Prison Reformism: The Molding of Docile Prisoners
Liberation for prisoners will not be won through reforms designed to splinter our movement
by Tomas Afeworki
In the not so distant past, many recognized the inhumane, militaristic oppression that was embedded into the fabric of the prison slavery system.
This recognition produced political awareness about the social, economic and cultural impacts of poverty. That awareness influenced many of us to radically defy this unjust status quo.
In this movement’s heyday, heroes like George Jackson exposed the new slave labor system in pursuit of revolutionary changes. A unified front of Black, White, Red, Yellow and Brown organic intellectuals fostered ideas for true change.
The uprising in Attica demonstrated the power and potential of the movement. That fact was not lost upon FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Democratic congressman Richard H. Ichord. So they created the House Internal Security Committee (HISC). Through this committee, they implemented secret programs that targeted the intellectuals, co-opted plans, and created splits to neutralize and isolate the prison revolutionary movement. This was also referred to as the Prison Activist Surveillance Program.
The idea was simple: to create reformist counterinsurgency. Using the word “reform” as camouflage, prisons created an internal manual. From this emerged the “Prison Level System” and creation of minimum, medium, and maximum facilities. It was a major win for prison corporations and their desire to expand. More physical structures had to be built. This unsurprisingly coincided with a 500 percent increase in the prison population that took place between 1970 up until the 2000’s. This phenomena is often referred to as mass incarceration.
The genius of this counterinsurgency campaign was that it had hardcore revolutionaries unwittingly advocating for a reformist agenda that split the movement. The prisoners movement has not yet recovered. Rebuilding the movement is difficult because these reforms successfully quelled revolutionary impulses in favor of developing a prison population that is at present largely docile, untrained, and uneducated.
They can buy products after begging their family for money. They are fed. They are given modern comforts like TV, candy, food packages, property packages, and access to prescription drugs.
Everyday I see Brothas standing in line for pills awaiting drugs to help them conceal their problems. They turn into zombies.
The cancerous food served in the cafeteria fattens the pockets of corporations while taxpayers foot the the bill. There is no dish washer so food trays are dipped in chemicals that cause internal health problems.
It is now hard to see the silent killer as it is not readily identifiable. Until of course, you fight to get out of prison then you see how unaccommodating the prison becomes, and how treacherous the the courts are to the constitution. One’s rights become nonexistent.
Having seen all this, it’s amazing that we have Brothas and Sistas who overcame the odds to get out of prison but are politically brainwashed by reformist ideology without even knowing the origin of such programs.
Is it shocking that virtually every prison program that has been created financially benefits prison corporations. To further enslave more of the population a bill has to be signed to allocate more funding, under the guise of “educational help programs” or “diversity programs.”
We are faced with a startling problem as our societal defects go unaddressed and the effects of oppressive capitalism go unchecked.
I do see a solution. The effects of J Edgar Hoover and democratic congressman Richard H. Ichord’s mirage of reform also left a weak spot, an Achilles heel, if you will.
We are in prime position, mingling with judges, lawyers, and politicians, who depend on us. LEGAL CLINICS that provide legal assistance can easily be formed, likeminded souls can be galvanized, we can strategize to get more people out of prison. The opportunities are there and it can be profitable (that discussion is for another article). Rebuilding the revolutionary prisoners movement and the formation of legal clinics in solidarity will crumble the new slavery system once and for all.
But this requires decolonization of the mind. We have to address the fact that we have been conditioned - brainwashed even - by our oppressor into believing that the only way we can rise is by oppressing each other. This cycle has kept us financially broke and generationally enslaved.
We should be quick to remember the best way to subdue an enemy is without lifting a finger. We can have political power. It is up to us to muster the inner will to use it for JUSTICE.
Tomas S. Afeworki is a Pan-Afriqan illustrator and human rights activist focused on the social and political protection of the diaspora. Through grassroots organizations, community celebrations and legislative summits, he aims to unify a coalition for freedom and is inspired by Nelson Mandela’s quote, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere.”
Afeworki maintains that he has been wrongfully convicted and incarcerated for a crime he did not commit and is actively fighting for his freedom.
Following in the steps of leaders that inspire his purpose like Nelson Mandela, George Jackson, and Assata Shakur, he seeks justice for himself and his fellow bothers and sisters that have been victimized by a corrupt judicial system.
To learn more about Tomas S. Afeworki and support his exoneration please visit: www.FreeTomas.com