Dont Become A Waste of A Man

By Ronald F Henry

A message to our youths crossing over from life to death into Georgia Department Of Corrections.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ronald F Henry
• Release date: Jan 14, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224297245

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

''Consequences and Prisons may be a solution for Injustice and Inequality.'' 'R.H.''

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The Voice in a Prison Full of Darkness continues with the waste of a man and The Opinions of a Helping Hand. This message within is for black males transitioning from life to death, surrendering their lives to Georgia's Department of Correction after being convicted and sentenced to serve the rest of their lives behind bars.

The message we share is clear! Respect yourself and others. Mind your own business, especially regarding those who are gang-affiliated. Be careful daily, protect yourself, and learn what you can in the law library. If not, you will only make your prison time worse. Therefore, learn the difference between survival and freedom.

Behind the brick walls of Georgia's Department of Correction are convicted black males, mostly young, who now take on the role of a 'waste of a man.' There are certified prison documents, mental health records, and recordings of their behavior, which prove this fact about them. The waste of a man is at one’s discretion, depending on the level of knowledge they have about a man's life because most of them are forced to live their lives under extreme circumstances and conditions, while their role models have carnal influences that love to mislead. Therefore, within this message to our young black incarcerated males, the goal is to give them an opportunity to exchange their negative belief systems for corrective thinking patterns, then provide them with positive self-solutions. This will teach them to make healthy decisions before reacting abroad.

Prison is not safe at all; they lack security, not even for gang members. They also suffer the penalty of being violated here at Macon State Prison, a level five prison struggling with its own administrative problems. It’s broken and is in dire need of a competent Correctional Staff that will support its guidelines and the safety of inmates and staff members. At the start of 2021, M.S.P. got a new Warden who, so far, seems to have everything under control, for now. Georgia's prison population is more young than old. Inmates and convicts don't speak the same language anymore. There’s barely a structure in most of its violent prisons. The leaders are young; they follow what has been taught to them, and all their minds are on survival mode, instead of freedom. Most of their time is spent getting money, getting high, and sharpening knives.

Since the Covid-19 virus hit prisons, life has been harder for everyone. It has affected many lives, especially in Georgia, with its majority black population. Young black females are coming to work for the Georgia Department of Corrections. It’s no longer a male-dominated workforce, due to women fighting for equal rights and equality.

While most of this madness is taking place behind Georgia's penal system, stabbings are common, arising from the new drug of choice called 'Strips.' It’s a thin line of paper with roach spray on it or some toxic substance—to me, it's another form of heroin. Men of all ages are using this cheap, toxic drug for a moment in space. The worst part about it is that it’s a zombie behavior drug, affecting everyone differently.

The waste of a man is a person with a disgraceful spirit. Many of our youths enter the prison system as they are, with a mindset of hustle, robbery, a negative and lost frame of mind, proving to be unproductive. That's sad to say, especially being a black man myself and witnessing the younger generation chasing after a life that holds no value.

This journey holds a positive hope that its message will impact the lives of these lost males by reaching people and sharing with them the facts of life, which may help save them from becoming a 'waste of a man'—the ones who've surrendered their lives to Georgia's Department of Corrections. This seed has already been planted over the years but has been stomped on, dragged, beaten, and psychologically left unattended, fostering hatred. However, there’s hope for them if they allow themselves to live, love, and learn the true value of not giving up on themselves or losing respect.

THE MESSAGE ON THE WALL

Today started beautifully, so I took note of my performance and behavior. Quietly, I moved about cooking, cleaning, and listening, not saying a word but giving it my all. There was no overreacting, no signs of aggression, not even displaying negative attitudes. The day went well. Not to mention, this month marks twenty-five years since I was convicted through a trial and jury. So, this day also reminds me of how much I've changed. Therefore, I asked myself a difficult question: 'Have you ever had to fight for your life?' This is what many black males face daily, fighting for their lives. Most come from broken homes, while others live in healthy homes but find a way to exist in unhealthy