This update was written by Steph, a, members of the P4H learning community at the Southeastern Correctional Institution (SCI) in Lancaster, OH.
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September was, characteristically for the beginning of fall, a month of transitions.
At our first meeting of the month, we were told that one of our beloved members, Myke P., had transferred to a different prison. Myke P. was described by one member as being like “a warm hug.” Though we had been anticipating this change, we were disappointed not to be able to say a proper goodbye. However, one of our members, Is, shared his goodbye with Myke P.: how great the energy had been, how they had said goodbye as brothers who saw each other in their entirety. It seemed that Is captured the energy of the whole community in that bittersweet departure, sending Myke P. off with the love of our whole community.
At the same time, we welcomed several new members and took the opportunity to reflect on the history of Philosophy for Humans: its Beginning, its Middle Ages, and its Present.
The early stages were “big and bouncy.” Members tried many different things, people came and went, and the community was loose. There was, however, a shared reading at every meeting. At first, our main facilitator, Amy, led the group, but over time, it became clear that everyone had lots to share. That is why we are Philosophy for Humans: everyone is welcome to partake in the pedagogy.
The Middle Ages of P4H centered on thinking about abolition, growing out of Black feminist pedagogy and the work of thinkers such as bell hooks and Angela Davis. We reflected on the idea that abolition is not simply about getting rid of prisons, but also about imagining how prisons could be better and how we can respond differently to consequences.
The newer, more present stage of P4H is focused on what we as a community can do to export our values into the world. How can we meet others, invite them into our space, learn from them face-to-face, and perhaps teach something in return? We are working to develop and cultivate leadership as a group.
At our second meeting of September, we reviewed proposals for the rest of our fall and spring meetings. We received many different requests and ideas, including a zine workshop with a local Columbus group; advocacy with a former member that could eventually lead to P4H creating a curriculum or guide to support SCI residents preparing for re-entry; learning how to craft legislation; a discussion of psychosis and psychiatry as a carceral institution; and readings on topics ranging from Black feminist lessons from marine animals to advocacy work around parole in Illinois.
There were many proposals, and, in a way, it was overwhelming. We had to move quickly and had little time, but we were energized and full of ideas and inquiries. We are hungry to get started!
We are especially excited about the possibility of a zine workshop. Our second zine was unfortunately not approved for distribution inside the prison, meaning that our insiders have not been able to see a copy of it. At the same time, our call for submissions for the third zine has been released, with the theme Conversations. We hope to become even more experimental and continue improving our zine skills and abilities!
We also lost another member, Joni, who has extensive zine expertise. But we are thrilled to celebrate the departure: Joni was granted parole! We are so excited for her to begin her re-entry, and she is feeling thankful, overwhelmed, and ready for this new chapter in life after decades incarcerated. We wish both Joni and Myke P. the best in their next adventures, and will carry forward their spirit as our community grows in new ways.
So, September brought both kinds of departure: one member transferred, another went home. We welcomed new members, reflected on where P4H has been, and began imagining where it can go next, at a time when so much is being asked of us.