ANNOUNCER: FUNDING FOR "COLLEGE BEHIND BARS" WAS PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE BETTER ANGELS SOCIETY.
JOHN AND CATHERINE DEBS, THE SCHWARTZ/REISMAN FOUNDATION, THE COUSINS FOUNDATION, THE ABRAMS FOUNDATION, TED DINTERSMITH AND ELIZABETH HAZARD, THE McCLOSKEY FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST.
FUNDING WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY: THE FORD FOUNDATION JUSTFILMS AND THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES; BY MEG AND TOMAS BERGSTRAND; REGINA K. SCULLY; THE LISE STRICKLER AND MARK GALLOGLY CHARITABLE FUND; PATTY QUILLIN; AND BY THESE ADDITIONAL FUNDERS.
AND BY GENEROUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
AT BANK OF AMERICA, WE BELIEVE IN THE POWER TO BREAK DOWN BARRIERS.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SPONSOR "COLLEGE BEHIND BARS" FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCER KEN BURNS AND DIRECTOR LYNN NOVICK, HIGHLIGHTING THE TRUE POWER OF EDUCATION.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE THE POWER TO DO?
HIGHLIGHTING THE TRUE POWER OF EDUCATION.
[WOMAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY ON P.A.
SYSTEM] ["A CHANGE IS GONNA COME" BY SAM COOKE PLAYING] JULE HALL: BEIN' IN PRISON FOR SO LONG, I CAN'T SAY THE THINGS THAT I EXPERIENCED THERE ARE NO LONGER PART OF ME.
SAM COOKE: ♪ I WAS BORN BY THE RIVER ♪ ♪ IN A LITTLE TENT ♪ ♪ OH, AND JUST LIKE THE RIVER, I'VE BEEN A-RUNNIN' ♪ ♪ EVER SINCE... ♪ HALL: I WAS ON A TRAIN, AND THIS LADY GOT ON AND SHE EXPLAINED SHE WAS HOMELESS AND SHE WOULD SING A SONG FOR US.
COOKE: ♪ BUT I KNOW ♪ ♪ A CHANGE GONNA COME ♪ HALL: AND SHE SUNG SAM COOKE'S, I BELIEVE, "A CHANGE GONNA COME."
♪ COOKE: ♪ THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES THAT I THOUGHT... ♪ HALL: AND THAT WAS ONE SONG, WHEN I WAS IN PRISON, THAT I ALWAYS FELT EMOTIONAL WHENEVER I HEARD IT.
SO, UH, SHE WENT THROUGH THIS BEAUTIFUL RENDITION OF SAM COOKE'S "A CHANGE GONNA COME" THAT THE TEARS WAS FLOODIN' IN MY EYES.
AND WHEN SHE FINISHED, THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT CAME TO MY HEAD WAS, "I GOTTA GET OUTTA PRISON."
HERE I AM, STANDIN' ON THE "A" TRAIN, AND THE THOUGHT CAME IN MY HEAD, "I NEED TO GET OUTTA PRISON."
I HAVE TO REMIND MYSELF, "YO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT NO MORE."
[DISTANT, INDISTINCT SHOUTING] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY OVER P.A.
SYSTEM] ARE YOU THEIR PROFESSOR?
THE, UH-- YEAH, I'M THE--I TEACH AMERICAN POLITICS AT WEST POINT.
I WAS A DEBATER WHEN I WAS A CADET, AND SO I'M THE OFFICER IN CHARGE AND DEBATE COACH FOR-- AND YOU'VE BEEN HERE PREVIOUSLY?
I WAS HERE LAST YEAR.
[INDISTINCT, OVERLAPPING CHATTER] RODNEY SPIVEY-JONES, VOICE-OVER: I TOOK A CLASS WITH THE COACH OF THE DEBATE UNION.
IT WAS A PUBLIC SPEAKING COURSE.
PRIOR TO TAKING THAT COURSE, I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING.
[POLICE RADIO BEEPS] MAN: OH, HERE WE GO.
THERE THEY ARE.
