-------- Original Message --------
Subject: [prisonersolidarity] Understanding the Role of Prisoner
Intellectuals by Dennis Boatright
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2007 21:35:26 -0400
From: Angela Jancius <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Understanding the Role of Prisoner Intellectuals*
By Dennis S. Boatright, Prisonersolidarity.org
June 6, 2007
http://www.prisonersolidarity.org/DennisBoatwrightIntellectuals.htm
<http://www.prisonersolidarity.org/DennisBoatwrightIntellectuals.htm>
Lingering inside a mismanaged, overcrowded prison system, and
quietly floating atop a raging sea of unharnessed violence and
wholesale despair, lives a shining group of inmates who manage to
keep the fire of their sanity, dignity and intellectual dexterity
glowing, despite living in corrupt institutions that nourish,
glamorize and facilitate dark tendencies.
The existence of these unique individuals is largely unknown by
society. Their voices are muted and maliciously misrepresented by
lawmakers and status quo media outlets, whose political survival and
television ratings significantly depend upon making dreadful
perceptions of inmates seem like reality. Tough-on-crime rhetoric is
amplified to rescue endangered re-election bids. The resulting pattern
reveals itself as an endless passing of redundant crime bills and a
surge in television crime shows, such as Prison Break and Juvies.
U.S. politicians portray sympathy. This is a winning strategy: As
long as the crime rate is above zero, theoretically, tougher
legislation is warranted.
Forgotten in this hype are the scores of reformed and self-taught
inmates. These brilliant prisoners possess extraordinary intellectual
capabilities that are beneficial to society. Many demonstrate that
they are willing and capable of participating in scholarly discourses.
The fact that they exist should not surprise those familiar with the
history of resistance.
The social environment of prisons produces one of the world's most
perplexing paradoxes: They house dangerous and chronic lawbreakers,
yet they also produce great thinkers who are models of strength and
integrity. Throughout history, prisoners have played an important role
in advancing the parameters in the social sciences. Important papers
and political treatises were written by authors held in dungeons or
solitary confinement. Some of their work continues to inspire millions
and influence the direction of academic discussion today. One
of these convicts is Antonio Gramsci.
Antonio Gramsci) is regarded by many as the most influential
Marxist thinker of the twentieth century. He was jailed in 1926 for
his political activities in Italy, during the authoritarian rule of
Mussolini. While in prison he wrote Prison Notebooks, a collection of
notes and essays. Gramsci's work has become very influential in the
study of international political economy, and he is credited with
originating the concept of the "organic intellectual." According to
Gramsci, only by achieving cultural hegemony could progressives move
into the stage of socio-economic revolution. Gramsci believed that
dominant ideologies become embedded in society, to the extent that
they begin to be considered unquestioned common sense. What's more
remarkable about Gramsci is that he wrote without access to books, and
also in code, in order to circumvent the prison censor. Gramsci
remained in prison for 11 years, until his untimely death.
Great thinkers and leaders often tower higher in death, than in life.
Sayyid Qutb may be counted among them. Sayyid Qutb is considered the
ideological grandfather of modern Islamic militancy. Throughout his
life, he delivered fiery speeches and wrote scathing articles and
essays condemning the oppression of Muslims in general, and the
atrocities and human rights abuses perpetuated by the Egyptian
government in particular. Accused of trying to assassinate Egyptian
President Gemal Abdel Nasser, in October 1954, Qutb was thrown into
prison and tortured. While in prison he continued his political
activities, effectively converting Egyptian jails into universities of
radical Islamic thought. Before his execution in 1966, Qutb managed
to smuggle out the manuscript of his monumental book, Milestones,
chapter by chapter. Senior intelligence officials begrudgingly
confide that Quth's life and works continue to rally today's
resistance activities in Iraq, and the broader Middle East.
Most educated African-American prisoners boast that George Jackson had
a profound impact on their decision to take corrective steps towards
rehabilitation. Jackson was sent to prison for a petty robbery that
netted less than $100. During his incarceration he spent most of his
time reading and "chopping it up" (raising the socio-political
awareness) of his fellow convicts, which earned him the ire of prison
authorities. In his own words:
"For the first four years I studied nothing but economics and military
ideas. I met Black guerrillas, George "Big Jake" Lewis and James
Carr, W.L. Nolen, Bill Christmas, Terry Gibson and many, many others.
