DATE NIGHT FRIDAY!

ROSES

By: Demond A. Jackson

Isn't funny how certain people, places and things can affect our lives? It is also uncanny how those same things a way inspiring us by one means or another. A few days ago, I watched the Oscar nominated film, ‘Fences' directed by Denzel Washington who also played a starring role. The messages and symbols were so profound, that I can't seem to get the movie off my mind even though I was only able to see it once. The storyline, cinematography, and its hidden jewel have been imprinted on my mind.

One scene in the movie shook me and the men watching with me to the core. It was touching, emotional, both spiritually and intellectually. Many of the men could not comprehend or refused to admit it’s impact. In the scene: 

Rose goes to her husband’s job and asks him to come home days after he has admitted to her, that he'd been having an affair and the affair has resulted in a child. Rose explained to her husband, how she sacrificed her life, her dreams, and potential for more...just to be his WIFE. She pitifully added, no matter what came her way, regardless of her personal desires she remained committed to her vows for better or for worse, simply holding on tighter to her man.

My heart went out to Rose:

She reminded me of all the women I know past and present who echo her sentiments:

Where would mankind be without Roses?  Those sweet, fragrant, strong beings who love and protect the men in their lives with their heart and soul against insurmountable odds... Those women with character and integrity that can't be measured by beauty or success... The worth of these women, must be weighed by their sacrifice and willingness to go to no end for their families, friends and lovers. These women are fearless queens, as well as wives and mothers of imperfect kings.  They deserve mankind’s ALL, before we allow them to fall.

Once upon a time Rose's were a dime a dozen. Today they are far and few in between. I've heard stories where men like myself found a Rose growing through concrete. Now day's you'll be lucky to find a true Rose in a rose garden.

Far too many women these days have been tainted by the pesticides I call social media, masculinity and materialism. But for those rare %100 Rose's. I salute you, I pray you and I apologize for all the things your ex-man has done, the inconsiderate non-sense men like myself have done and our failure to treat you like you deserve to be treated.

Brother's let's start being mindful of our women’s value. Value a woman's worth and the Rose our mothers and sisters represent. Let us hold them tighter when disloyalty, selfishness and lack of honor crosses our mind. Let's celebrate their worth, knowing that they have sacrificed so much in order to be there for us and with us. When others have led us astray.

My Mother once told me "a hoe will make love to you before she feeds you..." So best believe you can get sex from any woman, but a woman who loves you is concerned first with "Have you ate or not."

Sister, are you a Rose? Dear brother, do have a Rose in your life? Or is she just a Daffodil blowing in the wind today and gone tomorrow?

The movie 'Fences' inspired these words, I am reminded to be more thankful and more appreciative of the Rose's in my life and it moved me to share publicly what I personally got from the movie.  I recommend to all those who haven't had a chance to see the film to go see it!

God Bless the Rose's and may you all continue to grow no matter the weather.

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Demond Jackson is an inmate at the U.S Federal penitentiary in Victorville. DJ as friends call him is currently serving a 60 year sentence for crack cocaine. His case is unique because there was ZERO cocaine seized and his conviction was based solely on word of mouth. Since his incarceration D.J. has authored several different programs aimed to support men with lengthy sentences as well as the first youth mentoring program in B.O.P history.  

Other websites from Demond Jackson:

• Live From Lock Down
• Convict Soap Box
• Meet Demond A. Jackson Featured Contributor!

DJ Welcomes Correspondence, please address letters to:

Demond Jackson #05934088

13777 AIR EXPRESSWAY BLVD

VICTORVILLE, CA  92394

Demond A. Jackson
Men S.T.O.P

FEDERAL PRISON REFORM

It’s time for America to pay attention to the impact its laws are making on its citizens and its wallet. Currently the United States has inadvertently created a new welfare state. Not the usual suspects which include poor women and children clinging to government welfare rosters in lieu of earning an honest wage, but able bodied men and women who perpetrate non-violent crimes. Mandatory minimums and the end of Federal parole have left America with a $40k per person bill and many of these low level offenders will spend decades imprisoned, much longer than sex offenders, or murderers simply because of congressional imposition of mandatory minimums. Americans pay more money housing non-violent criminals than reform in direct conflict with the goals of imprisonment outlined by the U.S. sentencing commission and the eighth amendment.
Currently non-violent drug offenses make up MORE THAN 75% of the total federal prison population. Many of these offenders can be rehabilitated to become productive members of society. Instead they are sentenced to prison terms that simply warehouse and do not reform. They have been sentenced to hefty terms under the guise of public safety however more and more people are trying street drugs at levels that seem to prove that drug dealers are not the problem. In fact many studies prove that drug prevention begins at home. The biggest factor in preventing youth drug abuse is in fact parents. Longer prison sentences increase recidivism, meaning that the longer men and women are incarcerated their chances for breaking the law increases. Shorter prison sentences coupled with a concerted effort to provide inmates with marketable skills actually increases their chances of serving their time and returning to society as productive law abiding members. Not to mention the safety issues created by overcrowded prisons on the correctional staff charged with keeping the public safe. In fact a great alternative to correctional officers would be to change the scope and duties of these officials to provide career counseling. Perhaps providing hope and correction would keep our correctional officers safer.
The staggering dollar amount needed to provide care for the incarcerated is astounding many families only have 40k to provide for an entire family. The average median income for a family of 3 is $49,888. Caring for one prison inmate is roughly 40k. This is the average cost the notwithstanding increasing healthcare needs of an aging prison population has not been completely accounted for. Since the end of federal parole in 1987 these costs are increasing at a staggering rate because men and women are serving prison sentences decades with no parole at 87% with good time figured in. What happens to these people when their families have died off and they begin to further tax an ailing Social Security system that they have not paid into? The racial disproportion aside, minorities make up 50% of the federal prison population and 12-18% of the prison population, warehousing able bodied men and women for life for a few kilos of cocaine does not make sense. We are basically providing lifetime care for people who only possessed on average $ of drugs. A person serving a 60 year sentence for 8 kilos of cocaine which has a street value of $800,000 is given $2.4 million of care, excluding any unforeseen health expenses that the geriatric population incurs. If a person is sentenced to 60 years at age 20 and serves 87% and gets released after retirement they will only have social security to rely on which they have not paid into. The bill will fall onto our children and grandchildren. Moreover, few family members will remain to support this aging prison population and they will be left to rely on government housing to supplement the meager income they draw from social security. Who pays? The public that was deemed safer by their incarceration. Federal prison reform has to make sense and it has to meet the goals of incarceration outlined in part by the U.S. Sentencing Commission as “incorporate the purposes of sentencing (i.e., just punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, and rehabilitation); and meet the requirements of the 8th amendment which holds that Americans not be subject to cruel and unusual punishment.