Class Notes 9/19/23 Response

The introductions in the beginning were a great way to break the ice and get to know one another on a human level.

• Even though the conversations we would later have were serious, these introductions helped us see one another as people who may enjoy the same things (ex: what we like to do on a sunny day)
• Helped us realize that none of us in the class come from the Richmond area, unlike Kelvin and Terence. This is significant because we are not familiar with this area, so that’s one reason some of us decided to take this course.

Terence’s curiosity about why we decided to take this course, and what this course is really about, resonated deeply with me because some of us might not have really thought about this before, the why.

• In this way, we also got to share with Kelvin, Terence, and Dave that we chose this course as a way to engross ourselves with this unfamiliar territory, not just as an “easy A” class.

When Terence said not to minimize these stories’ events, I found myself realizing that this happens all too often in the news and other forms of media. In this class, I hope we do not become desensitized to these real, raw stories.

Learning about Terence and Kelvin’s original goals of this project offered a new perspective from the book compiled by Dave. We are somewhat aware of Dave’s original goal from the text, but we do not get to hear about Terence’s, Kelvin’s, and all the others’ motivation to start such a project.

Kelvin spoke of how we can all relate to adversity. Although not everyone’s idea of adversity is the same, the overall concept of adversity evokes the same feelings of hopelessness and despair. This connects us all as human beings.

When Dave spoke of how his Prison Literature class has expanded beyond prison, he discussed how history plays a role in today’s criminal justice system. Offering this historical perspective allows us to think about how these injustices stem from real events in the past.

• He also discussed how people in the system were neglected. By viewing the system in a broader perspective, we can begin to piece together why the system is the way it is.

When Terence spoke of how ideal situations can differ for certain people, it opens up a whole new can of worms regarding what we grew up with.

• We have different perceptions of the ideal situation because we grew up in different conditions, ones that we grew used to and that would later color our perceptions of what is ideal.

Upon learning that it is more difficult for Kelvin to write now as opposed to in prison was interesting.

• When you’re in prison, writing might feel like the only thing you can do in that situation because it’s a tangible way of coping with your current environment. It might feel like a form of productivity, working towards a way to move forward.

When Terence brought up the definition of “habilitation” rather than “rehabilitation,” I realized that I had never actually heard the word used without the “re.”

• You don’t really consider that form of the word unless you experience something that evokes this consideration.
• It seems like something to spend an afternoon Googling

Overall, this visit was a surreal experience because it’s not everyday you get to meet the authors of a book you’ve read. It’s not just a book either, it’s a book full of real experiences that should not be brushed aside as minimal.