Month: September 2023 Page 9 of 14

Dr. Coogan

By Haven Buechner

On September 12, 2023

In Brice, Haven, Javier, Mitch, prep note

What we know about him: VCU professor, has a daughter, etc.

Purpose: The opportunity to make a difference through his teaching – asking “why?”

Questions to ask:

How has the prison literature class progressed since the book came out?
What would you do differently (cliche?)
Is he still in contact with the guys in the book/how often does he meet with them?
How has his story progressed since the end of the book?
What happened that didn’t make it into the book?
How did he learn which questions to ask?
How did you prepare for the visits/classes?

Page numbers: xi-xii, 1-4, 5, 7-16, 241 (beginning of each chapter), 54, 33, 120,

Themes:

Perspective:
- “‘That’s why I asked if you jumped or got dropped into the tank,’ I say, taking advantage of the moment.”
- “‘OK, right there!’ I say. ‘What made you let that change happen? I mean, it could have been a one-time thing, couldn’t it? You weren’t looking to get high that night. What made you want to go back and keep getting high? What were you really looking for?'”
- “‘You always knew the right questions to ask.'”
- “‘Now, you’re looking at a guy who grew up in an upper-middle-class, white suburb in Connecticut. In Connecticut!’ I repeat, spreading my arms wide.”
Guidance (Mentor):
- What does he become to them? A character witness, a sponsor, a connection to the outside, a way of connecting to themselves? There’s a note that some people are followers, and when they’re together, they follow him.
- “‘But everyone’s life is a drama,’ I argue. ‘The real question is who wrote the script. You’ve been playing a role I the streets that’s led you into jail. In order to play another role in life that keeps you out of jail, you need to write a new script. And to do that, you n need to figure out how the old script got made, which means you need to question generalizations like ‘the streets’ and ‘peer pressure.’ You have to figure out what those things really are to you.'”
- “‘We’re the stew,’ Ronald says, turning toward him. ‘Dave’s just stirring the pot.'” (pg 15)

Kelvin’s Story Summary

By William Sheets

On September 12, 2023

In Nick G, prep note, Wesley, Will L, Will S

Kelvin’s story:

Pg 16-18:
Absentee father, mother who is very supportive, even though she resorts to stealing to support her kids. Regularly smoking merijuana by the age eleven. This section really highlights how supportive his mother was.

Pg 54-57:
Begins to sell weed as a highschool freshman. He graduates to selling cocaine and becomes a big time dealer.

Pg 58-59:
Kelvin’s mom begins to accept that dealing is Kelvin’s way of life and that she can’t stop him. Kelvin mentions that he still does feel bad when selling drugs, but it’s what he has to do to stay afloat.

Pg 120-121:
Kelvin gets a girl named Kelly pregnant. She lies to him, telling him that she got an abortion, causing him to cry. He explains that this makes him “soft”. When Kelly actually does have the baby, Kelvin recognizes that being a mother caused her to grow as a person, while he struggles to grow and be mature enough to keep Kelly around. Eventually, they grow apart.

Pg 192-194:
Kelvin explains how he got close with the other inmates in prison. He talks again about how important it is to be perceived as “tough”. He compares prison to slavery.

Pg 216:
This section details how Kelvin goes back to prison for a second time after being released a month prior, presumably for the same crime of drug possession.

Pg 234-236:
After his release, Kelvin tries to make a sincere effort to turn his life around, motivated by the birth of his second child, Kentrell. He sees Kentrell begin to go down the same path he did, and he tries to change his ways to set a good example for his son, but it’s difficult. The last part of this section talks about how his mother’s death is a key motivation for him.

