Tasha B.’s Story
- Gender: Female
- State: Texas
Excerpt of Letter
9/23
Dear Maddy,
I am a member of IWW. Recently I received an invitation to get involved with #ENDTHEEXCEPTION. I would like to join the campaign as a writer. Find the answers to questions 1-5
1. My first job in the prison system was on yard crew “R.A.S.P” The duties include digging through trash bags to collect recyclables. The problem with this, is that the only PPE we were provided was a single pair of latex gloves. Some position had a pay slot while others did not. The pay for some positions in this prison is 8¢ an hour. I remember feeling degraded and humiliated.
2. Prisons have a low standard for sanitation. Prisoners are often forced to perform unsafe, unsanitary duties by the threat of receiving a rules violation, which essentially keeps a person in prison longer.
3. As a person racialized as “Black” I have always felt the sting of racisms legacy. Prison slavery is just a continuum.
4. I would like to do my part to effect change.
5. N/A
“My first job in the prison system was on yard crew. The duties include digging through trash bags to collect recyclables. The problem with this is that the only PPE we were provided was a single pair of latex gloves. The pay for some positions in this prison is 8 cents an hour. I remember feeling degraded and humiliated. Prisons have a low standard for sanitation....”
