Uthman

I'm 32 and I'm from Bridgeport,CT. I've wasted a lot of my time when I was home, so I take advantage of the "free time" I have now to better myself and others, it’s a journey worth taking. Prior to this I’ve never participated with a community that discuss reading materials. I've always read by myself, rather in the hallways at school or at home in my room. Music was my first love. when I was a child I couldn't sleep without the radio being on. By sixth grade I tapped into writing. i started with writing love notes for my boys to pass off to their crushes. at the same age I started free styling off beats with my cousin. I grew up with the passion of art itself no matter the form. by seventh grade I started sneaking in my mothers room reading her urban books, that's when I found reading interesting. reading about situations I saw in my environment had me intrigued. at the age of 23 I was involved with the BLM movement when I stayed in NC. That experience opened my eyes.

music that inspired me was j. Cole "2sides" . 2pac "only god can judge me"  "bonita applebom" a tribe called quest and others. to name a few movies that inspired me to write my own novel .. boyz in the hood , menace to society, higher learning , love Jones etc. favorite books off the top I can name is ... trust no b*tch pt1-3 , true to the game pt1-3 uncle toms cabin , 12 years a slave . james Patterson's , Robert Greene and supreme understanding books.

icons i read /listened to that inspired me was... Gucci mane , nipsey hussle, Malcolm x , Marcus Garvey , nat turner , Muhammad Ali and  etc. 

Ackeem

I'm Ackeem, I've been imprisoned since the age of 17 and recently turned 36 June 8th.  I consider myself as someone who live to be an example, especially for my daughter. I want to be, and already consider myself as someone who is making a change. But I am also open to learn from other individuals life experiences.  I love creative writing, it has become sort of  therapeutic to me over the years.. If I had to make a choice on which is my favorite genre to write, it would be music. Writing music allow me to express my thoughts and feelings while lightening the burdens they may carry. Through music I am able to tackle the ills of America: racism, oppression, mass incarceration and police brutality which plagues people of color in this country.  However, I do enjoy writing plays, poems, scripts, short stories and essays... sometimes. Over the years I realized in order to inform people, you must be able to communicate  in many fashions. I am God fearing and a believer in humanity.  One day, we will make  justice, freedom and equality a birthright to all! 

Ravon

For those of you who are reading this I pray this finds you in the best of health doing better than well.

My name is Ravon, and I am currently a prisoner in a Connecticut institution. I started this journey 13 almost 14 years ago and for awhile I was lost and didn't know what direction I would be going in. For the most part I am still trying to understand the complexity of my purpose because I don't believe your purpose in life is one sided, its multifaceted. 

It’s through my love for reading what help me understand that I have a purpose in the first place and that this purpose could be and should be cultivated.

At first, all I wanted to read was urban novels, you know books that I could some what relate to. Things I've seen first hand, done or knew about because it was around me. These books was often criticized by my peers, but I kept on reading them.

This feeling I was getting from reading was something I couldn't explain. At times, I felt I was these characters or these characters was living my life to extent, because some of these books are little outlandish, I mean I guess that's the purpose. lol..

Something, clicked in me and it gave me a hunger for reading, I mean I also must mention that I was in a level 5 lock down facility 23 and 1 through out the week and no recreation on the weekends, plus no access to televisions. 

So I grew an appetite for reading which grew from just reading urban novels to reading novels by famous authors like John Grisham

James Patterson, Brad Thor to name a few. But this also sparked something because these authors weren't talking about things I was familiar with and now I had to learn about the things they were talking about in there books, whether I had to pick up a dictionary for a word I didn't know or reading more books on the topics written about in these authors writings.

I was being inadvertently challenged by Grisham, and Patterson to learn more in order to keep up. I started to read more and more, and the funny thing about knowledge is that it begets more knowledge because the more you learn the more you realize that you know nothing. I started to read books about masonry and the Illuminati and history, birth and development of nations and wealth building. I couldn't stop reading and seem the more I sought the more access I had to these books. It really seemed like the same books or topics I would say to myself that I would want to read or learn about would some how be given to me free of charge.. Crazy. It just kept happening and than I learned about the laws of attraction, which is a whole other topic within itself. Lol..

Anyway, today because of what those urban novels sparked in me help me realize that I possessed the knowledge not only to get my GED but within a month from graduating I applied for college and got accepted in to the Yale prison initiative college program which gave courses in tandem with the university of New Haven.