Themes:

Family:

“But these inmates around me are family, even if I don’t want to admit it” (192)

“It wasn’t until my firstborn, Lil Kelvin, wrote me a letter in prison and told me that he needed me that I made up my mind never to sell again. That letter was- and still is- my motivation.” (234)

Emotional vulnerability is seen as weak:

“That night, in front of Thalhimers, on the corner of Seventh and Broad, is when Ishowed a sign of weakness that I never recovered from. I cried.” (120)

“We act too damn hard when it comes to this type of thing. I’m going to tell y’all the truth: I was soft!” (120)

“If a man cries in these places, it’s the beginning of the end, because now you are considered soft.” (192)

Outline of Najis’ Story & Themes

By Angelos Charalampos Bouras

On September 12, 2023

In Chang, kristine, prep note

Page	Summary
26	Realizes his mother is dead by trying to wake her up
35	Highlights the differences between races and embraces his identity
76	Thoroughly describes and comments on the environment and feelings of the funeral
89	Starts irresponsible behaviors; stealing and drugs
112	Questions his religion after getting exposed to the Quran
130	Feels lost after being released & meets Adriene with her kids starting to caring for them
195	Analyses Islam as a religion and underlines his conversion
206	Discovers his grandmother has Alzheimer taking care of her no matter her past
232	Reflects on how therapeutic and revealing writing was in his life

Themes
Identity: “I can’t be detected, defined, or circumscribed: I fit no multicultural niche, I have no political affiliation. I am the Black Ghost: cunning, illusive, deadly” (36).
Religion: “By the time I finish reading the verse, teasers are streaming in torrents down my face!… My heart is drawn into depths and purifies in its wisdom. It is the most profound thing I have ever read. ”
Race: “I am the black ghost: cunning, illusive, deadly. I process an insatiable appetite to prove to myself and to the world that I am more than the victim of the judgment of daylight.”

Writing Our Way Out Story Summary (Terence)

By Julia Dalmanieras

On September 12, 2023

In Ana, Julia, Kaylee, prep note

Terence’s Story

145-148
- Unsure of his mother’s love for him, comes home after having paint spilled on him to no one’s home, mother goes to school and confronts them. Eventually, his mom moved him to a better school. Talks about being beaten, and was conflicted because he wanted to know he was loved. Refused to be walked over, pushed around, did not like authority.
- Had a teacher mentor him (Mr. Mattox), a couple more teachers mentored him too but Mattox had the biggest impact. Was the father figure he never had.
185-188
- Started smoking weed as a teen in order to escape his reality and to be cool. He lacked direction and wanted to fit in. Despite his disdain for authority he then joined the military and got addicted to harder drugs (cocaine).
- He then has a child, this pushes him to better himself so he goes to college, but then drops out due to his drug abuse. He’s not struggling mentally and resorts to doing crack-cocaine.
194-195
- Story of heading into prison. Looking back at his life, how was in college and planning to be a lawyer. Chained up with twenty men around him, discussing the emotions of anger, hurt, regret, etc.
- Discussed the way that he truly grew and became an “alpha male” (based on his being raised in femininity) is to know you are strong, week, caring, and sharing, which is “our true dominion”
233
- In Terence’s final message he focuses on his mother and her perspective of him, and how she is disappointed by his past (getting married young and going to jail), yet supportive of how he tries to change and grow. He still believes he acts as a child, and this is further emphasized by his love for his mother, which hasn’t waned since he was a boy.

Themes:

Relationship with his mother
1. “Her intent was forthcoming, but her words and actions only created questions for me, none greater than the question of mother’s love: was it there for me?” (145).
2. “It was just recently I learned for the first time what my mother thinks about many of my choices in life, from the early age of fifteen up until my return home from prison four months ago” (233).
Substance Abuse
1. “You never think about where life is taking you through your usage of drugs. They always provide an escape. It’s only when they create a problem in your life that you are aware of their adverse effects” (185)
2. “He is barely getting along. I’m on the verge of losing everything.” (187)
Perseverance and Regret
1. “America is the land of second chances, but then when we come home — ‘Have you ever been convicted of a felony?’ These are forms we need to fill out to even get licensed to do certain things.”
2. “Every time you compromise something inside you, your spirit dies. Will I say all was bad? The answer is no. Learning to bond and make friends was just as important” (194).