SPIVEY-JONES: YOU CAN'T PREPARE FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOUR OPPONENT IS GONNA COME UP WITH, BUT YOU DO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN TO REFUTE IT, TO ATTACK THEIR ARGUMENTS, AND TO PROVE THAT YOU'RE RIGHT.
AND I GUESS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK A LOT OF US ON THE TEAM LIKE TO DO, TO SAY, "YOU'RE WRONG, WE'RE RIGHT, AND HERE'S WHY."
MAN 2: TODAY'S TOPIC WILL BE RESOLVED.
THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD NATIONALIZE THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
BARD WILL AFFIRM THIS STATEMENT, AND WEST POINT WILL NEGATE.
AT THE END, THE PANEL OF JUDGES WILL DETERMINE A WINNER, EITHER BY CONSENSUS OR CALL A VOTE.
SO WITH THAT, I WISH THEM ALL GOOD LUCK AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
MAN 3: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, NOTHING THAT ANY-- THAT I OR ANY OF MY PARTNERS SAY IS REFLECTIVE OF THE VIEWS OF THE UNITED STATES MILITARY ACADEMY... [LAUGHTER] THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, THE ARMY, OR THE GOVERNMENT AS A WHOLE.
WOMAN: AW.
♪ DYJUAN TATRO: THE FIRST SPEAKER SHOULD COME UP AND PRESENT THIS COHERENT, REALLY, REALLY CLEAR CASE THAT OUTLINES THE PROBLEM.
WE PROPOSE THAT THE U.S. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NATIONALIZE THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
WE ARE PROPOSING A PARADIGM SHIFT, PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLE, LIFE-SAVING OVER MONEY-MAKING.
YOUNG: MANY LIFE-SAVING DRUGS ON THE MARKET TODAY ARE UNAFFORDABLE FOR MOST PEOPLE.
THE PHARMA INDUSTRY IS NOT INTERESTED IN PUBLIC HEALTH.
SO KEEGAN JUST GAVE A VERY GOOD SPEECH ABOUT THE EVILS OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, BUT WHAT I THINK HE FORGOT TO DO IS TO DISCUSS THE HISTORY OF THIS INDUSTRY.
IN THE YEAR 1900, THERE WERE 3 PRIMARY KILLERS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE WORLD: TUBERCULOSIS, DIARRHEA, AND PNEUMONIA.
TODAY, LETHAL INSTANCES OF THESE DISEASES HAVE ALMOST BEEN ERADICATED DUE TO THE UNITED STATES PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
TATRO, VOICE-OVER: THEN, AS WE MOVE DOWN THE BENCH, EACH SPEAKER SHOULD BE REFUTING WHATEVER WEST POINT HAS SAID SO FAR.
I WOULD LIKE TO REFUTE THEIR CHARACTERIZATION OF THE HISTORY OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
ROBINSON: THE GOVERNMENT IS ALREADY SPENDING MORE MONEY ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT RIGHT NOW THAN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IS SPENDING.
ACCORDING TO THE SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, THE N.I.H.
ALREADY SUPPORTS THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY BY SPENDING $30 BILLION A YEAR.
SPIVEY-JONES: BY NATIONALIZATION, WE MEAN THIS.
THE N.I.H.
WILL TAKE COMPLETE CONTROL OF EVERY ASPECT OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
OUR PLAN ENSURES THAT NO ONE HAS TO PAY A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A PILL, THAT CANCER MEDICATIONS DO NOT COST $500,000.
THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE.
SPIVEY-JONES: TRANSPARENCY AND COLLABORATION, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WILL PRODUCE INNOVATIVE, THERAPEUTIC, AND LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS, NOT PROFIT.
IT IS PROFIT MOTIVE, AS MY TEAMMATE CLIFTON POINTED OUT, THAT CORRUPTS THE INDUSTRY.
SO, LOOK, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT A QUESTION, A NORMATIVE QUESTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE WE CAN ALL ADMIT THAT WHAT SHOULD BE IS THAT EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO THE DRUGS THAT THEY NEED TO SURVIVE.