Reading is a foundation for greatness it goes beyond books but books is a start. They said if you want to hide something from a Black man put it in a book. Their was a slave who use to pass messages from slave owner to slave owner and in those messages was details on escaped slaves and their possible whereabouts, this slave was picked by his owner specifically because of his inability to read. Reading is an escape plan.

My fellow brothers and sister keep reading so we could get the knowledge and break the chains of ignorance.

Peace!

Julian

Salaams to those who through education selflessly encourage others to read and use their imagination.

My name is Julian, and I learned to read at a very early age. I won't front due to my upbringing I wasn't too enthused by school. I felt like I had other things to do, silly me... Although I gave up on one of my favorite things to do for many years, I always have been proud of my gift to read and write, gift because my mother could only read and write Spanish and my father went his whole life an illiterate man and also his mother my grandmother was illiterate. On this trip to prison I became a Muslim and learned that in order to understand Deen I had to read, so the Praise is for Allah for allowing me to read and comprehend. After reading a lot throughout the years I ended up taking another hiatus from reading. Long story short I'm back 4 real this time :) Thank you to my brother Matrix for the invite I love you bruuh! I look forward to the reading journey. Peace! 

Shaun/Inf

My name is Shaun (inf)and I'm 34 from New Haven CT I feel like this is imperative to our uplifting our community to prosper.. connection and communication helps build conglomerates in the trenches! No matter where were at that bond can be an anchor inside of a hard place.

I appreciate the sentiments from all my bros and I honor the bonds we built I see the potential in all of us and I congratulate all of y'all on the progress and positivity I'm seeing and hearing. I like music reading and cooking and fighting for change to the status quo. To remove the black eye from our brothers potential due to incarceration. Salaams to the beloved ppl within the community I can't wait to build more bonds that last a lifetime. 

Evan/Ease

My name is Evan '' Easy '' Holmes, but all my friends and family, all the people that really know me call me Ease. so hopefully the entire garden will get to know me well enough to say the same. I'm 33, but I still smile and spirit like I'm 20 ya heard! :) Lol! Look to me as the Heart and Soul. I wear my heart on my sleeve, which, to me means I put my heart into everything I do whether it's a game of ball, or a ensuing world wide movement like this! (some of ya know! lol) But! There's nothing I wouldn't do for each and every one of you! that goes to the people I don't know yet too. I think this day in age we need a lot more heart centered leadership and connectivity, a lot more solidarity and empathy, and DEFINITELY a lot more Truth and transparency. So just a forewarning, I'm known to get a little intense at times, lol! BUT! its only because I car be SO MUCH and want the best and FREEDOM for all of us For real. 

  Beyond that, I like to think of myself as a emerging political activist. I draw most of my inspiration from our civil rights heroes like George Jack and Angela Davis to name a few. As a product of the subcultures that arose from the ashes of their movement, I understand that I now have a duty take up the mantle and undo the generational destruction I've caused, endured, and overlooked in life. And while I'm still in training, I had the amazing experience of feeling and seeing just how impactful speaking Truth to power can be. and ever since, I've known that a part of my life's purpose is to use the potential, platform, and privilege bestowed upon me, through the medium of education, to amplify our collective voice and effect real change where it is needed most. Spaces like these are literally the most important part of becoming prepared for that pursuit, so I just want to give everyone my gratitude for considering me worthy of being here. it is truly a honor to come together in a effort to reach beyond the limitations of our circumstances and strive for better for us and our respective communities as well.

  With that, all of you, be good! be safe! be well!

  in solidarity,

  Ease 

Daniel

I'm Daniel\D I appreciate the welcome to be apart of/ contribute to this community. I guess I'm like all of you(my brothers/sisters) trying to make a path for myself in this life coming from humble beginnings. My relationship with education was toxic growing up. I would say I'd be there, I'd say Ill do this or that, I'd make promises and I never stood on my word. I avoided it at all cost. Over time I became tired of not knowing anything. More influential, I wanted to make it out of my community and the bad habits I formed through my youth. I learned, painstakingly slow, that the freedom I was searching for was through the acquisition of knowledge. If I didn't learn, explore, and figure out how this world worked I would have a long or short future of repetition. So I just started reading, even when I didn't want to turn another page. It developed a passion. Let's continue to use our gifts to keep liberation alive despite that little voice in our head telling us we're unchangeable. Freedom doesn't end with a sentence. 

Brandon/Sporty

Hi, my name is Brandon A.K.A "Sporty" I’ve been Incarcerated now for 17yrs.I'm excited about being part of the "Book Garden" to engage with others and to build relationships,to be inspired and to inspire.

