What Up Kid? I Heard It’s Rough Doing Your Bid!
You got people in jail? I do. Ever since I can remember my friends, family and neighbors have been spending time locked up. I am not alone. Today, there are nearly 7 million Americans behind bars.
And while bad people definitely need to be in prison, the truth is that for the last 30 years young people and people of color have suffered disproportionately in the American judicial system. People don’t like to talk about it, but the War on Drugs and the over policing of inner city communities has created a generation of incarcerated scar-faces.
One of the sad realities of prison life is that you are disconnected from your people. And it doesn’t matter how many letters you write or how many times you visit, the distance is most times unbearable. That’s why AppalShop, a media justice organization in Whitesburg Ky, came up with a project called Thousand Kites. Every week this unique radio program brings the voices of prisoners’ families to the airwaves and gives them an opportunity to communicate to their loved ones via FM radio waves.
Check out today’s action video, I bet you’ll be inspired to do something for your people behind bars.
Got a story to tell? Drop it on our wall to the right, or email us at 99problems.org@gmail.com
Today’s Artist: Johnny Cash
We’re bringing ya back a few decades on this one. Johnny Cash was a revolutionary, rebellious figure who famously empathized with the imprisoned population when it was considered extremely taboo to do so. Prison destroys men and women, and in this song, San Quentin, Cash defines the disdain that men have for that famous prison.
thousand kites is a great idea! although some people would have no pity for people in jail because “they deserve to be there”, i would want them to still be somewhat connected to their family, friends, etc.
First of all its not the people its the system. The system is flawed and corrupted. We are so engineered to think negative of the police that at this date and time us reverting to the time when they were actual peace officers and interacted with the community is over. Decades of unjust imprisonment, and countless acts of brutality, will never be cleared up. But for the officers, they are doing they job, and just want to go home and see they family. It’s a streesful job and i appreciate the service. But i think police officers should be appointed from the community they reside in. The contact between the people and the system.. and a liason to assist and help people, but clean up the streets…. going to take sacrificing on both sides….. there’s 2 sides to every story… i just keep it real!
Yo thats real talk. It seems like only the minorities doing minor crimes are the ones getting locked up while the criminals on wall street get to walk scotch free with their pockets filled. lol. Its not right. Prison is a business. They gotta lock somebody up in order for them to make money
yes the system is flawed. its been flawed. you know its flawed when cops can get away with murder. aint that some ish? and what happens when a cop gets murdered. they put you in prison for life. as a matter of fact, every cop that gets murdered they find the murderer within 24 hours it seems. what happens when a rapper gets murdered? the killers still on the loose!! LOL. i don’t care what u think. that is not a coincidence
it really does seem like a great idea. this way, people in prison don’t have to feel so alone, and the people on the outside can still stay connected to the people they love. i know a lot of children who are affected by their parents going to jail and this is great way for them to maintain some sort of relationship.
My fellow on Orkut shared this link with me and I’m not dissapointed that I came to your blog.