grouped together without many individual distinctions, this bothers me because I desire to m aintain my own in ­ E c David Wright 4 39816 Assistant Editor X O D U dividuality. Living in prison with a life sen­ tence seem iike the end o f the road, the Irustration o f knowing that I have a mysterious unknown number of years before I can begin to utilize the existing programs available. Vocational training and programs that are an asset for a person getting out and the serious desire to “ make i t ” are not approved for convicts with many years left to the parole board. There are many small consequen cial frustrations that make it very hard to motivate myself in terms o! rehabilitation and avoid stagnation and the inevitable warehousing that occurs. I live with the same stress situations that are in one’ s every day lile but mine are compounded by the omnipresent prison environ­ ment. I live for the day that I walk out ot here, never to return. This is a constant thought, that is, when I allow myself to think any further than the here and now... Most skin cancers aie a result of prolonged over­ e x p o s u re to th e sun. Interested in current books about African Liberation? Visit: JOHN REED BOOKSTORE In the Dekum Building 519 S.W. 3rd Avenue Sixth Floor Or call: 227 2902 S 7 f/#