HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PORWERS THAT BE

(written for Texas death row prisoners)

By Kenneth “Haramia” Foster #999232

To survive adequately in the prison environment it’s necessary to understand its makeup. The more you know, the better you can maintain. Survival doesn’t just come from understanding how other inmates’ minds work, but how your captors’ minds work.

When you look into the minds of your captors you’ll see that they aren’t just trained to be your keepers, but your oppressors. As much as oppression can come from action, it can also come from inaction. This is a tactic that Texas Death Row inmates are facing.

Inmates are like people stranded on a deserted island. No one can get to us and we can’t get to them. Therefore, we have to make the best with what we do have. We have a certain amount of items that we’re supposed to get every week and if we remain silent in the face of not receiving these items then that silence is like an approval.

The reality is – Texas’ death row remains at the bottom of the pit because we don’t speak up for ourselves. We don’t put enough drama in these peoples’ lives to where they will do the right thing. Through our silence and inactivity we have wounded ourselves. If we don’t care enough to complain or file a grievance, why should anyone else? We have to be our number 1 supporters. We can’t expect others to feed us like babies. We talk about being men, so let’s act like it.

There are a few simple things that we can do to remind these people of the ailments we face:

Any person on the pod starts to make a list of the problems going on. Do it by cards/shifts. The shifts here roll in 4 day intervals. There’s 1 card 1st shift, 1 card 2nd shift, 2 card 1st shift, 2 card 2nd shift. Make a list for 1 card and 2 card. If they roll up at night with no socks, towels, bippy, no milk at breakfast, make a log:

January 1st, 2 card 2nd shift, no socks, no milk – officer Johnson working.

At the end of the card request to see a Sgt. and place it in his hands. Let him see with his own eyes the problems. Ask someone you know, who will do it, on the other side of the pod to the same. If they won’t, just try and find out how things are on your own (eg – if a sink or toilet is broke), and add to your list. If need be, make a couple of copies and send one to the captain, major or warden. Instead of saying “damn pigs don’t have/do shit”, put it on some paper. This is a small step to rectifying our own problems.

When you file a grievance, make a little note and post it in the dayroom – and make a copy for another dayroom, or simply pass it around to dudes you know and ask them to file one (if it’s an issue that pertains to the whole). Find stuff to grieve, make the system do work, they don’t make it easy on us so why should we make it easy on them?

When neglect is really rampant – ask your family or pen-friends to make a complaint. On the next few pages will be some TDC addresses to direct your issues to.

These are three small things that can make a big difference in our environment. If the dayrooms aren’t being cleaned, address these people. Inmates are quick to check another or hop in another’s business, but what about addressing these problems? If we focused our energy on the true problem maker – the system – we’d have a lot more. You don’t have to get gassed or fade the team either. A Lt. told me flat out “you death row inmates don’t have to do shit (he meant in a physical fashion) – y’all go so much support, websites etc. to where all y’all got to do is put your pens to work and you’d get all you wanted.” This is a systemized officer telling me this. They see it and we don’t even see it. Wake up and realize that we’re responsible for making our own conditions better. No death row is talked about like Texas. Utilize that damn coverage! Talk about issues on your sites and get your friends to do the same on those forums. How can we expect change when we don’t initiate it and accept filth? Stand up Death Row!!! We’re human being and still deserve to be treated as such. But, if we chose to accept what we get – don’t turn around and complain in the next breath. Take your beefs to the system. You don’t beg for your rights, you go get them. Seize the time.

Kenneth Haramia Foster #999232

Polunsky Unit

3872 FM 350 South

Livingston, Tx. 77351

U.S.A.

D.R.I.V.E.

DEATH Row INNER-COMMUNALIST VANGUARD ENGAGEMENT