Walk In Those Shoes grew from seeds of empathy. Those seeds came full circle when two men with over forty-five combined years living on Death Row had a conversation about relations with correctional staff. These are a few of their thoughts.
A clip of Chanton & Mumin from S1, Episode 7 of In The Cellar, regarding Staff Relations.
Who are we to ask or expect better from them, when we’re willing to put our own humanity aside?
I think that if we see an officer in need, if we really believe that we’re all people, and we’re deserving of kind treatment, then at some point we have to take a stand and just buck the notion that we ain’t supposed to deal with them, we ain’t supposed to help them, they’re the po-leece. I think we’re s’posed to.
One of the ways to first break that division, it gotta start from us. We have to take ownership of our part, to our role in this equation.
Episode 4 was released today! Mumin and Chanton share their thoughts and experiences with visitation, discussing it’s value and impact on their lives and those around them. They are also joined by a relative for this one. This project consists of 10 episodes, and I encourage anyone wanting to learn from this community, which in good part is self-governed, to go back and listen to each one.
In their first episode, Mumin and Chanton talk about the impact of first impressions, their and other’s need to convey impressions, and how that is shaped while living in prison.
In The Cellar hopes to raise awareness regarding the psychological impact of living with the looming threat of lethal injection and give policy makers and up-and-coming policy makers a more rounded perspective.
Please follow this project on Spotify, and also leave your thoughts and comments, which will be shared with Mumin and Chanton.
On July 9, 2024, WITS will be sharing the first episode of In The Cellar, a podcast created by two WITS writers. In The Cellar features weekly table talk sessions from NC Death Row. The writers aim to explore the challenges, tragedies and triumphs of living with a death sentence. In The Cellar will be hosted by Jason Mumin Hurst & Terry Chanton Robinson, two men amongst the many Death Row residents who are pursuing constructive ways to effect change. As the podcast strives to remain balanced and bring awareness to those in and outside of prisons, I will occasionally join the two men, aiming to provide insight from the civilian point of view and experience.
In The Cellar will highlight the psychological impact of living with the looming threat of lethal injection. Chanton and Mumin will explore family connections, both broken and restored, community development, spiritual growth, and friendships founded on acts of decency. They will relive the heartbreak of having lost loved ones over the years and the difficulty of finding closure, as well as recount stories of exoneration, mental illness, past trauma, accountability, healing, and of course – executions.
Join us as we crack the door and shine light into one of prison’s darkest reaches and attempt to provide valuable insight on the practice of murdering murderers in the name of justice. The hope is to substantiate the redeeming qualities of those incarcerated, knowing that while they may be awaiting execution, according to Prison Policy Initiative, 610,000 others are being released back into society each year*. Their release plays a key role in society’s restoration, restoration that also takes place right here In The Cellar on NC Death Row.
The first episode of In The Cellar will also be shared on Spotify on July 9, 2024.
*Initiative, P. P. (2022, August 25). Since you asked: How many people are released from each state’s prisons and jails every year? Prison Policy Initiative. https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2022/08/25/releasesbystate/
As shared in the March Newsletter, it is time for the Spring Writing Contest.
There is a depth of resilience and strength that exists within the incarcerated community. Ingenuity; creativity; insight; individuals adapting and even supporting one another to adjust to incarceration and everything that means.
PROMPT: Describe an act you have witnessed that reflected inner strength. That might be in the form of self-control, forgiveness, or community building. It could look like someone spending decades pursuing education and becoming a PhD student and professor while living in prison, like Leo Hylton who was also featured in the newsletter. Or it could look like Benito Rios who is now a Companion Sitter in Texas, supporting those who are in crisis, also in the newsletter. Or it could be someone who shared their extra commissary with his or her neighbor.
