San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

In-Depth: Warriors’ Emerald “The Ghost” Kemp-Aikens

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By Malik Ali Journalism Guild Writer

Emerald “The Ghost” Kemp-AIkens on the court

Emerald Kemp-Aikens is a 25-year-old man from Berkeley, Calif. He was on the San Quentin Warriors basketball team and enrolled in the education department in pursuit of his GED when he received some very heartbreaking news.

In May 2019, staff informed him of the passing of his mother, Shirl Kemp. He found out she was brain dead at Summit Health in West Oakland.

Dealing with the passing of a relative is difficult for everyone, yet there is a dynamic when this happens while one is incarcerated. Unless you or your family can afford to pay for the transportation and for an officer escort, you can’t go to the funeral to grieve with other family members or be consoled by those family members.

I caught up to Emerald as he was heading to class and we sat down in an area of the yard in front of the edu- cation building on the lower yard.

MA: How are you doing? Peace and condolences on the passing of your mom. Tell me about her.

KA: I’m still dealing with it, but I had to quickly move on. I just found out that her sister—my aunt— just died as well, so now I’m dealing with that. My mom (he shakes his head for a moment, gathering his thoughts) she was the best person I know. She was too generous, you know? She would give her last to her friends if she loved you, and forgave those who wronged her.

MA: Did the prison offer you any counseling or anything like that?

KA: They offered to get me some mental health. They kind of forced me to talk to a clinician, so I spent an hour talking to that person. It didn’t help. That person didn’t ask me anything relative to what I was going through—but it’s prison, you know?

MA: Yeah, these institutions need to evolve some when dealing with people who suffer a family loss while in here. Is that why you backed away from the SQ Warriors for a while?

KA: Yeah. I had to back away because the team was dysfunctional in my opinion, and I couldn’t deal with both situations at the same time, so I stepped back so I could heal. It still hurts, but I’m dealing with it.

MA: Man, again, my condolences. Let’s get into a little basketball, I know the first few questions were heavy.

KA: Yeah, okay, that’s cool. I appreciate the con- cern though from you and the sports section of the pa- per.

MA: Word on the yard is that Aaron “Showtime” Taylor has nicknamed you ‘The Ghost’ on the court; how you feel about that?

KA: (Laughing) I do pop up out of nowhere at times, so it fits.

MA: When did you first get into sports?

KA: (Thoughtfully) Six. I didn’t start playing basketball until I was 13. I played in leagues when I was young, but I didn’t get serious with basketball till I was 13.

MA: What have been the benefits and drawbacks of playing with The Warriors?

KA: I didn’t get any playing time. I was specifically not going on my visits, and I’m not getting any playing time? I could’ve dealt with everything else, but I felt like nobody on the team was better than me, and I’m only getting 45 seconds of playing time?

The positive thing was that I was able to get in good conditioning. My wind got better, my legs stayed strong, and I could think as I played. Also, the Prison Sports Min- istry aspect is cool, too. I appreciate how they come in and get involved with our lives. That type of outreach within prison? I’m not used to that, so that is something that I’ll be looking forward to next season.

MA: Thank you for taking the time to talk to our read- ers. It’s always good when they get to know the people inside the jersey.

KA: Thank you for coming to talk to me. I like the sports section, so it’s cool to be a part of something that’s reaching out to young people like me.

Imago Dei routs the Warriors … but our very own G. Derrick is the star

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George Derrick and Leonard King
George Derrick and Leonard King

From a wheelchair on the sidelines, Leonard King got to watch veteran San Quentin Warrior Allan McIntosh put up 32 points but still fall short to Imago Dei, 119-102. King got to attend the game because Inmate Disability Assistance Program worker George Derrick, who also plays for the Warriors, used part of his day off to stop by the fourth floor of the infirmary and picked him up.

“George is a good per- son; he’s made getting out here really easy,” King said. “It’s a mental struggle losing something you had for 62 years to a fungal infection (which was compounded by having diabetes) but I get encouragement from the people around me and that has made the transition easier.” King lost his leg in April. It would be another month before he could get fitted with a prosthetic. In the meantime, with the help of Derrick, he comes to yard at 8 am on Saturdays to watch the Warriors play.

“It’s good entertainment,” King said. “There’s a lot of talent out there. Makes you think what could have been.”