THAT'S NOT A QUESTION THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEBATE.
WHAT WE'RE DEBATING TODAY IS THAT ULTIMATELY, THE GOVERNMENT ITSELF IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET WHAT YOU NEED IN ORDER TO SURVIVE AND LIVE TO THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE ONE, THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE PERFECT ROLE RIGHT NOW WHEN IT COMES TO BEING PARTIALLY IN THE MARKET, BUT NOT COMPLETELY IN CONTROL.
SECONDLY, THE PRIVATE SECTOR HAS A BETTER INTEREST WHEN IT COMES TO PROVIDING THE DRUGS THAT ARE NECESSARY VERSUS THE GOVERNMENT'S BIAS.
AND FINALLY, ULTIMATELY, WE HAVE SOLUTIONS IN PLACE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT THE AFFIRMATIVE HAD TALKED ABOUT IN A WAY THAT CAN SAVE US ALL.
[APPLAUSE] MEDIATOR: WE'RE NOW GOING TO HAVE THE JUDGES ADJOURN FOR A FEW MINUTES, AND IN THE MEANTIME, I'M GOING TO OPEN THE FLOOR FOR QUESTIONS OF THE DEBATERS.
MAN: I'M WONDERING IF TODAY, COMING HERE, THIS EXPERIENCE, MEETING WITH THESE FORMIDABLE OPPONENTS, HAS CHANGED-- WELL, HOW HAS IT CHANGED YOUR IMAGE OF PRISONERS?
CASTON: UM, THIS ISN'T-- THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT I'VE BEEN TO A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.
THERE'S FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT I'VE GONE TO SEE BEFORE, AND, UH, THIS REALLY JUST IS DIFFERENT FROM THE EXPERIENCE THAT I HAD WHEN I WENT TO SEE THEM, AND I JUST--I THINK THIS IS AWESOME.
YOU KNOW, LIKE, DEBATE REALLY HELPED CHANGE THE WAY THAT I SEE ABOUT THE WORLD, AND IT JUST REALLY GIVES ME A LOT OF, LIKE, HAPPINESS TO SEE THAT EVEN HERE, THAT, LIKE, THESE TRANSFORMATIONS THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF WHAT KNOWLEDGE CAN PRODUCE AND BEING ABLE TO EMPOWER YOURSELF AND SPEAK CAN HAPPEN TO OTHER PEOPLE JUST BESIDES MYSELF, YOU KNOW?
[APPLAUSE] THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT DECISION TO MAKE.
IN FACT, WE WERE 3-2 FOR THE OPPOSITION.
THE NEGATIVE TEAM FROM WEST POINT, UH, WINS THIS DEBATE.
AGAIN, FANTASTIC WORK BY BOTH DEBATERS.
THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY CLOSE DEBATE.
THANK YOU AGAIN VERY MUCH.
[APPLAUSE] [WALKIE-TALKIE, INDISTINCT] SPIVEY-JONES: YOU WIN SOME, YOU LOSE SOME.
WE'RE GONNA LEARN FROM THIS.
I'M PRETTY SURE THE NEXT TIME WE MEET--THE DEBATE UNION MEETS TUESDAY-- WE'RE GONNA SIT DOWN AND DEAL WITH SOME HARD QUESTIONS.
WE BOTH BROUGHT OUR "A" GAME TODAY, AND THEY WERE THE BETTER TEAM.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER] MAN: [WHISTLES] GO.
TATRO: MY BROTHER IS HOME FROM PRISON.
HE'S BEEN IN A HALF-WAY HOUSE, IN A HALF-WAY HOUSE FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN 6 YEARS.
♪ AND IT'S VERY HARD TRYING TO BRIDGE THAT GAP.
THERE'S NO BARD IN THAT PRISON.
HE HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET AN EDUCATION.
WHILE HE WAS THERE, HE'S ATTAINED HIS G.E.D., BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH END POINT, AND IT'S HARD.
YOU KNOW, IT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER, AND WE'RE REALLY CLOSE IN AGE, AND I FAILED HIM IN SOME WAYS ALREADY, SO YOU FEEL GUILTY BEING IN COLLEGE.
