Social justice? In these times it seems as if that’s a myth, urban legend, or some fictitious rumor. I say that because of the injustice we view on TV. Multiple police shootings of unarmed black men, mass incarceration of black men, mass unemployment in the black community, racial bias across america reaching anywhere from a local starbucks to of course OUR current residence and personal experiences. Yet the direction I’m going with this might not sit well with some of you but that’s OK. Its time WE take responsibility for OUR own actions. When I say we I mean US men of color, men in poverty, the head of our families and pillars in our communities. Believe it or not what we do has a substantial yet unique ripple affect throughout our environments, communities, and more importantly our families. Why do you think its so many black men are in prison? Sure its easy to blame the governemt or the man.. “the white man” that is. Me on the other hand blame myself for being in prison. No one put a gun to my head and told me to put a gun to someone else’s head and take from them. No one forced me to sell drugs and destroy lives and wait until its your turn for your life to be destroyed with prison time and a record full of felonies. We all had options before we made bad decisions. We might have not been aware of the positive choices we could have made because we wasn’t thinking positive. We only thought about a quick fix for money, drugs, sex, love or maybe whatever addiction that controlled our everyday lives. Its always easier said than done! Now that we have time to reflect on what went wrong and why we owe it to ourselves to get it right and better ourselves for our kids futures. My father and his father and my uncles and brothers and sisters and cousins and friends have been and is in prison right now along with me… my bunky is my cousin so thats tells me cells dont have names on them just like the saying “bullets dont jave names on them”! It seems odd to me but I feel like its up to me to change that. Me personally I’m going to give my kids some social justice and take responsibility and hold my self accountable for my actions in the past, for my present, and for our future. That’s what they deserve and that’s that they “got coming” from me.
Questions, concerns, comments… send to NEOCC, 2240 Hubbard Rd, Youngstown OH 44505
Da’Von Joshua Motley Sr.
ODRC #707-119
Categories: Da'Von Motley Sr., justice
Inmate Blogger 
Davon, you’re right. There needs to be social justice and personal responsibility. One can’t work without the other.
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There are times of biased decisions affecting many. With men of color, it seems as if SOME white men get into one of those combative postures of pumping their chest out and daring a fight. With women, we have similar situations in being “the weaker” sex. Whether it’s meant physically or mentally, I don’t know. Emotionally we’re often more sound. The point is, do what you need to do for yourself. Leave them out of the equation. It’ll do you good.
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