Imago Dei came down the hill with six players, including sixty something year old Don Smith. On the surface, it may have looked like the Warriors had the advantage, but the least athletic player in the starting five for Imago was a legend at Grinnell College for his three point shooting ability. Steve “Raise a J” Diekmann dropped 21 points, including nailing five baskets from behind the arc. But it was former St. Mary and ABA player Teohn Conners and former New Mexico State player Jon Williams who lead Imago with 38 and 30 points respectively. Conners added a whopping 25 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists, and 2 blocks.

“They put up a fight,” Williams said. “We were limited but we made shots when it counted.”

In the first quarter, the teams traded baskets with Warrior Rick ‘Rick Rebound’ Joseph, a six-foot center, snatching rebounds and adding a couple of scores.

“I worked hard and it feels good,” Joseph said. “I just want to play and do my part.”

Imago broke away with the hot shooting of Williams and finished the quarter up 31-24.

After two quarters, Imago led 65-51.

Williams had 24 points in the first half.

“I’m going for 50,” Williams, who just came back from vacationing in Cabo, Mexico, said.

At half-time, both teams circled around center-court to share.

Derrick, a 6-foot-4, 38 year old from San Francisco, said, “It’s an honor to play with great players. It brings out the best in me and teaches me to deal with not getting what I want, like not getting to play today.”

Imago Center Ervin An- derson, a former ABA player, gave a short sermon about how “God is love.”

Warriors Coach Tony “Barefoot Tone” Evans added, “IDAP workers don’t have to bring people to the yard. George is expanding the program and that touched my heart.”

In the third quarter, Donte ‘Twin’ Harris came off the bench to run the point and hustled hard, attempting a Warriors comeback. Every time the Warriors got within four points, Imago pulled away again.

In the fourth quarter, up 104-91 with 3:55 points Imago sat power forward Brett “BC” Collins, who also played for St. Mary’s, and put the 5-6 Don “Donnie Fabulous” Smith in the game.

“Lay off him on offense and go at him on defense,” yelled SQ Warriors fan Ceasar ‘C-Money’ McDowell.

That plan didn’t work. Smith found himself open and nailed two short-range set shots.

Three Warriors, beside McIntosh, scored in double digits including Anthony Ammons with 23 and 10 boards, Walter Cook with 10 points, 5 assists and 2 steals and Harris with 10 points, 5 assists and 4 steals. Joseph had 9 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists.

For Imago, all five starters scored in the double digits. Collins added 17 points, 8 re- bounds, 4 assists and a steal. Anderson added 12 points, 13 rebounds, 4 assists and 5 blocks.

The tequila and tacos Williams enjoyed in Cabo kicked in during the second half –after starting with 24 points first-half points, he added only 6 points in the second period.

“Jon ran out of gas so I had to take a couple of shots,” Diekmann said after the win with a big smile on his face.

San Quentin Warriors take visiting Lincoln Hill in overtime

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Photo by Eddie Herena, SQN

Delvon Adams making a layup
while Montrell Vines trails


The visiting Lincoln Hill basketball team took the San Quentin Warriors into over- time but fell short, 77-66.
“Great game; one of the best games we had,” Lincoln Hill center Dominique Thompson said. “A lot of lead changes—tight until the end.”
Lincoln Hill, named after the church of pastor Miguel Rodriquez, visits the court on the prison yard more to win over souls than to win the game. In fact, Rodriquez had just returned from a trip to Japan, a country he says is less than 1 percent Christian, to spread the gospel. Still, Lincoln Hill goes hard every game and this time they almost won against a team that had just defeated Golden State Warriors staffers a few days prior.
The Warriors jumped out to an 18-5 lead after the first quarter, but Lincoln Hill climbed back after they heated up in the second half. With five seconds left on the clock, Lincoln Hill guard Ramon Ronquillo made an inside pass to Thompson, who made the basket to take a 25-24 lead into the break.
Thompson led all scorers with 31 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, four steals and an assist.
Both teams gathered at center court for a message about seeking help to change from Lincoln Hill coach Cornell Swain.
“We can’t grow in isolation or on our own,” Cornell said. “We need a connection. Grow within the fellowship of brotherhood. Don’t be a weed, be a rose.”
First year Warriors guard Emerald Kemp-Aikens, who played for McClemmonds High School, addressed the guests about what the basketball program means to him. “I don’t get visits and I don’t go to church, so this is my church,” he said. “I got caught up in the streets and now I’m trying to make the best of it.”
Just before the third quarter started, Warriors Coach Rafael Cuevas expressed his concern about the score.
“You guys have us worried right now,” Cuevas said. “Nobody plays harder, and nobody prays harder than you.”
In the second half, the lead went back and forth as Warriors veteran Allan McIntosh turned his jumper up. He ended up leading the Warriors with 24 points.
With eight minutes left in the game, the Warriors were down 52-46.
“We have to hold this lead; you know how that third quarter is,” Thompson said.
McIntosh hit a jumper and followed with a three
pointer. By the five-minute mark, both teams were tied at 54-54.
With 2:30 on the clock Ronquillo put Lincoln back on top with a spin move past two Warriors for a layup that made the score 59-57.
With 47 seconds left of regulation, Lincoln led 65- 63. The Warriors trapped and caused a turnover.
The ball went to McIntosh inside and the smaller Cornell fouled to stop the easy basket. McIntosh nailed both free throws for the tie at 65- 65 with 18 seconds.
The Warriors defended the paint hard as Ronquillo tried to get to the rack. He dished the ball to teammate Chaze Russell, who shot a three-pointer. It clacked off the rim.
“We were stomping on y’alls neck but y’all came back,” Cornell said. “This is the best basketball that we play because we know it’s all love. We all family. A mil- lion fouls and we don’t get mad.”

