Prison Nation Radio w/ Michael B. Jackson  

An Open Letter to Our Friends on the Question of Language

Dear Friends:

The Center for NuLeadership onUrban Solutions is an activist academic center, public policy think tank andcommunity organizer at Medgar Evers College in the City University of New York.The Center was founded and is directed and staffed by people who were formerlyincarcerated.  It is the first and only one of its kind in the UnitedStates.

One of our first initiatives isto respond to the negative public perception about our population as expressedin the language and concepts used to describe us.  When we are not calledmad dogs, animals, predators, offenders and other derogatory terms, we arereferred to as inmates, convicts, prisoners and felons.  All terms devoidof humanness which identify us as “things” rather than as people.  Theseterms are accepted as the “official” language of the media, law enforcement,the prison industrial complex and public policy agencies.  However, they are no longer acceptable for us and we are askingpeople to stop using them.

In an effort to assist ourtransition from prison to our communities as responsible citizens and to createa more positive human image of ourselves, we are asking everyone to stop usingthese negative terms and to simply refer to us as PEOPLE.  People currently or formerly incarcerated, PEOPLE on parole, PEOPLErecently released from prison, PEOPLEin prison, PEOPLE with criminalconvictions, but PEOPLE.

Wehabitually underestimate the power of language. The bible says, “Deathand life are in the power of the tongue.” In fact, all of the faith traditions recognize the powerof words and, in particular, names that we are given or give ourselves. Ancienttraditions considered the “naming ceremony” one of the most important rites ofpassage. Your name indicated not only who you were and where you belonged, butalso who you could be.  The worst part of repeatedly hearing your negativedefinition of me, is that I begin to believe it myself “for as a manthinketh in his heart, so is he.”  Itfollows then, that calling me inmate, convict, prisoner, felon, or offenderindicates a lack of understanding of who I am, but more importantlywhat I can be.   I canbe and am much more than an “ex-con,” or an “ex-offender,” or an “ex-felon.”

The Center for NuLeadership onUrban Solutions believes that if we can get progressive publications,organizations and individuals like you to stop from using the old offensivelanguage and simply refer to us as “people,” we will have achieved a significant step forward in ourlife giving struggle to be recognized as the human beings we are.  We havemade our mistakes, yes, but we have also paid or are paying our debts tosociety. 

We believe we have the right to becalled by a name we choose, rather than one someone else decides to use. We think that by insisting on being called “people” we reaffirm our right to be recognized as human beings,not animals, inmates, prisoners or offenders. 

We also firmly believe that ifwe cannot persuade you to refer to us, and think of us, as people, then all ourother efforts at reform and change are seriously compromised.

Accordingly, please talk with yourfriends and colleagues about this initiative.  If you agree with ourapproach encourage others to join us.  Use positive language in yourwriting, speeches, publications, web sites and literature. 

When you hear people using thenegative language, gently and respectfully correct them and explain why suchlanguage is hurting us.  Kindly circulate this letter on your various listserves. 

If you disagree with thisinitiative, please write and tell us why at the above address or e-mail us atNuLPG@mec.cuny.edu.  Perhaps, we have overlooked something.

Please join us in making thiscampaign successful.  With your help we can change public opinion, oneperson at a time.  Thank you so much.

In Solidarity and Love,

Eddie Ellis

Executive Director