09-12-23 Prep Note

By Brice Di Carlo

On September 12, 2023

In Brice, prep note

Writing Our Way Out is a novel that considerably changed my views on incarceration and those who find themselves in prison. The book didn’t place emphasis on the crimes of the prisoners, but instead focused on the impact of childhood and the rehabilitation process for prisoners once they returned to the real world or while they were in jail. The second half of the novel shocked me in that not everybody had a “happy ending.” In fact, many of the prisoners ended up serving more terms in prison after the writing workshop was completed. Despite the workshop being a strong foundation for personal reflection, those that got rearrested couldn’t stay away from the justice system, whether it be due to societal biases (racism as told by Coogan) or the fact that many men coming out of incarceration aren’t prepared to return to a life of free will and social dynamics. This sheds light on flaws pertaining to the justice system, as it stresses punishment rather than personal growth. Many men who come out of prison return to the same relationships, lifestyles, and thus actions that got themselves into prison in the first place.

The story that I wanted to focus on was the life of Stan. More specifically, I wanted to focus on the impact that storytelling had on his life after being released. From having a poor relationship with his father to getting caught into prostitution, Stan faced many of the struggles that afflicted other prisoners in their stories. Despite this however, Stan starts to find and connect with himself at a greater level while in prison. Through a deeper understanding of his faith, Stan realizes that his body is the temple of the living God. Trying to pursue a loving life of God as he leaves prison, Stan uses his faith as a firm foundation in his everyday life. Whether it be smoking or any other material things that negatively impacts his life, he wants to stay away from it. Learning that he negatively affected others Stan realizes that by turning his life around he needs to be the bright light for everyone else to see.

Prep Note – 9/12/2023

By Mitchell Parker

On September 12, 2023

In Mitch, prep note

Naji Mujahid’s grandmother was the only legal guardian that could look after him and his brother throughout his childhood. Both Naji and his brother were brutally abused for the majority of their adolescence. Eventually, Naji would become incarcerated at a young age and adjust to life in prison. He found strength in intellectually bettering people, especially on religious terms, and held his moral superiority highly. Later on, he met someone who was not phased by his implied religious superiority and was eventually given the Qur’an. His reading of this prompted him to change his entire belief system, religious faith (from the ‘five percenters’ to Islam), and name (from James Canaday to Naji Mujahid). After his release from prison, he would gain sympathy for his grandmother who had developed Alzheimer’s in his absence and continue his Islamic faith.

prep note 9/12

By Ana Michaelis

On September 12, 2023

In Ana, prep note

Writing our Way out has been an incredible novel to read. It means so much to know that these are these mens real stories, and also that all of this happened in Richmond. It says a lot about the bubble that we live in here on campus compared to the communities that these men grew up in. It is beautiful to see the way that these men have transformed their lives, and it is also so powerful to hear their stories and try to understand the struggle that these men have had to endure.

Since our last class period, as I have been reading the book I have been looking at which of these mens stories appeal to me the most, and who I would potentially like to write about. I really enjoy Naji’s story, I think there is so much beauty in his religious transformation, but most of all in the way that he forgave his grandmother for the disgusting abuse she put him through. And went to take care of her while she had Alzheimer’s. He seems like a selfless individual.

I am very thankful for the opportunity to have read this book in class, and I am very excited to meet with Dave and Kelvin.

Prep Note – 9/12/2023

By Angelos Charalampos Bouras

On September 12, 2023

In Angelos, prep note

Writing our way out truly was a transformative book.

We are used to consuming happy-ending books with a start, middle, and end while this book does not follow that structure. I found really interesting the placement of the stories throughout the book and even though in the beginning it may have been confusing, after a few chapters it made total sense. This structure allows the reader to find common themes across the main characters and dive deep into their stories. Even though there is a flow followed in the book, it basically does not have an ending. It is based on real people continuing their lives outside the book and therefore continuing their own version of the book and their families are going to be the next generations to continue and so on.