In overtime, the Warriors dominated.
“They came out firing in the OT, and we weren’t ready for that,” Thompson said.

“I don’t get visits and I don’t go to church so this is my church”

Warrior Montrell “Jack That Thing Up” Vines scored seven of his nine points in a row during the extra period. Warrior Delvon Adams followed with another four points as Lincoln Hill went cold.
“I love them (Lincoln Hill), man; every time they come in, they bring their energy and fellowship,” Vines said. “I think Dom is comfortable here. He plays more aggressive.”

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S.Q. Warriors take trophy back

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The San Quentin Warriors won again!
For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game.

“All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.”
The annual games between Golden State (GS) staffers and San Quentin (SQ) started in 2012.
They match up incarcerated men against management, coaches and employees of the NBA champions.
The events unite affluent NBA executives—including Warriors’ assistant general manager Kirk Lacob, son of the team’s owner Joe Lacob—with incarcerated people, through their common love of basketball.
Golden State leads the series four games to three; however, SQ has won two straight since Rafael Cuevas went from point guard to coach. His motto: character comes first, talent second.
“We’re not on this team for nothing,” SQ King Jason Robinson, who suited up with the SQ Warriors, said. “We proved we’re worthy to play with people from the outside and show what community is all about.”
For the Sept. 5 game, Lacob showed up with a team that included Nick Kerr (son of Golden State Coach Steve Kerr), Kent Lacob, Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco and others. First-round draft pick Jacob Evans, a former Cincinnati Bearcat, came for moral support, as signed players are not allowed to play.

The Golden State staffer squad was loaded, but it was missing its leading scorer and rebounder, Bob Myers, two-time NBA General Manager of the Year. Myers usually shows up and shows out but injuries caused him to miss the event.
“Bob had hip surgery,” Lacob said. “He had the operation in May and trained hard so he could rehab in time to be here, but he over-did it.”
Evans, the draftee, came along to see how good the SQ team is and to bring happiness to the incarcerated population.
“I feel like everybody deserves a second chance,” Evans said. “You never know what somebody’s situation is, so it’s important to show that you care.”
The day had a festive atmosphere, starting pregame when SQ resident Philippe Kelly rapped “The San Quentin Warriors Song.”
Then, under an overcast sky, hundreds of fans surrounded the basketball court on the yard as Aaron “Showtime” Taylor announced the starting five for GS, then for SQ.
GS scored first. Chris DeMarco received a pass inside and made a lay-up.
SQ’s Anthony “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Ammons responded with one-and-one.

