Inmates Make New Strides to Discourage Youth from Coming to Jail

Hello,

So right before Christmas I initiated a contest here at the prison for inmates to write an essay about the snares and pitfalls in their lives that led to them coming to prison. The goal behind this effort is to continue to discourage youth from glorifying street life or prison and to keep them from going through some of the stuff that us “Old G’s” have been through. About 15 inmates participated which is a huge deal. I selected the top three essays as winners. I will be sharing each essay in an individual post over the next couple of days so stay tuned and send this link to any young person you know…..especially African-American boys in urban neighborhoods. Tomorrow I will be 30 years old. I came to prison when I was 17. That means I have spent my entire adult life behind bars. I have and am continuing to evolve as a man and I just hope that I can inspire somebody else along the way. Each one reach one!

Signing off,

Robert

Jail is the New Life Dream for Teens. Really?……….Going to Jail Ain’t Gangsta

Imagine this……It’s Monday morning. A 14-year old boy comes into his 7^th grade homeroom prepared to do his very best and being his best. Not the best student though. The best class clown, troublemaker, bully….all of that. The other kids in the class that find his daily antics amusing try to goad him into playing a trick on another student. His response is “Naw, man. I ain’t tryin’ to get in trouble today. If I get kicked out I go back to juvie and this is my third strike. Then they gon send me to jail.” After a few seconds of transparency he goes back to his normal bluster. “But I ain’t really worried about going to jail cuz I got cousins in there and if anybody try to do anything to me, I’ll just get my cousins.”

This is a true story. There are really young kids who are “wanna-be-gangsters” who think that coming to jail is one big family reunion. Well, I got news for you. You may have a brother, cousin, or homie in jail but I guarantee you that they don’t want to be here. I can also tell you that knowing somebody in jail won’t protect you from the dangers in here.

The lesson that I would like to share that is-- not seeing thing for what they are and not listening. I recall being told things by people that I really didn't view as cool-- so I honestly didn't listen. And when I thought someone was a square or soft, I really wasn't trying to hear it. Now I'm grown, and everything that I was being told has turned out to be true.

One day I was talking to a guy, I thought he was soft, but he actually was very smart. He said: "Rob your loyalty is in the wrong place, I told him that he was tripping-- because I thought he was soft. I know that I'm not a square, so I hoping this lesson that I'm about to share will not be received like I took the things that were being told to me. I lived the life. I ran the streets. I had the money, the girls, the respect, the cars. And I’m writing you from prison right now. So listen up….

I'd like to warn any youth who are running the streets and thinking that it's cool... Don't misplace your loyalty. Often times when we are young, we are fearless, but our loyalty is misplaced, and we don't have the right direction to place our fearlessness. You're not being loyal, because you'd do something for a friend-- that they may not even do for themselves. That's being stupid... There's a difference between loyalty and stupidity. It's not being loyal, when one of you friends know that you should be focusing on school, but yet they are trying to pull you into their….uh… mess. You know what I really wanted to say though...

When we are young we sometimes go out of our way to show people that we are loyal to them, and in the process of doing this we neglect those that really love and care about us. I now think back to some of the pain that I've caused my mother, grandmother, grandfather, and other people that care for me. As I think back, I was hurting my family being committed to the block or my friends... And the people that I was committed and loyal to family were happy and enjoying life, because their loved ones commitment and loyalty were not on the same level as mines.

I'd just like to touch the hearts of the youth that think they are “real”, and give them the true meaning of realness. Being real is being there for those that you care about, being real is not causing those that love you stress. And being real is having morals and respect. Some of stuff that I see and hear the youth doing today in not real coming to prison ain't cool.  You crazy if you think prison is cute...

To all ya’ll trying to get in……I’m tryin’ to get out. You wanna trade me places? Y.O.L.O.  Do the right thing.

Signing off-- Robert

Are You With the Right Man?

One of the things that I pride myself on understanding is that the woman was created by God, and God placed within the woman many things that are the power and core of the family. In the Nation it's thought that a nation can't rise on higher than its woman.... This statement implies that it's important for us to place our woman value on a high level. Ladies, you will know that you are dealing with the right man when he shows you that he is mature enough to know and acknowledge that with the right woman she can be that partner and encouragement that's needed for him to exceed anything that he ever thought possible. My question tonight is are you with the right man?

Ladies You Want to Know Why They Leave......Well Why Would He Be With You?

****Why would he be with you?***

What's Up?

