The San Quentin News editorial department in conjunction with the San Quentin Media Center filmed a town hall style meeting with responsive prisoners at the North Block barbershop area.
This town hall meeting generated constructive criticism, positive recommendations, and enlightenment regarding prison conditions and their effects on the men incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison.
Michael Harris, Editor-in-Chief of the San Quentin News, opened the discussion by asking the men, “What is your connection to the streets?”
Many attributed their positive attitude to an ability to maintain a solid and wholesome family relationship. The men told of their appreciation for the persistency, dedication, and strength of loved ones.
Several prisoners, who spent decades behind bars, spoke of the pro-social atmosphere at San Quentin and how beneficial its unique self-help programming is toward boosting healthy relationships.
There was also an understanding for “letting go” that many loved ones succumbed to having “a life to live.” The men identified with the phrase, “out of sight, out of mind” knowing it’s a reality for those who feel rejected or abandoned.
Harris’ open style of communication allowed the men to depict on film, how it feels to do time in California prisons. The men unashamedly revealed how isolation and banishment overshadows the psyche of incarcerated men, as they spoke of deflation, lost expectation, and the misconceptions they had about prison life as youngsters. These negative influences inside the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation were well documented, Kevin Tindall said, “There’s all kinds of thoughts in this prison system. There’s a whole other dirty perspective about life in prison.” Harris implored youngsters who may see this film, “If you got action at missing this, miss it.”
The film is expected to air on San Quentin’s CCTV, and to be available to the public on the newspaper’s web site, at sanquentinnews.com
