The Oppressor and the Oppressed Must Both be Liberated

This reading is near and dear to my heart since I head to Donovan State Prison two to three times a week.  The men at Donovan - many of lifers with 20 or 30 years of prison already behind them - have been told for the vast majority of their time in the judicial system that (1) they are societal scum and (2) by virtue of the crimes they committed, they are evil people.  They have been dehumanized and pushed down into pits of despair and darkness so deep that many of them have thought of or attempted to take their own lives.  Just as much as Nelson Mandela says that both the oppressed and oppressor are not free, the men at Donovan have proven to me that they can be free while behind bars.  They have freed themselves from the prisons of their minds.  They have found their light and their purpose.  They now know that they have their contribution to give to the world and they provide it, behind bars, until the day they are able to share their gifts to us "on the streets" as they call the free world.

 Hello Mariette. I would like further insight from you on your interaction with men in prison. My name is Abimbola from Nigeria and my curiosity stems from my desire to write a book about freedom. Do drop a comment if you would be interested in us having further talks on this, despite how long ago this comment was dropped, thanks.