ENTRY DETAILS: Only those who live in prison are eligible to participate, & we don’t accept anything that has been previously published. Submission is also permission to edit & post in future WITS projects. Submission is free. Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered if it is inspired by the prompt. Submissions can be handwritten. PRIZES: First Place: $75 | Second Place: $50 | Third Place: $25 DEADLINE: June 30, 2024. Decisions will be posted by approximately July 31, 2024. MAILING ADDRESS: Walk In Those Shoes, Writing Contest Entry, P.O. Box 70092, Henrico, Virginia 23255
PROMPT HINTS: There is strength throughout this community. Benito Rios, featured in the March Newsletter, is an example of someone displaying strength through compassion and empathy for others in crisis as he acts as a Companion Sitter in TX prisons. Benito, who received $25 for being featured in the WITS newsletter, instructed WITS to send the funds to someone he felt needed it more, again displaying strength through empathy and generosity. Today, Benito Rios spent his morning helping others in his unit, older residents with disabilities. He will be participating in facilitating a Wheelchair Olympics Relay that will include racing, basketball shotput, basketball free throw, weight lifting and a pull-up competition. Writing about someone like Benito Rios or Leo Hylton, also featured in the March Newsletter, would be fulfilling the prompt. While Benito did not want to receive funds, he did make the following request:
“I won’t sugar coat anything. I myself am without financially, but I find it fulfilling to help others. But if you know anybody who can stand in the gap with me in prayer, please pass along my info. Keep us in prayer.” – Benito Rios, Jester III Unit, Texas
This is the club’s first non-fiction selection, and if you would like to join, we will be starting Killing The Mob: The Fight Against Organized Crime In Americaby Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard in January. This is a definite change in direction by the club, and I am curious to hear the reviews when they are done.
Arizona’s most recent read, The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey, was listed on the Amazon Editor’s Pick list for Best Science Fiction & Fantasy for December, with a 4.3 rating, but the book itself had mixed reviews from our club, with an average of 3.4 stars.
The ending seems to have caught all the readers off guard, with Carlos Sigala calling it “unpredictable” and Victor McKaney saying he “didn’t fathom it at all”. Only one reader indicated that they would not read any more work by this author, but the others felt differently, each saying they would read works by M.R. Carey again.
“I enjoyed the writing and the book as a whole. I would read more books by this author because I like her story telling.” – Isaac Molina “I enjoyed the style, I couldn’t put the book down.” – Carlos Sigala “I won’t read any of this author’s future books.” – Victor McKaney
There are times we can’t change our location, our possessions, our circumstances. Yet there is always an opportunity to ‘Be Change’. What does ‘being change’ mean to you, whether taking personalresponsibility or helping others; have you seen someone doing that – being change? Describe how that looked, and how it impacted you. There is a school of thought that if we each choose to ‘be change’, collectively we can change systems. This prompt intends to inspire each of us to ‘Be Change’ and inspire hope for a better tomorrow.
Entry Details: Only those who live in prison are eligible to participate, and we don’t accept anything that has been previously published.
Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit. Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.
Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
Submissions can be handwritten.
PRIZES: First Place: Blackstone Paralegal Program Sponsorship Second Place: $50 Third Place: $25
DEADLINE: November 30, 2023. Decisions will be posted by approximately December 31, 2023.
MAILING ADDRESS: Walk In Those Shoes Writing Contest Entry P.O. Box 70092 Henrico, Virginia 23255
Footnote: Entries that do not follow the prompt are not passed on to the judges.
For all posts from this site as well as current criminal justice issues, you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
I’m only on page 28, but already hooked on Arizona’s latest selection – Girl, Forgotten, by Karin Slaughter. I think it is going to be a winner. This is the first book by this author I’ve read, and the group should get their copies this week. As always – feel free to join us, we would be happy to share your thoughts here! All the books in the Arizona Club get donated to the facility library when the book club is done with them.
