The month of April was declared “Second Chance” month by President Biden. We are taught at an early age to make a good first impression as you may not get a second chance. As many of us “people in custody” can attest, we often wonder if we will get a second chance in society. Previous societal norms have shunned felons from housing, well-paying jobs, and even relationships with family and friends. Employment has changed as companies are finding it hard to hire workers who are willing to work. Fortune 500 companies have become more willing to hire a former inmate. Getting a “second chance” with ..read more

The dark gray smoke curled and rose into the atmosphere. Rolling its many shades of gray as its ascent could be seen from blocks away. Some unfortunate car owners had handmade cocktails thrown through their car windows. The smoke rose to meet the ones from the burnt houses on the block. The owners that were present ran back and forth with buckets of water and hoses trying to douse the fire. Luminescent eyes, flaring yellow and orange sparks, seem alive with evil intent at anyone who approaches the blaze. An old woman’s lamentation rose to meet everyone else’s supplication to the gods as a bloo ..read more

The greatest storyteller of all time is said to have said that a certain rich man approached him and asked: “What shall I do to inherit the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus, having replied, said, “Go and sell all of your possessions, give away all of your money, and you may receive the kingdom of heaven.” You have to understand the correlation of this story to investing. Heaven represents unlimited prosperity. It represents the opportunity to receive abundantly beyond what you already receive from other sources of income. Most importantly, it represents clarity — being able to see opportunities clear ..read more

As a F2M transgender incarcerated in Texas serving hard time in prolonged solitary confinement, my days are filled with much anguish, defeat, depression, frustration, and discouragement. But I find comfort in writing, reading anything, listening to the news (NPR, BBC news, Texas Standards) on my radio, watching sermons on the Pando via Securus tablet, exercising and deep meditation. I’ve been published in the San Francisco Bayview newspaper, Southern Cultures magazine, Tacenda Lit Mag with Bleak House Publishing, Evening Street Press & Review and collaborating with Solitary Watch. I’ve bee ..read more

This blog is my first attempt on this type of platform. My hope is to express my ideas, concerns, and praises to others who read these blogs. Today’s topic is appropriate for a first-time blog. The subject of Communication. The term or word communication has been an intricate part of lives since we were born. Our parents communicated their love and the rules that we should live by. We, as children, communicated our wants and needs to our parents in the form of crying and our first words. All through our school years, teachers communicated to us the knowledge we all needed to have in order to b ..read more

Taylor Swift was helping me to find my sisters (Judy and Jennifer) and my father (Reuben). It’s been 46 years (1978), the last time that I saw them. I don’t know where they live, or what they look like, or their last names. I don’t know if they are alive or dead. All that I want to do is write them a letter apologizing for not being the brother and son that I should’ve been. Then, I woke up and realized it was a wildest dream. I may never shed the labels that are placed upon me, but I am sorry for the crimes that I did. James Carlson There’s a lesson here, and that is to get where you want to ..read more

There is an undeniable statistic that proves people convicted of homicide have the lowest rate of recidivism out of all classes of felons. Usually, these individuals serve a great deal of time in a correctional facility, came to prison at a young age, and have since matured into responsible adults. But those aren’t the only reasons why “lifers” have such a high rate of success upon release. If we take a closer look, we can see that time in prison doesn’t necessarily change people. That’s demonstrated by the revolving door of the criminal justice system. Equally, coming to prison at a young age ..read more

A white woman named Molly sits at the bar, swiping through her phone on a dating site. A man sits next to her, “Hi. Can I buy you a drink?” Molly turns around. She has two goggle eyes on her chin. The man notices. ”Oh, I’m sorry. I have to take a shit.” Before she can answer, the guy is out the door. Sad, Molly turns back to the bar. The bartender comes over where Molly is sitting. “Look, you Sesame Street freak! I’m losing customers cause of you. Get Out!” She finished her drink and walks out the door. Walking down a busy street, kids in a car drive by pointing and laughing at Molly. Molly gi ..read more

Every time Pinocchio got off work and walks into the cell. “YO!, YOU GOT ALL THIS FUCKING FAIRY-DUST ALL OVER MY BUNK.” Peter Pan responds “My bad P, you know how Tink get when she start flying around.” Tinkerbell walks in “Mail-Call”, and hands Pinocchio his mail, then walks over to Peter Pan. “I see you got a letter from your Pops.” (Peter Pan) “Yo! Why you all in my business?” (Pinocchio) “Oh, it’s like that?” (Tinkerbell) “He always trippin!” (Pinocchio) “Nigga, we from two different hoods. I’m from Florence, and you from Eastside Never-Never Land.” (Peter Pan) “Look man, I just thought ..read more

Dedicated to my son, Ariztlan Warrior. Deep within my warrior heart rages a fire, so fierce and uncontrollable…For the Gods have blessed my war path with your radiant and powerful presence. Ariztlan my beloved son, you have been born into this world a Warrior! In your life you will know sorrow, feel paid, and face adversity. But even when the relentless grasps of their peril, let not your mind be consumed by weakness so that your heart may not falter in fear! You need only to draw from within yourself the overpowering strength that you possess! For you are MEXICA! You are T OHONO O’ ODHAM! You ..read more