HERE THEY ARE, TELLING HIM, "KANAN, WHY CAN'T YOU BE MORE LIKE DYJUAN?"
AND THIS IS SOMETHING HE WANTED TO BE HIS WHOLE LIFE, YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING THAT GOT HIM INTO PRISON.
I WAS SELLING DRUGS.
I HAD NICE CLOTHES.
I HAD NICE CARS.
YOU KNOW, HE WANTED THEM THINGS, TOO, BUT NOW I'M DOING SOMETHING THAT HE CAN'T DO BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY, AND IT'S HARD.
[DOOR CLOSES] TATRO: I CAN STILL LIFT YOU UP?
SEE HOW BIG YOU GOT.
OH, MY GOD.
[GRUNTS] Y'ALL TWINS TODAY?
WE BOTH GOT THE SAME COLORS.
WHAT'S UP?
YOU ALL RIGHT?
YUP.
YOU MISS ME?
YEAH, I MISS YOU ALL THE TIME.
NICE.
HOW YOU FEELING?
I'M ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S UP, MAN?
[KISS] YOU ALL RIGHT?
YOU GOOD?
I'M ALL RIGHT.
WHAT'S UP?
COME ON, MOM.
I GOT YOU.
TATRO, VOICE-OVER: MY MOTHER HAS A NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE THAT LEADS TO INVOLUNTARY MUSCLE MOVEMENTS.
THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I GOT TO MAKE EVERYTHING IN BARD WORK OUT RIGHT AND GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL, JUST SO, YOU KNOW, I CAN TAKE CARE OF MY MOM AND MAKE SURE SHE'S ALL RIGHT BECAUSE SHE'S TAKEN CARE OF ME FOR SO LONG AND CONTINUES TO TAKE CARE OF ME.
KANAN, VOICE-OVER: PHYSICALLY SHE'S GETTING OLDER, BUT EMOTIONALLY AND MENTALLY, SHE DRAINED FOR WHAT ME AND DYJUAN PUT HER THROUGH AND STILL PUT HER THROUGH BY US BEIN' INCARCERATED.
KANAN TATRO: TAKIN' TRIPS 5, 6 HOURS, 7 HOURS AWAY TO COME SEE US WHEREVER WE AT, IT TAKES ITS TOLL ON YOU.
"AH."
ALL RIGHT.
THEY'RE LOOKING GOOD.
YOU BEEN FLOSSING?
MM-HMM.
THE DENTIST SAID THAT I DON'T HAVE NO CAVITIES.
NO CAVITIES?
THAT'S GOOD.
I CALLED MOMMY THE OTHER DAY, RIGHT?
YEAH.
AND I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW, I MIGHT HAVE TO PUT MY HANDS ON YOU.
SHE'S GONNA TALK ABOUT, "I DON'T KNOW.
HE'S GETTING BIG."
HA HA!
I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO MOMMY THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE LITTLE BROTHER.
YOU TOLD HIM, RIGHT, MA?
YUP!
TATRO, VOICE-OVER: HE'S ONLY 18 MONTHS YOUNGER THAN ME.
YOU KNOW, HE'S ALMOST MY PEER, SO WE HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME THROUGHOUT OUR LIFE BATTLING.
LET'S GO.
LET'S GO.
HE'S GETTING ALL YOUR PEOPLE.
THAT WASN'T A GOOD MOVE.
KANAN TATRO: I TAKE THIS AGAIN, CHECK.
DYJUAN TATRO: I MEAN, WHAT'S THE POINT NOW?
KANAN TATRO: ALL RIGHT, I JUST WANT TO TEACH YOU SOMETHING.
KANAN TATRO, VOICE-OVER: IT'S AN EGO THING.
I'M TRYIN' TO WIN.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT PIECE.
KANAN TATRO: I'M NOT SHOWIN' NO FAVORITISM OR NOTHIN' TO YOU BECAUSE WE GOT AN AUDIENCE, YOU KNOW, SOMEONE ALWAYS WATCHIN', SO I AIN'T TRYIN' TO LET YOU BEAT ME.