Now for the most recent read – The Maidens, by Alex Michaelides. This book was specifically chosen because Arizona had read The Silent Patient by the same author. The Maidens got five stars across the board! Below are their and my thoughts:
“The ending was soft, I would have added more to the cult-like group leader’s mystery.” Even so, Carlos Sigala felt it was a page turner, saying he would most likely be friends with the ‘sneaky and sinister’ Zoe. ‘Amusing read’ that touched on some situations that aren’t in other books. – Carlos Sigala Zoe is definitely an interesting choice, Carlos! Just make sure you don’t close your eyes:)
“I think it was well written. It’s not my usual genre. After reading this one and The Silent Patient, I will definitely read another one of Alex’s books.” Who did Ralph think he would most likely be friends with? “Probably Mariana, would really like to get to know someone like her.” He points out, “even though we come from way different lifestyles.” “Silent Patient was my first read. This book blew my mind almost as much. Looking forward to more from Alex Michaelides.” – Ralph Dyer What I love about these reading groups is just that – we are all reading different genres, learning about different ways of life, other than our own. And I’m with Ralph gravitating towards Mariana, my reasons being that I would love to know more about the dynamics of group therapy. I think it is really fascinating how group leaders are really facilitators of the magic that comes naturally from a group – but that’s an entirely different topic!
“I was looking for the twist, but had the wrong person. It was a great twist. I liked it (the book) because it sounded almost like the author wanted to intertwine his first book along with his second book. I am a fan of Alex Michaelides. I’d probably be friends with Ruth the therapist and Clarissa the professor because they both know how to listen and analyze people. Henry and Fred reminded me of Theo Faber from The Silent Patient. They’re all needy controlling individuals. I’d like to see this author’s books made into movies, they would be some great thrillers.” – Victor McKaney I totally agree with you, Victor. And I think the tie ins to previous books would make the movie versions even more captivating. For some reason, I like hearing about characters from previous books, it’s as if you are creating an imaginary neighborhood of characters, and it’s like passing an old friend on the street when you hear one mentioned in a following book. I loved that aspect of these books.
And, there was one more review for a previous book club read – The Family Upstairs.
Carlos Sigala did not find The Family Upstairs predictable, “At no point did I find the ending predictable. I knew they would reunite, but not in that fashion.” Carlos felt it was well written and felt Libby, the main character, was the most likeable because she wasn’t greedy. This one came away with a 4.5 stars for Carlos. – Carlos Sigala It’s been a while since this read, but I think I agree with you on all points. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming exactly the way it did, and I can remember being disappointed in ‘the character’ of some characters. Not the book – but some people in the book let me down! Libby was solid though. And the writing was solid, that’s for sure. So far, all of the books we’ve read in this group have had solid writing, I think.
Onward – I’m really loving Girl, Forgotten. Hope it ends as good as it has started. We’ll let you know!
Reflect on a time while you have been living in prison where you have either participated in or witnessed someone else being a part of making a positive difference in someone’s life. Describe the circumstances, as well as what this experience taught you about loving others?
We are all ‘human’ and we all share human qualities, good and bad. Labels like ‘inmate’ or ‘prisoner’ are often associated with dehumanizing thoughts which assist in maintaining mass incarceration. These words and the sense they give that mass incarceration is not a humanitarian issue give fuel to punishment as a political argument rather than an issue that needs cognitive, emotional and spiritual solutions not just physical containment. That is why this prompt aims to capture the existence of one of the most fundamental human qualities and emotions – love.
This experience could be something that took place in a place of worship, the Yard, a common area, visitation or your cell. It could be anywhere, and it could involve anyone, either a staff member or someone who lives alongside you.
Entry Details:
Only those who are incarcerated are eligible to participate.
We can’t accept anything that has been previously published.
Submission is free – BUT, even if an entry doesn’t win, we consider entry permission to publish and edit. Sometimes we get so many excellent entries, they can’t all win, but they need to be shared.
Entries should be 1,000 words or less. Poetry is considered, as long as it is inspired by the prompt.
Submissions can be handwritten.
As done in our previous contests, I will narrow down the entries to the top ten, and then hand them off to individuals to rate the writing with a point system to determine winners.
PRIZES:
First Place: $75 Second Place: $50 Third Place: $25
DEADLINE: August 31, 2023. Decisions will be posted by approximately September 30, 2023.
MAILING ADDRESS:
Walk In Those Shoes Writing Contest Entry P.O. Box 70092 Henrico, Virginia 23255
Footnote: Entries that do not follow the prompt are not passed on to the judges.
For all posts from this site as well as current criminal justice issues, you can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