First year SQ Warrior Delvon Adams, who started at point guard, followed with a lay-up inside.
A determined Lacob tried to snatch a rebound out of the hands of SQ vet Allan McIntosh. The refs called a jump ball.
Taylor, SQ’s play-by-play announcer, had some fun with Lacob’s aggressive play. “Kirk ran up on him like he wasn’t scared he’s in a prison,” Taylor said.
At the end of the first quarter, SQ’s Tyrrell “City Life” Price Sr. made a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 29-18 lead.
“We’re only down 11; we’re good,” Evans said.
In the second quarter, Kerr, who played for the University of San Diego, came off the bench and helped get GS back into the game, nailing a trey from the corner to bring GS within five at 31-26.
Prison Sports Ministry sponsor Patrick Lacey, who suited up with GS, made an and-one with three SQ players surrounding him to bring GS within two points with 1:48 left in the half.
The half ended with SQ up by a thread, 46-45.
Aaron Miles, coach of the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League team, spoke at halftime. Miles, now 35 years old, was the all-time leader in assists in the Big 12 while playing for the University of Kansas. He went on to play for Golden State in 2005, and then played professionally overseas. At the annual game, he coached GS.
“I had a brother who was locked up and I questioned what he would do when he got out,” Miles said. “Now he’s ministering, going to school and doing the right thing. There is something special meant for you when you get out.”
Harry “ATL” Smith spoke at halftime as well, saying that at college, basketball was a business that used him up. The school didn’t care about his grades, only that he could ball. At San Quentin, he found a team focused on character.
That philosophy served him well. For Smith, a tryout for the Santa Cruz Warriors awaited his release.
“ATL is strong physically,” Miles said. “More than anything, I like his character. I’m excited for him to go out there and make a life for himself, to have success at whatever he does.”
As the halftime show, SQ residents David Jassy, a Grammy nominated rapper and producer from Sweden, and Joshua Burton performed an original rap song called “I’m a Champion.”
“No matter what happens today, I’m not quitting, I’m a champion,”Jassy rapped.
The home team kept the intensity up in the third quarter, which ended with SQ up 65-58.
Antwan “Banks” Williams, the sound designer for hit podcast Ear Hustle, performed another rap song between quarters.
In the fourth, Kerr made a series of shots that brought GS to within one point at 71-70 with 7:45 left. First he got fouled from behind the arc and made two of three free throws. Then he made five more points scored.

Smith answered with a hook shot in traffic and SQ’s Dejon Joy added another basket to pull away again.
“Delvon and Dejon played big in this game,” Cuevas said. “They were great mid-season additions who came and dedicated themselves.”
GS’s David “Just Dave” Fatoki stepped up. The 25-year-old from St. Louis played for the University of Washington and pro overseas in Spain. Now he works for GS basketball operations.
With six minutes left and his team down six, Fatoki made a three that made the score 76-73.
But Ammons answered with a runner in the paint, and shortly after that, Joy made an up and under scoop shot over Fatoki.
Smith fouled out with 1:45 left in the game. The crowd applauded.
Fatoki fouled out on the next play and Lacey shortly after as SQ continued to increase its lead.
With SQ up 93-85 and timing running out, DeMarco made a three-pointer too late to count. He led GS with 33 points, 14 rebounds and five fouls. Kerr added 23 and Fatoki 13.
“They attack the basket so much,” DeMarco said.”It’s hard not to foul.” Ammons led SQ with 17 points. Smith added 16 and McIntosh 14.
For the second year in a row, the San Quentin Warriors posed with the NBA trophy in front of a banner that saluted the NBA champions, designed by SQ artist Bruce Fowler.
“It’s surreal,” SQ guard Jesse Blue said. “It’s like finally arriving to some degree. It’s like showing the world we can actually play.”
Kirk Lacob and Miles reported to center court to pay off the pushup bets they lost.
Lacob jokingly blamed the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the defeat.
“We lose every time we bring it in,” Lacob said. “Maybe we should leave it here.”

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Valley Boys teach Warriors to guide loss into power

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Valley Boy Skylar Chavez driving on Warrior Allan McIntosh