We attempted to transform the Black criminal mentality into a Black
revolutionary mentality. As a result, each of us has been subjected to
years of the most vicious violence by the state."
Jackson and two other inmates were charged with the murder of a white
prison guard, just a few days after another white prison guard shot
and killed three Black inmates. While in solitary confinement, Jackson
authored The Soledad Brothers and Blood in My Eye. Jackson's plight
attracted international attention and his writings exposed the cruel
anatomy of the Prison Industrial Complex. Blood in My Eye is regarded
as the convict's version of Frantz Fanon's, Wretched of the Earth.
Both books have been canonized and admitted into the pantheon of
revolutionary literature. Jackson is still esteemed as the premier
penitentiary revolutionary. He was assassinated by gun tower guards
on August 9, 1971. Space constraints prevent enumeration of the
scores of other prisoners who are worthy of mention, such as Rosa
Luxemburg (The Mass Strike, The Political Party and the Trade Union),
Eldridge Cleaver (Soul on Ice), Leon Trotsky, and numerous others.
Prisons are insulated from society's distractions, which enables time
for introspection and contemplation. This is one explanation as to
why prisons have a transformative power for certain inmates. During
isolation, some prisoners discover unusual abilities and untapped
potentials, which lay dormant inside of them. Oppressive prison
conditions account for the signature militant disposition of some
learned prisoners. In prison, some inmates also sharpen their skills
of observing variations of human behavior, including that of prison
guards. They see the best of human behavior, as well as the worst
expressions of racism being exhibited by the staff. The torture and
sadism photo-documented at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison is not uncommon in
U.S. prisons.
Future leaders and thinkers are projected to emerge from prisons.
Consequently, counter-intelligence measures are used to forestall this
possibility. In 1994, college grants were taken away from all U.S.
prisons. This measure was intended to stunt the academic growth of
prisoners and inhibit the development of critical thinking. Acquiring
knowledge is an expensive endeavor. Intellectually inclined prisoners
need the support of society. They need funds to procure educational
material such as news magazines, scholarly journals and college
textbooks. Prisoners do not have access to the internet. This
restriction severely hampers their ability to do research and stay
abreast of new findings and developments.
In this tumultuous post-9-11 world -- a world with a shortage of
capacity-backed solutions to our problems -- we need input from every
segment of society, including prisoners. If we overlook the insights
of knowledgeable prisoners, we may in fact be ignoring the next Malcom
X.
Dennis Boatwright, #206715
Alger Maximum Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 600
Munising, Michigan 49862
*This article contains excerpts from a forthcoming essay, "What about
the Brothas?: Re-examining the Role of Prison Intellectuals," which
will be published in the Summer 2007 issue of the new quarter journal,
The BottomLine.
About the author: Dennis Boatwright is a self-taught Detroit native
who has been in prison since 1989. He recently founded The Center for
Advanced Pan-African Studies, a public policy think-tank that is on
the inside, and draws contributions from the brightest and most
intellectual inmates in maximum security. The group is preparing the
first issue of its new upcoming quarterly, The BottomLine. Boatwright
is multi-lingual and is an avid learner. He is being held at a
maximum-security prison, where he is kept in his cell for 23 hours per
day. Please send Boatwright a pre-embossed, stamped, envelope if you
wish to comment on this essay or would like more information about The
BottomLine. He would also appreciate receiving copies of current
academic journals, in the areas of political economy, international
relations, history, sociology/anthropology and African-American Studies.