KANAN TATRO: SEE, LET ME TEACH YOU SOMETHING.
NOW...I PUT HIM IN CHECK RIGHT?
NOW HE IN CHECK, SO I COME HERE.
NOW HE JUST THREATENING, SEE NOW?
NOW HE'S IN CHECK NOW.
KANAN TATRO: LIKE, I FEEL LIKE I'M EVEN, I'M IN A GREAT POSITION, WHERE I COULD-- I MADE A WRONG MOVE.
HE BEAT ME.
YEAH, I LOST.
KANAN TATRO: SEEIN' ALL THE LIEUTENANTS, THE SERGEANTS, THE WHITE SHIRTS, THE C.O.s, I JUST FELT LIKE I WAS JUST BACK IN JAIL.
EVEN THOUGH I CAME HOME, LIKE, HE'S STILL STUCK.
I WAS TELLIN' HIM TODAY, I'M LIKE, "YO, LIKE, IF I COULD DO "YOUR REST OF YOUR TWO YEARS FOR YOU, I'D DO IT, LIKE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, THERE'D BE NO PROBLEM."
I WISH I COULD HELP HIM OUT.
♪ LEON BOTSTEIN: WHAT'S UNUSUAL ABOUT A BARD BACHELOR DEGREE IS THAT EVERY STUDENT HAS TO DO A SENIOR PROJECT, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WORK ON FOR THE ENTIRE SENIOR YEAR...
SO IT'S SORT OF LIKE A MASTER'S THESIS, AND THE IDEA IS THIS, THAT IF YOU GO TO COLLEGE SIMPLY TO TAKE COURSES, ANYBODY CAN DO THAT, BUT ACTUALLY TO DO SOMETHING OF YOUR OWN.
SO IN THIS CASE, WE HAVE A SENIOR PROJECT FROM A BPI STUDENT.
IT'S A PROJECT IN GERMAN STUDIES, AND THE SUBJECT IS MIGRATION OF LABOR IN GERMANY AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR, SO THIS STUDENT, FROM PRISON, STUDIED GERMAN LABOR, GERMAN MIGRATION, THE GUEST WORKER, AND WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GUEST WORKER.
HE READ POETRY, POLITICAL THEORY, HISTORY IN TWO LANGUAGES-- NOT ONLY IN GERMAN, BUT ALSO IN ENGLISH--AND WROTE WHAT IS THE EQUIVALENT OF A MASTER'S THESIS IN ORDER TO GRADUATE FROM COLLEGE.
HE HAD TO DO EXACTLY WHAT ANY OTHER STUDENT WOULD HAVE TO DO IN THE SORT OF NORMAL COLLEGE LIFE.
[SCHOOL BELL RINGS] BOTSTEIN, VOICE-OVER: I BELIEVE THAT A GOOD EDUCATION MAKES A STUDENT RESPECTFUL, BUT CHALLENGING OF AUTHORITY.
IT BUILDS A PERSON WITH A SENSE OF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE INSTITUTION HAS TO REWARD RISK-TAKING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.
♪ SPIVEY-JONES: MODERATION IS THE POINT IN A B.A.
STUDENT'S ACADEMIC CAREER WHERE THEY FINALLY DECLARE A MAJOR, SO MINE IS SOCIAL STUDIES.
MODERATION IS ALMOST LIKE A RITE OF PASSAGE.
THREE PROFESSORS DISCUSS MY ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR AND MY RESEARCH QUESTION.
THE SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE TO THE MODERATION.
WOMAN: SHALL WE JUMP TO THE PROPOSAL?
MAN: YES, ABSOLUTELY.
WOMAN: UM...
THE--THE TITLE YOU'VE CHOSEN, "THE DREAM, DISCOURSE SUBJECTIVITY, AND PERCEPTION," CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?
SPIVEY-JONES: SO-- I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET AT IN THE-- ONCE I READ THE TEXT, BUT THE TITLE DIDN'T OPEN THE DOOR FOR ME.