Valley Boy Skylar Chavez driving on Warrior Allan McIntosh


The Valley Boys, nine basketball players from Marin, came into San Quentin and beat the Warriors 81-75 in a thrilling game that came down to a blocked shot and last-minute turnovers.
“It was awesome, a good opportunity for everyone to have fun,” said Valley Boy Skylar Chavez, who led all scorers with 23 points, mostly off pull-up jumpers. “On top of that, we got the win.”
It was the first time the Valley Boys played basketball inside a prison. The team included three former players from the Drake High School team that went to the State finals in 2014. Jasper Verduin organized the team in response to a call-out by Warriors Coach Rafael Cuevas.
Jasper’s father, Jacques Verduin, created the Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP) program, in which Cuevas is involved. GRIP teaches inmates how to control anger.
“I’m really glad this finally got done,” Cuevas said. “They brought in a really talented group. We lost to a good team, but it’s a good day because the program grew a little today.”
Jacques said, “This game brings my professional life and personal life together in a way you couldn’t have more fun.”
Jasper, who interns for GRIP, played for Drake.He was the No. 2 scorer when Drake went 26-8 before falling to Chaminade in the Division III California Interscholastic Federation State Championship finals.
“He (Jacques) asked if we wanted to give it a go and course we said ‘yeah,’” Jasper said. “We formed a super team to come and beat the Warriors.”
Wearing black jerseys donated by an Italian restaurant called the Loft at Vinantico, the Valley Boys took the court on a clear, sunny July 21 game and took the lead.
“They came in with no fear and played their butts off,” Warrior Anthony Ammons said.
In the first quarter, Dane Wells, 6-foot-5 Drake alumni, caught a pass under the rim, went up strong and dunked on two Warriors for a 13-7 lead.
Wells finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The Warriors came back to within one point at 16-15 when the duck whistle signaled the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, Warrior Dejon “Dago State” Joy gave his team their biggest lead of the game with an up and under reverse layup to make the score 28-22.
Joy finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, 3 steals, 2 assists and a block.
The Valley Boys responded. Colin Carmody hit a baby hook that impressed Aaron “Show Time” Taylor, the play-by-play announcer. Taylor gave Carmody the nickname “Vitamin C.”
At the end of the second quarter, the Warriors were up 35-34.
Both teams circled up at half court to share a few words and pray together.
Warrior Tyrrell Price, Sr. talked about his growth over the 10 years of his incarceration.
“This journey has been a lot of ups and downs,” Price said. “I learned to be conscious because being unconscious of the consequences of our decisions and uncontrolled anger got me here. I thank God we get a chance every time we wake up to fulfill our purposes.”
While the teams warmed up for the second half, Eric “Maserati E” Abercrombie played an original song about identity.
The fourth quarter decided the game, while Taylor kept the crowd laughing with comments like, “Ooo, that was a hard foul. He’ll be getting a 115 (disciplinary infraction) for that play.”
With the Warriors down two points with 1 minute and 10 seconds left in the game, Veteran Warrior Allan McIntosh, who scored 20 points from off the bench, mostly with his jumper, went up in the face of Chavez.
Chavez blocked the shot and recovered the ball. It was his fourth block of the game to go along with 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists and 23 points.
“I knew he’s a shooter; I knew what his move is and anticipated,” Chavez said. “If he would have pump-faked, he would have had me.”
McIntosh responded, “It’s crazy I was thinking pump-fake him, but in the moment, I thought I was by him.”
Valley Boy Beau Keeve, who plays for College of Marin, increased the lead 2 more points from behind the free-throw line.
Warrior guard Delvon Adams turned the ball over twice in the last 40 seconds.
“He played well early; he had a bad two minutes,” Cuevas said.
The Warriors fouled to stop the clock.
Chavez nailed both free throws, which increased the lead to 81-75.
“Basketball is fun,” Chavez said. “If it was little bit of happiness for everyone, then that was all good.”

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‘Future of SQ Warriors’ learned to play in prison

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Montrell Vines (#7) looks as Mark Jackson cries foul in 2012

Montrell Vines (#7) looks as Mark Jackson cries foul in 2012

San Quentin Warrior Montrell Vines goes by many nicknames on the basketball court. Some people call him “Mad Defense” for his lockdown dee. Other’s call him “Jack that thing up” for his quick release three-point attempts. His coach, Rafael Cuevas, calls him the future of the team. What many people don’t know is that Vines never played basketball on the streets.

“I learned to play basketball in prison,” Vines said. “I never thought I would make the team, then I did and I got to foul Mark Jackson a few times.”

Vines’ upbringing didn’t include a path to the blacktop. He grew up without a father figure. His mother raised six kids, with Vines being the oldest, in a low-income housing project in San Francisco’s Bay View Area. He dropped out of high school in the 10th grade and sold drugs. Caught up in the fast life, he said he didn’t play games.

His lifestyle resulted in a conviction for attempted murder. Vines started playing basketball at Pelican Bay Prison, on the mainline, back in 2001.

He used basketball as a way to cope with the stress of serving a life sentence and dealing with the passing of his brother, Alvin McEldry, in 2001, and his mother, Patricia Vines, in 2008.

