9/26/2021

Maddy
1915 Fulton Street, Unit 563
Brooklyn, NY 11233

How are you doing? My name is Hakim T. a prisoner within the Virginia D.O.C, and I’m writing to join the #EndTheException campaign. Enclosed please find my answers to the questions that you and the collective ask for. Also please find some poetry that you can share with others.

I've been in contact with the Inside Outside Organization in the past. Also the No New Jails NYC. I was told that due to the funding the organization can only stay connected with prisoners serving time in New York State.

Though Im incarcerated in the state of Virginia the struggle for freedom and the abolishment of prisons is a struggle that takes place state to state and in any continent. I’m a native of New York City, I’m a human so I’m a native of the planet in general. 

Thank you Maddy for embracing my words. Prison did not make me voiceless. I’m screaming out loud and people are not listening to my call for us to unite for the common cause of freedom.

I’m currently in solitary confinement. I’ve been in solitary confinement since July 28, 2021 waiting to be transferred to a higher level security due to my politician beliefs. You can google my entire name to see my writings and profile → Hakim [redacted]. 

I will be transferred but in the meantime please contact me at this address. You can also email me as well. When you write to me please only place 1 sheet of paper inside of the envelope. 

#1 What work do you do and how do you feel about it?
The work that I do is a part of the upliftment of humanity. I work towards helping and encouraging the masses to be free and embrace freedom. This liberation is due because of malice and wanton acts that the working class and prisoners face in society and behind bars. I work to help the truth be manifested by all means. I enjoy what I do even though it comes with the penalty of being placed in solitary confinement. The objective is to bring forth the necessities and the essentials needed for surviving here on this planet and so that we as humans can live in peace amongst each other. I write essays, zines and poetry, so that the message can be manifested. I strive to unite with any and everyone who is fighting for freedom, justice and equality. All oppressed people and animals. I fight for proper treatment of the environment, and all natural resources. I feel that I have a long fight ahead of me to squire my goal. I feel like a minority. I feel like I’m screaming and the world is not listening. I feel that when Im released from prison I can be more active in the struggle for freedom.

#2. What would I want someone who hasn’t been incarcerated to know about prison slavery?
Answer: Prison slavery is very similar to the slavery of the past that consists of chattel slavery and perpetual slavery. In the past the oppressors used a physical whip to strike the slave and break the slave pride and spirit. Today the oppressors use a mental whip when they strike the slave, penetrating the slave’s mind, body and soul.

Some prisoners work free of charge routing hard manual labor. Some prisoners are workers in [illegible] pay a very small amount of money for the prisoners' hard labor. The prison workshops are also called enterprises. This is where prisoners manufacture products such as: tables, desk, chairs, shoes, clothing, linen, PPE mask and gloves, license plates etc. The average prisoner who works inside of these enterprises in the state of Virginia is only paid in the range of 35 cents to 80 cents an hour. It would take up to 12 to 20 prisoners to equal the pay of one worker if this job was given to a worker in society who’s not incarcerated. 

The same as in the past humans who are caught and brought into slavery. The humans are caught today and brought into slavery inside of the prison. If the prisoner refuses to work the prisoner spends more time in prison and risk going into solitary confinement due to the refusal. Prisons slavery is an opportunity for the power structure to exploit the mentally ill, the poor and falsely accused. The Emancipation did not free the slaves it only gave the power structure legal means to place humans into slave camps known as prisons or penitentiaries which we the sympathizers of the truth refuse to as the modern day plantations. 

Once someone comes into the prison the objective is to feed the prisoner small amounts of food, so that the prison takes the money that comes from the prisoners family and friends and pockets the profit. When the prisoner goes to the commissary to purchase food to survive, if a person was poor they came to prison then they will be in more debt once they leave prison. Another tactic that's useful to keep the prisoner bound to slavery.

#3 When i read the Abolition Amendment, how does it make me feel?
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude may be imposed as punishment for a crime”Reading this is inspiration towards gaining freedom on a level of choices being made that will improve the programming of the prisons. The prisons are built with the mind state of cheap labor. Without the cheap labor being enforced then the prisons must result to something else. This brings the possibilities of rehabilitation takes place.

#4 Do I want to be an active member of the campaign? If so, what role do you want to play in the campaign?

I would like to be an active member of the campaign. The role I would like is educator and writer. Because my active outlets is my educator and a writer at the moment. A Lot of my writings are online and presented in several newsletters, magazines and newspapers. I believe that we can get a lot accomplish by spreading the message to the masses in the proper fashion. The oppress people relate highly to one who is indicted experiencing the same struggles as them. I understand that all roles come with responsibilities and I’m willing to uphold all the responsibilities as an educator and a writer. My handwriting all the time is not great due to the fact that Im currently using a rubber ink pen to [illegible]. So once Im out of solitary confinement I will be able to get a real ink pen to write well and when my handwriting will be a lot better. I want to learn beneficial knowledge to bring awareness about the power structure to the masses. To be alive is to be aware. To be aware is to protect you and yours from the beast. These teachings is knowledge of self and your surroundings. Teaching of divine principles, love, truth, freedom and justice and [illegible] we reach peace which is the absence of confusion.

I’m currently 42 years old. Ive been incarcerated since the age of 16 years old. I have a release date set for 2/6/2023. I’ve been to every level of incarceration including juvenile detention centers, juvenile psychiatric hospital, federal custody and prison,maximum state prison custody, group homes etc. I say this to touch ground on every aspect of a prison I’ve experienced except death row. So when I speak on incarceration and how it effects me I'm covering each level in regards to my personal experiences I’ve encountered. Incarceration has effected me in so many ways and I can never turn my back on those who are incarcerated. “We are not free until we are all free”.

Thomas Jefferson once said: “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing…God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tryants”. In advocating “a little rebellion” he probably did not have in mind the likes of true freedom fighters such as Harriet Tubman, Denmark Vesey, Toussaint-L'Overture, Nat Turner, Malcolm X, Huey P. Newton, and the abolitionist John Brown.

I began to list a gathering of [Illegible] that need to take place [Illegible]. In the D.O.C’s across the country the impact of the pandemic is strong and it shows how vulnerable and unreliable the prisons are when it comes to protecting the prisoners health and providing a safe environment. The truth about prisons must be exposed but at the same time we masses must look past their differences and biased mindstates so that we masses can develop alternative solutions without the usage of prisons.

America built its economical backbone off the blood sweat and tears of the slaves and Americans [illegible] continues to thrive off the labor of slaves held captive on the plantation.

Please contact me at anytime. Im currently inside of solitary confinement waiting to be transferred to a higher security prison. I’ve been waiting for over 60 days almost. Hopefully I will be transferred soon all and all you can contact me at the address below. And if im transferred the mailroom will forward your letter up to 30 days from the date of my transfer. You can also email me and I can make prepaid phone calls on my end etc.

In Solidarity,
Hakeem