THIS IDEA OF DISCOURSE, THE WAY I'M USING IT, IT SHAPES OUR PERCEPTIONS OF EQUALITY.
AND SO WHAT I TRIED TO DO IN THE PROPOSAL IS SHOW HOW I'M BREAKING DOWN THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DISCOURSES.
SO WE HAVE THIS DISCOURSE OF RACE, THIS DISCOURSE OF MERITOCRACY, AND THE DISCOURSE OF INDIVIDUALISM.
AND I DON'T QUITE KNOW HOW I'LL FIND THESE DIFFERENT ARGUMENTS AND TRY TO CATEGORIZE THEM, PUT THEM IN THESE CATEGORIES THAT I'VE COME UP WITH.
♪ MAN, VOICE-OVER: THESE STUDENTS, THEY HAVE ONE SEMESTER LEFT OF COURSEWORK, AND THEN THEY'RE INTO REALLY WRITING THE SENIOR PROJECTS.
DO YOU KNOW EVERYBODY HERE ALREADY?
MAN, VOICE-OVER: I THINK THE SENIOR PROJECT IS A HUGE MOTIVATOR FOR A LOT OF THE STUDENTS.
THEY ENJOY THE COURSEWORK, BUT THEY WANT TO GET TO THE END SO THAT THEY CAN WRITE A SENIOR PROJECT OF THEIR OWN.
JURGENS: COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU CAME UP WITH THIS TOPIC?
I'M MODERATING INTO SOCIAL STUDIES.
MY SENIOR PROJECT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT JAPANESE IMPERIALISM OVER KOREA AND HOW, IN CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES OF JAPANESE AND KOREANS, HOW THEY LOOK BACK ON THE EVENT AND HOW IT SHAPES NATIONAL IDENTITIES.
GIOVANNIE HERNANDEZ: I'M ALSO EXPECTING A BIT OF CRITIQUE, AND I HOPE I DEAL WITH THAT WELL AS FAR AS, UH, BEING ABLE TO ANSWER WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY MIGHT HAVE OR ANY CONFUSION THAT, YOU KNOW, THEY MAY HAVE COME ACROSS IN MY PROPOSAL, BUT, UM, I'M PRETTY NERVOUS.
HERNANDEZ, VOICE-OVER: EVERYONE SAYS IT'S NOT THAT BIG OF A DEAL, BUT THAT'S ALWAYS AFTER THE FACT.
WOMAN: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
YOON: AND SO MY SENIOR PROJECT, WHICH REVOLVED AROUND THE IDEA OF RESISTANCE, AND IN INCORPORATING RESISTANCE INTO HOW WE LOOK AT IMPERIALISM.
HERNANDEZ: SENIOR PROJECT IS GOING TO REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DISCIPLINE AND A LOT OF TIME MANAGEMENT.
I ACTUALLY WANT TO FINISH EARLY BECAUSE I MAY BE GOIN' HOME BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT'S ACTUALLY DUE, SO I WANT TO GET AS MUCH WORK AS I CAN WHILE I'M IN HERE.
YOON: ACTUALLY, THIS WAS REALLY NICE, RIGHT?
[LAUGHTER] IT WASN'T WHAT I EXPECTED.
NO, NO.
I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE... [LAUGHTER] IT'S FINISHED.
FINISHED.
HA HA!
OH, I NEED DEODORANT.
I NEED DEODORANT.
MAN: HA HA HA!
OH, MAN.
YOON: FOR ME, THE MODERATION PROCESS WAS A HUGE STEP BECAUSE I SEE IT AS REPRESENTING OUR BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
AT FIRST, I WANTED TO RECEIVE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE; NOW I WANT TO EARN IT.
YOON: WHEN WE WALK ON THAT STAGE AND WE GRAB THAT DIPLOMA, MAN-- HEH!--THEY'RE GONNA SAY, "LOOK, YOU EARNED THIS," AND I THINK THAT'S THE MOMENT THAT WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE'RE GONNA PUSH HARD, GONNA WORK HARD.
