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Essay: "Neighbors"by Elzie Henson
Being in prison is a hectic thing in itself for anyone and everyone. No one is asked to be put here and certainly no one chooses to stay here. While in prison you run into different people with different ethnics, languages, opinions, and up-bringing. Being in prison is called a learning experience, not to just learn to speak and communicate with one another, but also to try and see each and every other person in your shoes. Some people don't want anything to do with you especially if you're not part of their gang or being bluntly put, in any gang. So-called labels as "he's a 'neutron'," meaning you're in no gang, or "he's an 'X'," meaning you were once a part of a gang, but no longer.
Being in prison is indeed strange, for you may be around some neighbors of your own race yet you all have different beliefs and don't represent what the other does, it's like being in two different worlds. Some people in prison try to take advantage of you and try to make you appear weak, yet you are outnumbered at all costs. You'll either get clicked on by members of the same game. Some neighbors are alright, yet some are respectful. Some people believe they are better than you. Some you see around constantly, they are what you call 'institutionalized', meaning that they've been letting time and the 'the system' do them instead of them doing time. Not being leaders but followers. Having neighbors is okay sometimes. A lot of people you can easily get along with, yet a lot of people have been manipulated and intimidated with fear and other stuff, yet it is all a mind game. They no longer call it lies, it is called running game. These games serve to see what can be gotten out of you by playing mind-games and seeing what you can and are able to catch on to. Learn to recognize a lie for what it is; a lie. Learn the system and its ways and do your time not letting others make it hard. Stay away from drugs and homosexuals, and learn to keep your mouth shut, eyes and ears always open, you'll learn a lot and you'll use a better judgment from that. Find a good friend to keep it real with, stick together and be there for one another, yet you can't trust everyone. This is an evil place with a lot of evil people in it. A lot of people, including your neighbors, don't care if you wake up the next day; they only want what they can get out of you. So take the time and know what's what, keep your mind and body strong and try to stay ready for all and everything. Best advice for someone coming to prison, stay away from Gangs. Learn a trade whenever possible, something that will benefit you once you're back in the free-world, get your education. Once you get it upstairs they can't take it away from you. |