“Basketball is a stress reliever; when I’m on the court, nothing else exists,” Vines said. “It’s therapy. It’s crazy that I came to prison and found that out.”

He started developing his game where most people just learning how to play do—on the defensive end. He out-hustles and harasses opponents. From there, his game developed a long-range shot.

When he arrived at SQ in 2012, he wanted to play for the Warriors but almost missed out.

“Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice. NEW YORK TIMES July 27, 2018 “Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance”

“He went on a visit and missed tryouts,” said former SQ Warriors’ Coach Daniel “Bear” Wright. “I told him he could come to ‘hell week’ practice. I didn’t believe he would make the team, but he came and worked hard. I love his game and his positive attitude.”

Vines said, “It meant a lot to me. I appreciate him (Wright) for giving me a chance to be a part of this organization. Nobody has ever done that for me. It’s just amazing. I’ll never forget.”

Making the Warriors wasn’t supposed to include playing against Golden State players. G.S. General Manager Bob Myers, Assistant GM Kirk Lacob and Ben Draa came in occasionally on Saturdays to play against the SQ Kings over-40 basketball team. Originally, they scheduled NBA Hall of Famer Mark Jackson to come in with them and play against the Kings, until Wright got wind of the game.

“I convinced them that they should play the Warriors because we’re the better team,” said Wright. “When Duck (Orlando Harris, coach of the Kings) found out, he agreed with me. We added a couple of his players to make it like an all-star game.”

In 2012, the SQ Warriors became the prison team, representing San Quentin in the annual games against the Golden State Warriors coaches and front office staff.

Vines has played every year since he made the team, even when new Warriors coach Cuevas took over in 2017. Cuevas views Vines, Jessy Blue and point guard Tyrell Price Sr. as the future of the team.

“I expect him (Vines) to step into a bigger role as a leader and player this year,” Cuevas said. “He’s well on his way to doing so.”

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Living the good life after prison

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What does it take for a man coming out of prison to be successful in society?

It took moral support from community members for formerly incarcerated Nathaniel A. Johnson, support such as that from Pastor Steve “Big Red” Sanderson.

“The state typically spends $71,000 a year to house an inmate. It costs about $5,000 total to help put one [incarcerated] student through community college”, reports Fast Company.

Without this kind of encouragement, Johnson might have ended up back in prison. He is now a production associate at Tesla, making enough money to afford season tickets to the Oakland Raiders.

“The struggle for him was off and on,” Sanderson said. “The temptation was largest when he couldn’t find work or when his hours were cut. I knew his heart, his character, how hard a worker he was. [His struggle] opened my eyes to just how hard it is for former inmates to get jobs.”

While serving 26 months at San Quentin State Prison for drug trafficking, Johnson faced Sanderson, known as “Big Red,” on the basketball court through Prison Sports Ministry. San Quentin allows teams from the community to visit the prison for sports activities with incarcerated teams.

“I thought, ‘Prison ministry and also getting to play basketball?’” Sanderson said. “This is a combination of my two favorite things. I played on the team Imago Dei—‘the Image of God.’”

“According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company.

Sanderson described Johnson as the SQ Warriors’ best player back in 2011. Sanderson was pretty good too, so they matched up.

“It made my time (in prison) go by hecka fast,” Johnson said. “It was my version of the NBA.”

With them being the same age (both now 32) and having similar skill levels, they gravitated toward each other and bonded.

In between lay-ups, the Warriors shared stories about their lives, and the visitors got to know them. Johnson expressed his desire to pursue higher education.

“I told him that I worked at colleges in Oakland,” Sanderson said. “I told him he should get in touch when he got out; I would try to help him.”

Johnson described paroling on Jan. 13, 2012, into a world reluctant to employ a formerly incarcerated person. He came home to a sick grandmother, who told him he couldn’t live with her. Shortly after returning to society, he got his girlfriend, Shani, pregnant with twins. With nowhere to live, he needed a job badly and this allowed employers to take advantage of him.

“I was working doing janitorial stuff but a lot of mischievous stuff was happening,” Johnson said. “The people who do hire you, reluctantly, they’re sort of shady. I got cheated out of a lot of my money.”

Johnson used what little he made from the janitorial job to get his first apartment but had no furniture.

Johnson, remembering Sanderson’s offer, reached out to him. Sanderson helped Johnson enroll at Alameda College in August 2013. He only stayed in school for one semester.

