From Taj Mahon-Haft: I am tearfully, ragingly disgusted by what happened recently in Texas. and again in Buffalo. And in a California church the next day. And a Michigan school a few months back. And so on and so forth literally hundreds of times each recent year. I literally live amongst those judged and labeled […]
Greetings to you all! My name is Derek Jamal Stephens. I was born and raised in a townhouse in Portsmouth, Virginia, the second oldest of five children. I come from a family led mostly by hard working women. The men in my family either worked in the shipyard or in construction, and I have an […]
Dear Reader, My name is Marlon Johnson, and I’m so much more than my conviction. I’m a father, a son, and I’m a brother. But in here, now, I’m just inmate 1066348, even as there is so much more to me than what the official court documents read. I started off my journey raised by […]
“Sticks & Stones May Break Me, But Your Labels… Can Socially Kill Me!” As you read this, I sit in prison, convicted of first degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of use of a firearm, and one count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. I know that’s a lot to […]
Mass incarceration adversely affects hundreds of thousands of families in Virginia today, interrupting many communities. Its costs are high for children, partners, communities, the economy, and especially taxpayers. Meanwhile, the scientific consensus is that long sentences or prison for minor offenses do not help public safety, often reducing it. Small steps have been made to […]
As usual, I have been behind getting writing posted up here. So much is going on with COVID-19 advocacy and other things. Jeff is on my mind right now though because he is facing the end of his prison sentence and uncertainty about what is next to come. We are featuring a series of his […]
As usual, I have been behind getting writing posted up here. So much is going on with COVID-19 advocacy and other things. Jeff is on my mind right now though because he is facing the end of his prison sentence and uncertainty about what is next to come. We are featuring a series of his […]
As usual, I have been behind getting writing posted up here. So much is going on with COVID-19 advocacy and other things. Jeff is on my mind right now though because he is facing the end of his prison sentence and uncertainty about what is next to come. We are featuring a series of his […]
Note from Gin: I know this can be a tough subject. Normally the Humanization Project makes a point not to ask about someone’s “crime.” We tell the stories of good people doing good work in the world. We don’t focus on their worst mistake on the worst day of their life. That should not define […]