Tag Archives: Life After Prison

Yesterday, on Thursday, July 9th at 7:00pm, I participated in a special program with a local radio and television station, WHUR, HUR-Voices, and WHUT-TV. We had a thought provoking conversation about how to combat youth violence. The panel discussion entitled, ‘Not One More’ provided me with an opportunity to share my personal experiences as a rebellious youth who committed some very serious violent crimes at the age of 19. Continue reading →

I went to Hawaii for vacation last week. That place is everything I dreamed it would be. I loved the blue water and the Aloha spirit that emanated all round me, but something upsetting happened there I wanted to share with you. I have served my time and completed my parole stipulations, yet I am still threatened by the sting of stigma, and this followed me to Hawaii. Continue reading →

Some people say that when you are incarcerated you have to learn to live inside the prison walls and leave the outside world on the outside. The funny thing is that life on the outside goes on without you and you find yourself grasping for a glimpse of it. Continue reading →

When I was preparing to be released from incarceration I decided to relocate. Rather than return to the District of Columbia where I was born and raised, I made plans to go to Richmond, Virginia to live with my daughter. There’s a saying, “If you want to get a good laugh tell God your plans.” My relocation was denied by the authorities. Continue reading →

After being away from my children for 18 years I came home anxious to rebuild my relationship with them. Over the years when I was in prison my children visited me annually. I wrote them constantly and spoke to them on the telephone infrequently. Visits and phone calls were just too costly. Continue reading →

I was speaking recently with a former inmate who expressed to me that up until recently he had trouble being around people. I had a moment of gratitude because for me being around people came easily when I was released. Maybe it’s because I have always been a people person. Continue reading →