SUNDERED

By Madeline Boss

In this unique compilation of poetry and prose, the modern-day love story of an incarcerated man and his girlfriend is relayed through six parts which explore millennial crime, corruption of the prison system, and the difficulties faced by a couple as they try to maintain their relationship while one of them is behind bars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9781543984248

Book preview

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN: 978-1-5439842-4-8

Table of Contents

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Human beings are not categorically bad because of their mistakes. They can learn from their errors and get back on track. No one should be forever written off because of one part of his or her history.

Diane Guerrero

Intro

Our current legal system is something that makes me sick to my stomach daily. Placing a label on a large portion of people, and 40 percent of them are African American. The 13th amendment which supposedly ended slavery and segregation, led to a loophole of which was acted upon immediately, and then began mass incarceration. If you think our justice system is keeping you safe, think again. The U.S. is supposed to be the land of the free, but the reality is our colorblind society (which holds the highest incarceration rate of all countries) has allowed 2.3 million people to be labeled as felons and placed them and their families in an endless cycle, where they cannot achieve this so-called American Dream. Money and privilege affect who goes behind bars and who does not. The ones affected by these lifelong criminal labels are treated inhumanely, without basic human respect and never get their voice heard. Labeling people as felon has a long lasting impact on a person's life and results in the loss of basic civil rights such as the right to vote— so, currently 2.3 million people lost the right to vote. Yet, a lot of privileged criminals, walk around us daily get let off the hook, a slap on the wrist, their record erased or a very short sentence— but a person of color with the same exact crime, gets sentenced to years and miss out on valuable years of their life with their loved ones. All because they couldn’t afford anything but a court appointed attorney. Causing them to go through the hardships and pain that this oppressed system causes. Even after they are released people are still labeled and never gain their freedoms back entirely. Our legal system feeds those at the top with money and power, while making it impossible for others to go up life’s ladder of success. We aren’t safe, that’s just what they want you to think— the true intention isn’t that hard to see. I beg people to open their eyes and act on creating a new mindset, and demolishing the old system. Where is the rehabilitation? Where is the humanity? Where is the justice? If we want to end violence I assure you there is a much better way.

#EndTheNewJimCrow #EndMassIncarceration

PART I.

[suhn-der- ed]

past tense verb (used with object)

1. to separate; part; divided; severed.

2. to become separated; parted.

I am Institutionalized

Surrounded by

white.

The bright lights made my eyes ache.

Surrounded by these cold,