Incarcerated audience was invited to engage in Q&A dialogue with film’s director Madeleine Sackler The groundbreaking film O.G. was shown to a packed house of prisoners at the notorious Sing Sing prison in New York. The fictional film features an incarcerated man facing release after more than two decades in prison. Sing Sing prisoners, Hudson Link volunteers and O.G. director Madeleine Sackler pose for a photo after the screening The incarcerated men were given a chance to critique the film and have a Q&A with the film’s … [Read more...] about HBO film O.G. reviewed at Sing Sing prison
Book/Movie Reviews
Power Source group commemorates first-ever YOP graduation
San Quentin youth offenders came together on their own—in a grassroots ceremony on June 23, to commemorate the first-ever graduating cycle of the Power Source curriculum. Institutional glitches delayed the officially scheduled graduation in May. But, the incarcerated members of BE-IT (Benefitting Each Individual Together) wanted to make sure this group of dedicated young men got the chance to fully celebrate their accomplishments. San Quentin’s first-ever YOP graduate class of Power Source “Here’s to rehabilitation!” Brian Holliday … [Read more...] about Power Source group commemorates first-ever YOP graduation
Removal of books from prison library seen as attempt to censor black history
The Danville Correctional Center in Illinois has removed more than 200 books from its library, volunteers from the Education Justice Project and Illinois Public Media confirmed. The books were removed from a library in the facility’s education wing. Rebecca Ginsburg, director of the Education Justice Project at the prison, said she felt a pit in her stomach when she realized the books had been removed. “I felt sick,” she said. The Education Justice Project offers University of Illinois classes to inmates housed at DCC. Illinois … [Read more...] about Removal of books from prison library seen as attempt to censor black history
Ken Burns brings Country Music to SQ
Ken Burns, Julie Dunfey and Dayton Duncan hosting a Q&A for their PBS documentary Country Music Ken Burns came to the San Quentin chapel and delivered an exclusive prison screening of his latest American gospel, Country Music. The July 24 visit brought prisoners up close and personal with the legendary filmmaker and two of his Florentine Films teammates, writer and co-producers Julie Dunfey and Dayton Duncan. “I feel like I’ve met almost everyone here in this room,” said Burns to the roughly 150 inmates and staff. “This has been … [Read more...] about Ken Burns brings Country Music to SQ
East Oakland Times publisher Tio MacDonald
Duane Miles & Tio MacDonald Many people in the San Quentin writing community are familiar with East Oakland Times and its publisher, Tio MacDonald. Dime after dime goes to his Global Tel Link account to keep in tele-phone contact with the more than 120 people in his literary group of incarcerated people all over the state. A few months ago, I got my hands on one of his publications, Learning Curve, by Death Row inmate Johnny Duane Miles. The story was powerful, but it was the pref- ace really caught my attention. JH: In the … [Read more...] about East Oakland Times publisher Tio MacDonald
The documentary Q Ball premieres at San Quentin
Members of the San Quentin general population, Heist Projects and CNN watching Q Ball. “My first visit to The Q with the Warriors was an experience I will never forget” On a rainy Wednesday evening in the middle of May, Q Ball premiered in the Protestant chapel. The documentary chronicles the lives of some members of the San Quentin Warriors. Two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant is its executive producer through his company, Thirty Five Ventures. “My first visit to The Q with the Warriors was an experience I will never forget,” … [Read more...] about The documentary Q Ball premieres at San Quentin
PEN America releases Issue: 21 Mythologies
No matter the restriction, the control mechanism or oppression, PEN America is a platform for authentic stories—voices that ring loud and free on the page. Jennifer Finney Boylan contributed to PEN’s latest publication Issue: 21 Mythologies, with Transfigured. It connects with incarcerated readers as she writes, “For a long time, I thought I didn’t exist...It was like walking on a long-deserted beach without any footprints.” Searching for identity is not limited to incarcerated people — agency is a normal, human want and need — it’s the … [Read more...] about PEN America releases Issue: 21 Mythologies
Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
Donna Hylton, who was abused as a child, spent 27 years in prison and wrote a book about how she turned her life around. She said her mission today is to be “a voice for the silenced” women still in prison. At age 20, Hylton was sentenced to 25 years to life for her role as a nonviolent accessory to kidnapping and second-degree murder. She is finally freed. Hylton’s childhood was a living hell. She was abandoned by her mother in Jamaica, N.Y., at age 8, according to the article by The Glow Up. At that time, she was subjected to … [Read more...] about Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
“The Force” by Don Winslow
In the wake of the public demanding more transparency in police departments, The Force is a novel with characters led by police officer Denny Malone, who easily relates to people who’ve had questionable encounters with the criminal justice system. For many behind bars, the concept of justice and fairness is jaded by life experiences: evidence-planting cops, greedy con artists posing as legitimate businessmen, unscrupulous lawyers, and corrupt judges. All of these are elements of this fast-paced story. Author Don Winslow’s ability to … [Read more...] about “The Force” by Don Winslow
“Just Sit” by Sukeu and Elizabeth Novogratz
Authors Sukey and Elizabeth (Beth) Novogratz didn’t write their book on meditation exclusively for prisoners, but much of their approach seems tailor-made to deal with the issues we at San Quentin confront in our everyday lives. On August 1, they traveled from New York to the Q on a quest to discover how their approach to meditation could intersect with our programs. Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People who Know They Should But Don’t emphasizes the importance of story and the writers alert readers to pay attention to the stories … [Read more...] about “Just Sit” by Sukeu and Elizabeth Novogratz