♪ SPIVEY-JONES: THIS IS THE NEXT STAGE OF MY BARD CAREER.
I'M NOW SOMEONE WHO IS DOING RESEARCH.
I'M A SCHOLAR.
THAT'S A BIG DEAL.
[KEYBOARD KEYS CLACKING] SPIVEY-JONES: SO I'M LOOKING AT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, AND I'M LOOKING AT THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, HOW THEIR RHETORIC HAS EVOLVED OVER TIME.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE ARTICLES THAT I ASKED FOR FOR MY SENIOR PROJECT.
I HAVE TO DO THE BEST I CAN TO GET AS MUCH INFORMATION AS I CAN FROM MY SOCIAL MEDIA, SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.
ELIAS BELTRAN, VOICE-OVER: I'M THINKING OF THE HISPANIC VOICE IN HIP HOP CULTURE, HOW WE'VE COME TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, CONTRIBUTED TO HIP HOP CULTURE.
I'M LOOKING INTO IMMIGRATION, IMMIGRATION-- WRITING ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM, ABOUT THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECTS OF IT.
MY SENIOR PROJECT WILL EXPLORE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POETRY AND PAINTING.
THE MOST DIFFICULT BOOK I HAVE TO READ RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS "PAINTERLY ABSTRACTION OF MODERNIST AMERICAN POETRY" BY CHARLES R. TERRY, I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO DECIPHER WHAT THIS GUY'S TALKIN' ABOUT IN THAT BOOK, BUT IT SEEMS IMPORTANT.
[CHUCKLES] ♪ [DISTANT TRAFFIC NOISE] HALL, VOICE-OVER: I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE A LOVIN' FAMILY THAT HAS TAKEN ME IN.
IT'S, LIKE, A BIG RELIEF.
[DOOR CREAKS] THIS IS MY VIEW, A BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
HA HA HA HA!
UH, YOU KNOW, UH, THIS IS WAY BETTER THAN WHAT I HAD IN PRISON.
I GOT THE GERMAN APP ON MY PHONE.
HA HA HA HA!
SO, YOU KNOW, I STILL PLAY, YOU KNOW, I QUIZ MYSELF IN GERMAN.
I'M AMAZED THAT I'M STILL ABLE TO GET 70% TO 80% OF IT RIGHT.
THIS IS MY COMFORTABLE BED, YOU KNOW.
MY AUNT WAS GRACIOUS ENOUGH TO GET ME A NICE, UH, COMFORTABLE BED.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT PHENOMENON FOR ME.
IT'S, LIKE, A PERSONAL SPACE WHERE THERE'S NO C.O.
SHININ' THE LIGHT ON ME, SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOOD FOR ME, YOU KNOW.
SO, UH, YEAH, THIS IS MY ROOM.
I THANK A HIGHER POWER FOR BEIN' HERE-- HA HA HA!--EARLY IN THE MORNIN' WHEN I GET UP.
THANK YOU FOR WAKIN' ME UP HERE AND NO LONGER IN THAT CELL, YOU KNOW?
[DISTANT SIREN, TRAFFIC NOISE] [BIRDS CHIRPING] THANK YOU.
MAN, VOICE-OVER: WE HAVE 3 DIFFERENT PEOPLE WHO'VE GOTTEN OUT.
I'M WORKING WITH ABOUT 50 TO 60 PEOPLE A YEAR, WHETHER IT'S ACADEMIC PLACEMENT OR JOB PLACEMENT OR WHETHER IT'S FIRST JOB, CAREER JOB, THE LEVEL THAT WE'RE WORKING AT IS VERY INTIMATE, VERY PERSONAL.
TUCKER: YOU GO IN WITH YOUR RESUME, IT'S, LIKE, YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHERE YOU WERE, AND YOU BE HONEST ABOUT EVERY DETAIL OF IT.
AND FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE GONNA--YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO DO THAT 'CAUSE PEOPLE ARE GONNA WANT TO KNOW.
HALL, VOICE-OVER: I APPLIED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH POSITIONS, AND MY INCARCERATION CAME UP.
