SQNEWS INSPIRES PRISONER PUBLICATION IN VIRGINIA
Dear San Quentin News:
Your paper inspires us at Green Rock Correctional Center. It is awesome! I am enclosing our monthly newsletter to show what you inspired.
Thank you and God bless!
(Submitted by Charles Massey.)
—Charles Massey, Green Rock Correct’l Ctr. Chatham, Virginia
Hey, Charles!
Thanks for the newsletter (shown at right). Nice work!
—Ed.
NEWSPAPER REQUEST FROM TEXAS
Dear San Quentin News:
Here are three stamps for the latest edition of the San Quentin News.
Your paper has a lot of down-to-earth topics and news, not only for those of us inside, but outside of these prison walls as well. I am thanking you in advance for your time in this matter.
—Timothy Poole-Bey, Gatesville, Texas
THE FREEDOM OF THE WRITTEN WORD
Dear San Quentin News:
I’d like to thank the San Quentin News for giving the incarcerated the opportunity and means to utilize our freedom of speech. It feels good to be heard, and to voice one’s opinion about different topics, like what it means when incarcerated thoughts are in a spoken-word piece.
Many moons, past tense when incarcerated, what does freedom mean but anticipated dreams hoping to be manifested, yet marinating in regrets.
Sewn seeds one reaps within the core of the abyss unseen, stripped of ones dignity, reluctantly nude, I was given penitentiary blues.
State of mind freedom is— says who? How can one truly live boxed in, five by ten. Only if I had a brain forgotten past tense. Oh, I wish it wouldn’t rain, leave me in the matrix. What does freedom mean when incarcerated, whimsical justice a blind eye to peace, presumptuous authority. Emancipation reconstructed, a five-gallon bucket, no water, many crabs – blood clots in an hourglass. Truly what does freedom mean when given twenty-three to life?
—Ralph Amin Brown, San Quentin State Prison San Quentin, California
READER NEEDS MORE INFO ON REENTRY RESOURCE
Dear San Quentin News:
Hi, my name is Katherine Martin, and I am currently serving time here at the California Institute for Women (CIW).
I enjoyed reading your April 2022 publication. There was a lot of information on our rights as prisoners, as well as current news about legislative actions and stories about my brothers and sisters who are currently in prison.
I am writing because in the April edition, there was an article called “California Senator Pushes for $2,600 Gate Money.” That would be a very nice contribution to us who are getting out and back into society.
With the ever-increasing costs of living, the current $200 gate money just isn’t sufficient for us to get back on our feet.
According to the article, the non-profit organization Center for Employment Opportunities, has been giving $2,750 in cash assistance to those released from prison.
My question: where and whom do I contact regarding this matter? I could surely use that money to secure a place to live. Please let me know if this is actually occurring out there.
Thank you for all the wonderful things that you guys there at San Quentin News have been doing for us. I look forward to hearing from you.
May God continue to bless those inmates that put their time, effort and knowledge, to put a voice out there for those of us who cannot voice our opinions and/or concerns.
—Katherine Martin, California Institute for Women, Corona, California
Hi, Katherine!
Thanks for your letter.
You’re not the only one who wrote to us seeking more information about the Center for Employment Opportunities. We are working on an in-depth article to cover CEO’s many reentry tools and resources for a future edition.
So far, it looks like the best way to get in touch with CEO is to apply online after you’re released. Good luck!
—Ed.
WISHING FOR JOURNALISM PROGRAMS AT CHINO
Dear San Quentin News:
I am including this short letter to say thank you, and to comment on just how fortunate you guys are.
I would love to be in the position to pursue journalism and get exposure to how the news is produced by such an exceptional paper as the San Quentin News. I went through SQ’s Reception Center. I was housed in Badger section.
I did all but beg and plead to be endorsed to San Quentin, where I feel I would have blown through the terrific programs SQ has to offer.
I am sure you know that other California prisons do not have what y’all do at SQ.
Thank you for utilizing the opportunity to produce such a great paper. In addition, the law library there is out of this world.
—Aaron Buchanan, California Institute for Men, Chino, California
POETRY CORNER?
Dear San Quentin News:
Kudos to you and your predecessors for producing a professional, honest, well-written and truly informative piece of real journalism every month.
You are an inspirational beacon of truth shining out from the 33 prisons within the CDCR Empire.
Much respect and appreciation to the CDCR staff and U.C. Berkeley Journalism students for supporting freedom of thought.
Your May 2022 issue was Top-of-the-Line in all respects.
In my view, as a former mainstream journalist, your work is comparable to award-winning newspapers like the Boston Globe and Washington Post. You should be nominated as pioneering and exemplary journalism for the Pulitzer Prize!
May I make a suggestion? Consider including a monthly convict-composed poem section and perhaps calling it “The Convict Poetry Corner” (an open call to incarcerated poets within the 33 prisons) to submit a work. Limit it to 25 stanzas. Annually, offer an award, the “San Quentin Annual Outstanding Poetry Award.”
In addition, give a plaque and a one-year subscription to the winner.
It is widely-held that poetry elevates beauty and truth and contributes to evolving consciousness amongst the rising world of literacy.
Whatever you decide, you are the best! Keep on keeping on. Godspeed my brothers!
—J. Douglas Halford, California Medical Facility, Vacaville, California
