EDUCATION VS. IMPRISONMENT

As of late I've read different posts and opinions, on Twitter and FaceBook, on the fact that our government spends more money to imprison than educate.  Now that we are aware of this injustice, what do we do now?

 

Prisoner = slave, slave = free labor.  Prisons are for profit institutions, they guarantee investors 80% occupancy....GUARANTEE!  Now we must ask ourselves how is this possible?  One of the greatest determining factors for the prison population is 3rd grade reading scores.  There is a strong chance if your child is not a great reader by the 3rd grade they may end up in jail.  Now, a large percentage of the prison population are from single parent households, over 70%.  There are many who believe the single mother is the cause of the prison population.  The thing is 70% of the prison population are from single parents.  Now if you told me 70% of children born to single parents were imprisoned then I could agree.

 

Many people in prison have children, this leaves their children to be raised by a single parent, guardian, extended family member or they could be in a foster home or orphanage.  This automatically puts many of those children at a disadvantage and the cycle unfortunately continues.

 

However, back to the question, how does a prison guarantee its investors 80% occupancy???  If anyone has the answer to this question I would love to know.

All problems should be attacked and addressed at the root.  Before we jump to injustice with college education let's start at the root of the issue with primary education.  Let's discuss reduced funding for head start programs, let's discuss some school districts charging for pre-K, let's discuss the fact that kindergarten is not mandatory, let's discuss the fact that you've never taken the time to read to your children, let's discuss the fact that they watch countless hours of senseless television programming that brainwashes and influences them negatively!

 

 Let's be real, if your child received a sub par primary education their chances of success in college are slim.  So, again we have to start from day 1 at birth, you can read to your child while they are in the womb.  You can also explore your options as a parent, your child doesn't have to attend the school in their neighborhood.  At least not in Chicago.  Visit your child's school, volunteer, if you can.  Develop a relationship with their teacher and have open dialogue.  

 

Realistically, I understand that all parents are not involved or have to work to provide that they cannot be involved as they would like to be.  That is where the old adage 'it takes a village to raise a child'.  How can we as a community collectively help each other out with our children etc.?  

 

Be concerned with injustice but understand true revolutionaries die, are falsely imprisoned, they're defamed, their names are dragged through the mud.  If you are about that life and ready for the fate that Malcolm, Martin, Tupac, Assata, Mumia, Mutulu, Pratt, Hampton, Newton, etc. had to face then rise up, revolt, do something!   A petition isn't going to change anything, a march isn't going to change anything, mobilization will change things.

 

It starts with ECONOMIC empowerment.  It starts with knowing what you start, you might not be able to finish just hope that someone else picks up where you left off and keeps it going until change truly comes.  It starts with being ready to die and/or go to jail.

Namaste! Peace! Love! Joy! Favor! Abundance! Prosperity! Light! Awareness!