__._,_.___
Messages in this topic
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/message/669;_ylc=X3oDMTMzNHE1YWVzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRtc2dJZAM2NjkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTEyBHRwY0lkAzY2OQ-->
(1) Reply (via web post)
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwcm1wcmtwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRtc2dJZAM2NjkEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTEy?act=reply&messageNum=669>
| Start a new topic
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJma244YWU2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNudHBjBHN0aW1lAzExODEyMzA5MTI->
Messages
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJma2VyNGttBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNtc2dzBHN0aW1lAzExODEyMzA5MTI->
| Polls
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJnYmg4ZTZxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNwb2xscwRzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTEy>
| Members
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbGFndjIyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNtYnJzBHN0aW1lAzExODEyMzA5MTI->
Yahoo! Groups
<http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJlc3RlcXNlBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNnZnAEc3RpbWUDMTE4MTIzMDkxMg-->
Change settings via the Web
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJncG9kdDRiBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNzdG5ncwRzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTEy>
(Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:%20Digest>
| Switch format to Traditional
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]:%20Traditional>
Visit Your Group
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity;_ylc=X3oDMTJlM3RzcTBoBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNocGYEc3RpbWUDMTE4MTIzMDkxMg-->
| Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use <http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> |
Unsubscribe
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Recent Activity
*
11
New Members
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity/members;_ylc=X3oDMTJnbXJ2Yzg3BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2bWJycwRzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTEy>
Visit Your Group
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prisonersolidarity;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNWU3YjRyBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzE2ODMxMTU1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NDMwOQRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzExODEyMzA5MTI->
SPONSORED LINKS
* Culture
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJkdjEzZTNxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzEEZ3JwSWQDMTY4MzExNTUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MzA5BHNlYwNzbG1vZARzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTg3?t=ms&k=Culture&w1=Culture&w2=Youngstown&w3=Cell+culture&w4=Culture+change&w5=Culture+clash&c=5&s=86&g=2&.sig=4YVZ6WuUJ2ri06HiwWre9A>
* Youngstown
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJkZDI4OG5hBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzIEZ3JwSWQDMTY4MzExNTUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MzA5BHNlYwNzbG1vZARzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTg3?t=ms&k=Youngstown&w1=Culture&w2=Youngstown&w3=Cell+culture&w4=Culture+change&w5=Culture+clash&c=5&s=86&g=2&.sig=6s6rnEtledOqX0NzjhGNKw>
* Cell culture
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYWJjbnQ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzMEZ3JwSWQDMTY4MzExNTUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MzA5BHNlYwNzbG1vZARzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTg3?t=ms&k=Cell+culture&w1=Culture&w2=Youngstown&w3=Cell+culture&w4=Culture+change&w5=Culture+clash&c=5&s=86&g=2&.sig=fvmbmDrYAOSDi6YJKslp3g>
* Culture change
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJkaGVtazgzBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzQEZ3JwSWQDMTY4MzExNTUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MzA5BHNlYwNzbG1vZARzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTg3?t=ms&k=Culture+change&w1=Culture&w2=Youngstown&w3=Cell+culture&w4=Culture+change&w5=Culture+clash&c=5&s=86&g=2&.sig=Y427It75yjDrL0rCaHa_eQ>
* Culture clash
<http://groups.yahoo.com/gads;_ylc=X3oDMTJkaGZyM3AwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BF9wAzUEZ3JwSWQDMTY4MzExNTUEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA1MDY0MzA5BHNlYwNzbG1vZARzdGltZQMxMTgxMjMwOTg3?t=ms&k=Culture+clash&w1=Culture&w2=Youngstown&w3=Cell+culture&w4=Culture+change&w5=Culture+clash&c=5&s=86&g=2&.sig=Y26sXRuIWaaWXNBBh3ms7g>
Yahoo! Mail
Drag & drop
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12jc6ouil/M=493064.10729665.11333356.8674578/D=groups/S=1705064309:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1181238187/A=3848571/R=0/SIG=12jar7gl1/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42412/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/handraisers>
With the all-new
Yahoo! Mail Beta
Yahoo! 360°
Be a Blogger
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12j4uh014/M=493064.10729662.11333353.8674578/D=groups/S=1705064309:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1181238187/A=3848504/R=0/SIG=10mmpqqkm/*http://360.yahoo.com>
Do it now
Share with friends
Search Ads
Get new customers.
<http://us.ard.yahoo.com/SIG=12janbqc7/M=493064.10729656.11333347.8674578/D=groups/S=1705064309:NC/Y=YAHOO/EXP=1181238187/A=3848641/R=0/SIG=1312g85fq/*http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/srchv2.php?o=US2003&cmp=Yahoo&ctv=Groups2&s=Y&s2=&s3=&b=50>
List your web site
in Yahoo! Search.
.
__,_._,___
_______________________________________________
Mellon Myers Undegraduate Fellowship Program at Macalester (http://macmmuf.org)
[email protected]
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html
http://macmmuf.org/mailman/listinfo/list_macmmuf.org
