I RECENTLY WATCHED THE MOVIE “ACRIMONY” STARRING MY FAVORITE ACTOR/ACTRESS TARAJI P. HENSEN. HANDS UP, THEN HANDS DOWN, IT WAS THE BEST TYLER PERRY MOVIE TO DATE! AND TARAJI’S RANGE AS AN ACTOR IS AS VAST AS ANYBODY’S IN HOLLYWOOD. THE MOVIE MAY BE OLD NEWS TO MOST OF YOU, BUT THE KHAKI WEARERS HERE IN NEW JERSEY STATE PRISON ARE ALWAYS THE LAST TO KNOW THESE THINGS. THAT’S NOT IN ANY WAY A COMPLAINT; RATHER IT’S A SUBTLE REMINDER THAT PRISONERS–ESPECIALLY IN THIS PRISON–ARE VERY MUCH CONSIDERED THE “DEADSTOP” PEOPLE. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT MEANS THAT THINGS OF VALUE, THINGS OF IMPORTANCE, THINGS OF SIGNIFICANCE, THINGS OF WORTH SELDOM COME BEFORE OUR EYES; UNLESS OF COURSE THE THINGS THAT PRISONERS ARE ASKING FOR ARE BENEFICIAL TO SOMEBODY ELSE. SURE, PRISON CAN HELP US GET OUR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS, BUT WHOSE BENEFIT IS THAT REALLY FOR? WE’RE CALLED THE “DEADSTOP” PEOPLE BECAUSE WE’RE EXPECTED TO DIE HERE (THE AVERAGE SENTENCE OF MOST PRISONERS I KNOW IS MORE THAN 50 YEARS)! EARNING A HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA IS NOT GOING TO DO MUCH BEYOND THE WALL IF WE’RE NOT EXPECTED TO EVER SEE BEYOND THE WALL AGAIN. THE PROGRAMS–LIVING IN BALANCE, FOCUS ON THE VICTIM, ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS, NAACP, ANGER MANAGEMENT, TOASTMASTERS, ETC…THESE THINGS ARE GRAND AND SHOULD BE WELL-RESPECTED. BUT WHY SHOULD NJSP PRISONERS PARTAKE IN ANY OF THESE THINGS IF WE’RE ALREADY CONSIDERED DEAD? THE BENEFITS OF THESE PROGRAMS DO NOT BENEFIT THE PRISONER UNTIL HE OR SHE GOES HOME. BUT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE (NOT PRISONERS ) WHO BENEFIT RIGHT NOW JUST BECAUSE THESE PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED. SO WHY EVEN BOTHER? WHY PARTAKE IN THIS OR THAT? WHY ENRICH MY LIFE IF MY LIFE IS ALREADY OVER? I’LL TELL YOU WHY. BECAUSE, IF PRISON IS A PLACE WHERE WE HAVE BEEN SENT TO DIE, IF NJSP IS TRULY THE “DEADSTOP”, THEN MOST OF YOU IN THE FREE WORLD SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT WE PRISONERS DON’T SEE THINGS QUITE THAT WAY. WE WISH SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE TOLD US THAT THIS PRISON WAS A DEADSTOP. ONCE AGAIN…WE’RE THE LAST TO KNOW SOMETHING. REGARDLESS, WE’RE STILL PEOPLE; PEOPLE WHO ARE PAYING FOR MISTAKES. SOME OF US ARE PAYING FOR THE MISTAKES OF OTHER’S. BUT WE STILL WANT ENRICHMENT. WE STILL WANT TO HOLD HOPE IN OUR HEARTS. WE LOVE. WE HATE. WE LAUGH. WE CRY. I ESPECIALLY TEARED UP A BIT WHILE WATCHING “ACRIMONY”, DESPITE BEING ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE ON THE PLANET TO EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE MOVIE. PHENOMENAL JOB, TARAJI!
YOU CAN EMAIL RAY FRANKLIN #313966 / 860075B BY OPENING AN ACCOUNT WITH JPAY.
RAYMOND FRANKLIN
DOC #313966