             Being on this journey you have to constantly want to evolve and learn to push yourself.The first book I read that changed my life and inspired and motivated me was "Malcolm X" Reading the autobiography helped me mold my way of thinking and gave me perspective to get rid of everything  that was not conducive to me being productive.

             Many other books inspired me as well such as: Solitary, Soledad, Fred Hampton, Nipsey Hussle, Martin Luther King, James Boldwin, etc...Just to name a few who really shape and molded my mind to want to envision and create more opportunities and drop the rope for the next generation to have that contagious mindset.

             Building communities is what I'm about, I'm very much so looking forward to establishing my foundation called "FOR US,FOR ALL" that’s what I'm very passionate about. What inspired me was the lack of resources our future young kings,queens needs to have to be able to equip themselves to want more and do more.I believe incorporating "Reading" is very essential to every one.Building relationships through reading helps bring people together in hopes of solidifying bridge gaps that in other situation where people would not ordinary meet each other.

           I met my brother (j-kidd)"2011" and we clicked from the gate and we evolved together with the common goal to want to change and help others.Our purpose kept our bond extremely tight and throughout the years our vision,drive kept the noise away.I want to "SALUTE" my brother for believing in himself even when many doors closed on him.My brother kept at it and shrugged off the doubt and continued on with his purpose.I need to add this with my bio to get everyone who reads this or join the "Book Garden"to understand the type of individuals who are invloved.Love u brother " We all we got..." 

Shardel

Yooo.... Salutations to my fellow gardeners. My name is Shardel, I'm glad to be a part of this community, to listen, learn and contribute to the many seeds that will be planted. I am excited to gain access to the many perspectives that will assist in the development and growth of different ideas and benefits from the variation of fruits of knowledge. I want to share my thoughts and experience of the concentrated systematic oppression from behind bars -- reflecting the overall (one and the same) authority affecting the many different aspects of our society.

Growing up, reading was never a hobby (honestly I really didn't know how to read) and till this day I receive little enjoyment from reading. Suffering from dyslexia at a young age, I didn't understand the methods that my elementary school was teaching me. I memorized The Foot Book by The Cat In The Hat--from there I broke every word down that I learned from memory and taught myself how to read. My gratitude from reading is learning how others think. No two people are alike and that is evident with every author's work that I encounter. The necessity of reading is my motivation. Reading is like drinking water and other forms of entertainment are like soda, juice, and alcohol. there is a saying, "You want to hide something from a black man, put it in a book," and that compelled me to read whatever could benefit me or sparked my interest.  

Viola

My name is Viola and I just graduated from Yale, with a Bachelor's degree in History. Before attending Yale, I went to community college in Maryland. My academic interests span topics ranging from carceral studies, to Black feminist scholarship, to creative writing, to performance histories.

I have lived in three different states but call Gaithersburg, MD -- where I have lived and grown up for the past 12 years --- home. Latin dance has been a big part of my experience in the DMV, as I danced in high school competitions and the community beyond. I have taken that passion into my academic explorations, as well, most recently writing my senior thesis: The War on Salsa: How the Rhetoric, Policy, and Practices of Criminalization Almost Killed Salsa in 20th Century New York.

Marquis

Hello to everyone associated with the Book Garden. My name is Marquis, but I go by Quis or Quise. First and foremost I would like to send out a thank you to the God of many names for allowing such a space to exist for us like minded freedom fighters to thrive and share ideas. I especially would like to thank J-Kidd, Ackeem, and Easy ( Evan ) for the roles they have played in my life throughout this journey I've immersed myself in called the abolition of institutionalized slavery. I am an advocate of higher education. For me, in order to be able to irradiate a system we must first immerse ourselves in it to and learn its purpose and plan. My goal is to uncover as much knowledge as possible and share it with those who serve the same purpose. I strive each day to be a man of wisdom, integrity, and substance, a man who doesn't just speak of change but exemplifies it in all facets of life. I am a Leo so for those who subscribe to the signs know I bring pride, and sincerity in everything I do. I look forward to reading the words of all of the beautiful minds that are a part of our garden. Quote of the day, "If you're not committed to anything, then you're distracted by everything." Let our focus be on liberation, of both the mind and body. Be well everyone.  

Elizabeth

 I’m committed to fighting injustice whenever and wherever I can. I believe History is a weapon that can advance liberation in the present and future. I stand by W.E.B. DuBois’s Black Reconstruction as one of our best existing guides for revolution and worldwide emancipation. I don’t read enough fiction. I’m here to learn, to be in community, and to strategize. Justin and the Liberation Live! Contributors are the authors who most inspire me.