“I was getting discouraged, walking everywhere, BART every day, my grandma was really sick, and I couldn’t get the financial aid for school so I dropped out,” Johnson said.

Then his grandmother died.

“At that time, I thought the reason my grandmama had passed away was because I didn’t help her enough,” Johnson said.

He struggled to find a career, while raising twins that were born three months premature.

“There were hecka problems with the pregnancy,” Johnson said. “My wife went to the hospital one time at like 22 weeks, end of the second trimester, stayed in there 4-5 weeks. One baby was born 1 pound 13 ounces and the other, 1 pound 6 ounces.”

Sanderson continued to meet, encourage, pray and play ball with Johnson. He would pick Johnson up on Thursdays, and they would have coffee or go to a high-school gym and play basketball with buddies.

They became buddies, too. Sanderson performed Johnson’s wedding ceremony to Shani. Johnson went to Sanderson’s wedding. Sometimes they double-dated.

“I would look at it as he was my friend; he was my brother—no helper mentality or ulterior motive for me,” Sanderson said. “I wasn’t going to let him navigate his situation alone: I was looking for job opportunities for him, too. Even though I might not always be available, I was always accessible.”

Things got so bad for Johnson, he planned on stealing. In that moment of weakness, he reached out to Sanderson.

“I called Sanderson, and he wasn’t picking up his phone,” Johnson said.

In the vacuum of a missed phone call, other community members, including a complete stranger, stepped up.

Johnson headed to a Walgreens with bad intentions. As he walked around the outside of the establishment, hesitant and looking shady, a man called out to him, “Are you here to work?”

“If it’s work, I’m always here to do it,” Johnson responded. “Are you paying?”

“Hell yeah, I’m paying; get over here and get to work!” said Gary, a New Yorker in California to do some demolition work.

Johnson and his daughters, Naomi and Sheyane, at the Monterey aquarium

Johnson and his daughters, Naomi and Sheyane, at the Monterey aquarium

Johnson said, “It was one of those God moments. Afterward, he told me, ‘I knew that you weren’t here for work, but you looked like you could use something to do.’”

As Johnson searched for a career to feed his family, a nurse bought him auto mechanics textbooks for school. He used the books to pass auto mechanics and an introduction to engines class.

In 2014, he graduated at the top of his class from Cypress Mandela, a vocation apprenticeship program that includes a life skills course.

When he was growing up, Johnson didn’t have any community support. When he was born in 1985, his mother was addicted to drugs, and his father wasn’t around.

“In the crack era, she got caught up into that party lifestyle,” Johnson said. “I had no potty training. I was 6, 7, 8…getting woken up and kicked out of the house at 1 a.m. so they could have crack parties. So I had this attitude ‘I’ma f*&# you up if you say the wrong thing.’

“When you look at the movies, you always see someone along the way who comes up and says, ‘Don’t do that.’ I was in the middle of the jungle and no one came along and said, ‘Don’t do this.’”

On parole, Sanderson became the voice of reason that kept Johnson out of trouble.

“We would talk about what ‘right decision-making’ looks like for him,” Sanderson said. “It was great to see the transformative work that Jesus was doing in his heart and mine as well—it was a really transformative experience for me.”

Johnson tried various careers, including as a laborer—ignoring his fear of heights to climb telephone poles for a wireless phone company and cleaning a bank.

Now Johnson’s twins, Naomi and Sheyane, are healthy 4-year-olds. Additionally, on March 1, Tesla hired Johnson to put together seats.

Johnson said, “I’m 10K good; I’m forward progression right now.”

One of the first people Johnson shared his success with was Sanderson.

With his brand-new Raiders season tickets, Johnson told Sanderson to pick a game to attend.

“That was a really special moment for me,” Sanderson said. “This friendship that God really gave us…It all was the product of God, but also the recreation ministry and the ability and opportunity to go into San Quentin.”

Johnson continues to play basketball when he can and Sanderson continues to play basketball at San Quentin.

“God reminds me of the fruit of this ministry. And really the story with Nathaniel reminds me that going in there regularly is important,” Sanderson said. “We met through the basketball ministry, through recreation. We get to remind them that there are guys out there that care about them. To show them healthy, fun competition as well—to bring some of that back into their lives.”

–Kate Wolffe, U.C. Berkeley student contributed to this story

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