Mr. President

Mr. President, in the United States Constitution, it begins with a line that says, “We The People”. In the Declaration of Independence, there is also a line which says, “We hold these truths to be self evident that ‘all men’ are created equal.” Yet, the reality of both of the above is that at the time this was being said, they (the drafters), didn’t mean my grandmother, grandfather, mother, nor me. At the time the word “we” was being used, the country was divided into two groups of people. One group who were still, in fact, considered slaves and three fifths of a human being. I reflect back and re-read your inaugural address speech and came upon the line which says, “what is required of Us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition on the part of Every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world”. This has left me with two important questions: does that required “Us” mean me? Does that duty of “we” mean those who have been incarcerated, whether innocently or accordingly convicted?

Mr. President, it is my belief that you have created a “culture of obligation.” But, at this level of government (to me) the problem may the issue of our “cultural gate keepers.” Those who are now responsible for the lives of over a million and a half young Black, Latino and poor white lives behind bars, of whom you did not mention in your inaugural address.

Many of these kids who have never seen their families together during a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner meet them for the first time in a casket with their eyes closed at a funeral. So, what troubles me is not so much that they’re willing to die, but that they don’t even want to leave here (prison) and get back to living.

So, I ask you—who is responsible for providing these “tools of responsibility” we need to change the Spirit of death growing behind these walls. I’m only asking that you also take “Presidency” over this often times hidden society, and require its leadership (with authority), that if they can’t get us fully prepared for a free society, that they at least be required to give us, in the words of Stevie Wonder, just enough—just enough—for the city. (Because the spirit of death is behind these walls, and on our inner city streets.)

Mr. President, when you say—“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility—a recognition, on the part of every American that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world.” Does that mean me? Those around me? And the Superintendent of my prison? And, if it does—when will you make that clear to those being held in distant woods all over the country, who may not know, you know, we even exist or feel they lack the proof that finally this “Us & We” actually means “Us”!