Written by MarKeeTa
This section of the OPEEP newsletter, called “A Day in the Life,” is a space to share about the daily lives of students at our partner prison facilities. Our goal with the series is to demystify the everyday lives of incarcerated people and the spaces of prison. We believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to learn more about prisons and the people they house so that we can work against the harmful stereotypes that buttress our country’s carceral state and logics. So thank you for reading and sharing in this work!
Each contribution is written and shared by the student directly. There is some light editing for clarity and space.
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It’s Monday morning, and I am anticipatively awaiting the arrival of the beautiful hues of pink, purple, and orange to kiss the horizon, as I begin my morning routine of prayer. This is the most important portion of my day because it prepares me, through its principles, to utilize the strength, wisdom, and discernment that I need to navigate my way through this wilderness enveloped in total peace. Afterwards, I know that I am fully equipped and motivated to tackle whatever lies ahead.
While showering, I take a quick mental note of what this day looks like for me: work, check… LAM meeting, check… review homework for tonight’s class while eating dinner, check… and last but definitely not least, Sociology class, check. My thoughts come to a close, and I realize that today will be busy yet productive, I inhale and exhale deeply as a reflection of the peace that I am seizing in this moment, and as a sign of my refusal to relinquish this inner peace and control over this day. Following a refreshing hot shower, I sit on my bed to enjoy a well-prepared breakfast as I watch the skyline welcome the sunrise with open arms.
As the day continues, working as a Range Walking Stephens Minister can be challenging, especially in an extremely oppressive environment like Restrictive Housing. This job requires me to boldly take on the mental, spiritual, and emotional anguish of the women who are plagued with the punishment of sitting in solitary confinement. To decompress, I spend time during count communing in prayer before going to my LAM meeting.
The highlight of this day is when I walk into the space that is occupied by my sisters of LAM. This collective gives me life! This is the safe space we use to unpack the things we carry around in our mental and emotional luggage daily, all from a Black feminist perspective. I always feel much lighter, empowered, informed, valued, and enlightened when I leave this space. I am better, stronger, and wiser because of it.
Afterwards, I am ready to spend some time in the stillness of peace as I eat a small dinner and rest my mind and body through count, in an effort to gain the momentum I need to finish the final stretch of my day. My last stop is Sociology class. This is where I am able to talk openly about the politics of control and the prevention of crime delinquency amongst my fellow scholars in a way that allows us to mentally and verbally dismantle structures of capitalism and patriarchy, in an effort to make sense of the world we inhabit. I leave this class with the feeling of being mentally nourished and satisfied.
As my day comes to an end, I submerge myself in thoughts of gratitude while I shower and prepare myself for bed. Before I close my eyes tonight, I will say a prayer and spend my final waking moments being serenaded by jazz saxophonist Kenny G, while sending messages that are filled with love to my children, my parents, and my very special and supportive friend. These are the people that are in my corner 100%, every single day, 365 days a year. When I am overwhelmed, in over my head, and feel like throwing in the towel, these people are cheering me on with their love and encouragement that is constantly ushering me into a beautiful future, and for that and them, I am truly grateful.
In the words of Ice Cube, “Today was a good day…”