When I entered the prison, as I went through security and my pat-down search, as I was led along the ugly concrete hallways, past the stares of the male prisoners, into the "graduation" room and nervously watched the Truth Be Told graduates walk into the room in their blue prison-issued tops and pants, I thought I had nothing in common with these women. I was there to listen respectfully, but I didn't really think I could relate to them.
I was so wrong. At almost every moment, every turn in a new story, I found myself thinking, there but for a bad choice, a bit of luck, could I have gone. They were not so different from me, in so many ways, after all. I had simply been lucky enough to have a loving family and a good, abuse-free childhood. They were not so lucky. For these women, such things as love and abuse-free childhood were the great gaping holes in their lives - holes that they filled them with drugs, money and things gotten at any cost; holes which they filled with abusive relationships and children simply so they could have someone to love them.
But underneath it all, we were the same. By the end of the afternoon, I found myself not only relating to them, but admiring them. These women were the bravest people I had ever met in my life. Their honesty and their courage honed into my heart like an arrow and lodged there. I will never forget their words, or the haunted looks in their eyes as they spoke them.
For more information about Truth Be Told, go to their website at www.truth-be-told.org.
Article comments
1 - STM
I spent a whole long weekend in there once. Cruelly, I thought I would get out after two days but just as a friend arrived to pay off my largest parking fine, the cops did another warrant check and found a more expensive one, which meant I had to stay the extra night.
The project ... save myself two and a half grand in unpaid parking fines by "working them off" in jail.
Wasn't pleasant. Three nights was enough.
2 - Anthony Arias
Wow, the more I read and watch about the prison system the more I'm confused about the whole process. On one hand, people should be punished for there crimes and on the other, is prison really a proper rehabilitation.
3 - John Wilson
More and more it looks like the purpose of American prisons is to punish peasants for being under-achievers.
Whereas, white collar criminal bankers remain free.
After the S&L scandal 20 years ago more than 1000 bankers went to jail, including Keating.
Since then 400 FBI white-collar crime Agents have been re-assigned.
Since the latest trillion dollar financial fiasco NOBODY involved has been sentenced.
But if John Johnson steals a loaf of bread to feed his family he is sure to get 17 years pulling an oar in the galleys.