The Humanization Blog

The Shock of My Life: The Journey Unknown & The Journey Continues ~ Jeffrey R. Chaney

*Note from Gin ~ I’ve had this one awhile and I think it is really powerful, so I am glad to finally get it up. It was sent to me handwritten, so it took me a long time to get it typed out, and I must say, part of the time was how sad it […]

Be a Navigator ~ Robert ~ Interview

~ Note from Gin ~ My apologies as I have been moving and then away and have not gotten a chance to update interviews or blog posts. So much is in the pipeline. I hope you all will stay tuned for all we have to come. This interview with Robert is a simple one. I […]

Who am I? ~ Sypder Dolan ~ Interview

~ Note from Gin ~ Spyder was instantly recommended to me for an interview by Prince before our interview day was over, and I instantly loved his writing. He has shared a lot with me that I am not including here, but he went through our questions as well. I am including the questions and […]

Accidental Beauty in an Ugly Place – A. Berryman a.k.a. Bear – Interview

Tell us a little about the most important people in your life. Our lives are so short, that who we share them with becomes of paramount importance. It’s strange to me that as time passes, it does so faster and faster the more of it we have under our skin. Moments leaving us are immortalized […]

New YouTube Channel Interviews are Up

Our YouTube Channel is now LIVE! Click here to Subscribe! We’ll be posting interviews with wonderful, beautiful human beings, mostly those who have formerly been behind bars, but also, eventually those who are allies in our mission of humanization. Our first two interviews are with two of my favorite humans who are doing some great […]

Grieving Behind Bars

*Please note, names have been changed for the protection and consideration of all involved.* Grieving Behind Bars ~ by Taj Mahon-Haft ~ I first met Roy as a recommendation of a positive leader in my new pod. I only knew a few people and it was time to recruit the best guys to help as […]

No Place to Pee

*Please note, names have been changed for the protection and consideration of all involved.* No Place to Pee ~ by Taj Mahon-Haft ~ I confess that I did not know Hooch at all before this event, and I still only know him through a few harried conversations.  Prison is funny that way. I know a […]

Guarded Dehumanization

*Please note, names have been changed for the protection and consideration of all involved.* Every day we get counted repeatedly in prison. Four of those times are officially considered “standing counts,” where the guards blow shrill whistles and bellow, “Count time! Feet on the floor! Lights On!!” The whole point of it is explicitly to […]

A Moment of Need

~ by Taj Mahon-Haft ~ *Names have been changed for privacy’s sake.* Mr. Fern is my neighbor here. He sleeps across the hall and six doors down–about forty feet away. Since I arrived here, before even living on the same floor as him, he has bent over backwards to offer me a smile and friendly […]

Love Day

~ Taj Mahon-Haft ~ Orignally appeared on www.heartolovelifemoments.com We just passed Valentine’s Day. I actually celebrated, too, and I had a genuinely terrific time. Quite the surprise for a 40-year-old behind bars. I used to shun this holiday, but I have had a complete change of heart.  Ha! See, it’s easy to be cynical today […]