Moreover, this book changed to a significant extent the way I view certain things. I was always trying to be aware of my privileges but after reading the stories of people living around me, I truly understood how privileged I am and how significant that can be in someone’s life. This book taught me that the easiest thing we can do is to judge someone based on their outcomes but most of the time that comes from a place of privilege and ignorance. We truly can not understand someone’s path in life until we start listening to their stories; they truly are a transmission power that unites and shapes people for the better.

Therefore, Writing Our Way Out sheds light on the potential for writing as a tool for rehabilitation and personal growth, offering a poignant exploration of how storytelling and self-expression can provide a pathway to redemption and transformation for those who have been entangled in the criminal justice system.

Prep Note – 9/12/2023

By Nicholas Javier

On September 12, 2023

In Javier, prep note

The novel “Writing Our Way Out” culminated into an interesting experience. As mentioned before, it retains a true darkness that is much more serious and much more uncomfortable than the usual style of darkness involved in my normal kind of books. This is because of how based in reality, how the events were actually reality, they were memoirs who shaped out how characters used to be. I found that the overlaps, even as they approached and wrapped up their stories became exceedingly interesting– how Naji and another found religion, how there were those who found recovery in their families, and how there were those who didn’t have a happy ending- how many of them still come back to Dr. Coogan to visit and discuss with him.

Naji’s story intrigued me the most. His story started out different than others- having experienced the love and warmth of a mother, only to lose her suddenly and have his whole world change. It draws back to the earlier notion in the novel that emphasized along the lines of why Black men love and appreciate their mommas, even if in certain cases they weren’t the most kind. But the depth of his story goes further. Thrown into a life riddled with harsh treatment and abuse by his grandparents (which eventually comes full cycle when Naji ends up taking care of his grandmother). Even as he escapes, he is inevitably sent back to her.

As he seeks affection and love, and after finding it in substance-abuse, in order to pay for that lifestyle and resorting to stealing– he finds himself incarcerated. Within this incarceration, he ends up finding faith in Christianity- observing but then disdaining Islam and joining the 5% faith. This element of contemplation actually spurred on a desire for knowledge and growth. Eventually he would convert to Islam after an awakening experience. After that, he was released and began building a life.

Naji’s story stands out to me because of the personal role that faith played in turning his life around. While I cannot say I have had such a dramatic transformation or such faith of steel, the element of belief, and self-understanding that shaped him and drove him forward was powerful. He wasn’t the only one whose faith saved him, but he was the one that stood out the most to me.

Prep Notes 9/12

By Zhuoyan Wen

On September 12, 2023

In prep note, Wesley

Memoirs serve as a powerful tool to truly understand an individual, delving beyond the surface to explore their experiences, family background, and social circles, and revealing the essence of their inner thoughts. “Writing Our Way Out” presents a unique opportunity to gain insight into a group often shunned by society: criminals. The program’s founder, David Coogan, views memoir writing as a means of rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals. Coogan guides them through a journey of self-discovery by examining their upbringing, helping them grasp the struggles they faced as children. By dissecting prisoners’ childhoods, this program uncovers the complete personalities of these individuals, providing a comprehensive understanding of the motivations behind their crimes. Digging into prisoners’ inner cores, their evilness dispelled and their kindness, sympathy, and their enthusiasm for life came back.

As I explore the narratives of these characters and their innermost souls, one realization becomes clear: nobody is born a criminal. Factors such as an absent father or growing up in an environment rife with crime, drugs, and despair can be catalysts of crime. Take Dean, for instance, whose father proved to be a neglectful presence in his life, yet he still love him. Similarly, Stan, living in a cramped one-bedroom apartment on Grace Street, constantly wanted to make changes – he joined a sales team that sold magazines door-to-door. However, life always exploits them ruthlessly.

In my perspective, this book serves not only as a record of prisoners’ journeys towards redemption but also as a heartfelt outcry from the underprivileged against the injustices they have endured in life.