One year ago today Herman Wallace left prison after 41 years of solitary confinement and wrongful conviction. It is hard to believe that a year has already gone by. I remember vividly calling the songstress and friend to Herman: Sarah Quintana to say “Sarah, you are never going to believe this, his conviction was overturned and he’s coming home.” To which she replied, “I was just singing a song i wrote for him in my kitchen.” We met at City Park, here in New Orleans and i listened to Sarah’s magic as she serenaded the trees and sang for Hermans freedom. Herman’s release although so close to his transition was nothing shy of a miracle celebrated by thousands of people across the globe and many who gathered outside the hospital to accompany his freedom with flowers, laughter, cheers and love. Its humbling to consider: how a man buried so deep with in the prison system could become the point of intersection and inspiration for so many of us. October 1st should remain a day to reflect on our own freedoms, the things we may take for granted like showering when we are hot, ice in our water, a hug from a friend, a kiss from a loved one— or even a late night snack when we are hungry. These simple freedoms are not afforded to over 2.5 million people affected by incarceration— and the nearly 6 million people under some form of correctional control. Before i wax politics about mass incarceration, wrongful conviction, or the inhumane and dehumanizing affects of solitary confinement, let us agree that October 1st is a day to pause and reflect on the very miracle of our lives. We belong to each other. May all beings everywhere be happy and free. All Power to the People
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 01:01:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015