I've been asked a question, so let me answer it. Why do a guy deal with a chick while he's in prison, then he don't deal with her once he gets out? Well, he may have every intention on dealing with her once he get out or maybe not. I'll get to that... First it's important for the woman to keep the relationship that she has with the dude in perspective. If they are friends, she should be that, a loyal and supportive friend. She should be mature enough to handle being just that and don't try to force nothing on a dude.

The relationship changes when a woman is claiming to be a guys woman or wife. The expectations of her are a lot more. Women should be mindful that we have a lot of time to think about everything, and we don't forget nothing, because we constantly are thinking about it. Ladies the worst thing you can do is make you man, husband, or friend feel that he's not a priority, or that he's not important. The worst thing to do is not keep your word. If you tell him that you'll be to visit-- make sure you show-up. Don't have him sitting there looking crazy. If you tell him that you took care of something-- do it. Don't tell him that you sent something knowing that you are on games. How do you think this makes him feel? This is only building a resentment within him towards you.

And ladies that are supporting your man financially, I'd like to first commend you for that. Because I see more females holding guys down. It's not too often that the dudes he was in the street with are there. Honestly, it's hurts my pride to ask anyone for something, but I'm just now getting to the point where I swallow that pride and ask for some help. It might be because I've been doing for myself for so long. Let me get back on track... If a guy is depending on you financially (you know he needs a little help), and he ask you for something and you are not in a postion to do it, just let him know. He should respect that. But, don't be blowing kush and drinking everytimg he talks to you, he's going to be feeling a way-- like damn, I thought you were doing bad. Yeah I know it's your cash. I'm just letting you know how he's thinking.

And you really can't be mad if he decides not to be with you, if you have been misrepresenting him while he's been gone. Sleeping with his friends, foes, and people that he know is not a good look. I only know a few that has the discipline to keep their legs crossed. Why would a guy want to come be with you after all this? And if your were talking to him any type of way, playing him side-ways while he is down, you can't be mad when he keeps it moving. I always tell guys don't allow anybody to play you like a dude that's locked-up, just because of your situation. You write strangers on Facebook & Twitter, so you can write him just as often through the mail, or on jpay. Time and attention is best gift that you can give a guy that's doing time.

I honestly have a few friends that treat me better, than most of these guys woman and wife treat them... I'm just the type that rewards loyalty, these women will always have a friend in me--- regardless of who I'm with... Shout out to the real ones. Ladies, say thanks to the woman that asked me this question if you don't like what I'm saying. You have to love him while he's down, not just when he's up. And if you feel that he needs to mature while he's down, maybe you can be the person that helps him mature. If he wants to argue everytime he calls and all that kind of crazy stuff... I see why you feel the way that you do-- tell I said grow up. Don't get me wrong, 'yall may have to work through a few issues, but it shouldn't be craziness. Oh yeah, if you trust him, and you're not shy- you must bless him with the panty shoots... Smile... LOL She thought she was holding him down, but everything she was doing was pushing him away.

Signing off-- Robert

Who Says a Prisoner Can't Make A Difference From Behind Bars?

Dear Readers:

Although I won't be able to share with you as often as I would like via this blog, being that I wouldn't want to overwhelm the beautiful people who are maintaining it on my behalf. Therefore I will try to make every post one with substance. Yes, I am a prisoner and I have a story, and many thoughts that I would like to share with people who are concerned in society. Even though I am in a vary dark situation, I try to make it possible for some light to shine in my mind and heart. And find way to inspire and encourage people inside these prison walls and outside of the tall fences and razor wire.

My desire is to share with soceity the good that goes on within prison. There are many guys including myself who's spirit has grown and is still growing. I have pledged to myself that I will make a differance even from within. So I would like to begin by encouraging the souls of these guys who will be returning to a community near you.

I'm presenting an essay writing contest to the prison population. The title of the essay is: HOW TO INSPIRE OUR YOUTH TO STAY OUT OF PRISON AND STAY OUT OF TROUBLE. The deadline for this essay is 12/17/13. It's my intention to share with all readers the first and second place winners essays. Due to the holidays the winners of the essay contest will not be posted until after the holidays. And I'd like for the readers to collectively come up with the topic of next months essay writing contest. Be sure that it's a topic that will help you get better understanding of us within prison that have a desire to change and have an impact on the world.

I'm blessed to have a great group of guys with me that willing to make it possible to share our insight with those who care and need it most. Many of us were juvenile offenders, who understand most of issues that youth encounters today. Stay connected, for more to come.

Sincerely, Robert

This is my story. Let me invite you into my world. My friends call me R.T. Some people might call me a dreamer. I call myself a believer. Truth always wins.  Stay tuned........to be continued.