I NOTICED THAT THE INTERVIEW BECAME-- THE TONE AND THE FEEL BECAME QUITE DIFFERENT.
YOU HAVE THIS APPARENT SUSPICION IN THIS CONVERSATION, AND IT WAS REALLY DISCOURAGING.
♪ KANAN TATRO: YOU DO YOUR TIME, YOU'RE STILL GETTIN' JUDGED ABOUT--FROM YOUR PAST.
YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME YOU PUT DOWN FOR A JOB APPLICATION, THEY DENY YOU, THEY DENY YOU.
AND YOU DON'T WANT TO LIE.
THEY SAY BE TRUTHFUL, BE HONEST.
AND YOU TELL 'EM, THEY'RE LIKE, "NAH, YOU CAN'T WORK HERE."
IT HAPPENED TO ME, LIKE, 5, 6 TIMES SINCE I'VE BEEN HOME.
DYJUAN TATRO: MY LITTLE BROTHER MOVED TO ATLANTA.
YOU KNOW, HE'S OUT THERE, TRYING TO ESTABLISH A LIFE FOR HIMSELF COMING OUT OF PRISON.
THIS LATEST JOB LET HIM GO BECAUSE OF HIS CRIMINAL BACKGROUND.
SEEING HIM, I'M ALSO BEING CONFRONTED WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, AM I GONNA HAVE THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS?
KANAN TATRO: YOU KNOW, I DID MY TIME.
OK, I'M ON PAROLE AS IT IS.
LIKE, WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT FROM ME?
LIKE, PEOPLE JUST CLOSIN' THE DOOR ON ME, CLOSIN' THE DOOR ON ME.
[DISTANT SIREN] [DISTANT, INDISTINCT CHATTER] I DON'T SEE WHERE I DO THAT.
OK. WOMAN: HOW DOES HE-- I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
I DID IT IN MY HEAD AND I GOT-- SO THINK ABOUT THE LIFE OF A WRITER, RIGHT?
IS THAT LONELY, AND IS EMMA ACTING LIKE A WRITER?
WHY?
DOES THAT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHY JANE AUSTEN MADE HER LIKE THIS?
TAMIKA GRAHAM: EMMA IS JANE AUSTEN'S OTHER.
HOW WOULD SHE BE HER OTHER?
GRAHAM: EMMA, AT THIS POINT, CLAIMS THAT SHE DOESN'T WANT TO BE MARRIED, BUT WE CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT SHE DOES.
YEAH.
AND AUSTEN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF GETTIN' MARRIED AND JUST SAID, "FORGET ABOUT IT."
YEAH.
GRAHAM: FROM THE EYES OF THE WRITER, EMMA SPEAKS AS IF SHE WAS THE WRITER, AND SHE HAS ACKNOWLEDGED SHE'S SEEN THE THINGS, BUT SHE DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT THE SAME WAY A REGULAR-- A NON-WRITER WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE IT.
PROFESSOR: SHE ALSO SHOWS US SOMETHING THAT WE COULDN'T OTHERWISE SEE, SO DOES THAT HAVE VALUE?
SHAWNTA MONTGOMERY: THE THOUGHTS THAT SHE PUT OUT THERE.
I THINK MARY SHELLEY, WITH "FRANKENSTEIN," SHE KIND OF PUT A CRITIQUE ON WOMEN AND HOW THEY WERE, LIKE, DOWNCAST.
BUT JANE AUSTEN IS SOMEWHAT GIVING WOMEN SOME KIND OF POWER 'CAUSE EMMA IS ALWAYS BASHING MEN.
YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT WAS, LIKE, PRETTY POWERFUL TO PUT THAT IN THE BOOK.
LIKE, YOU REALLY WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO, BEING A WOMAN.
MONTGOMERY, VOICE-OVER: I KNOW I'M DIFFERENT, AND I FIND MYSELF TALKING ON THE PHONE TO, YOU KNOW, PAST PEOPLE, PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN FROM MY PAST-- MY MAMA OR MY SISTER OR MY COUSIN--AND IT'S VERY HARD TO REALLY ARTICULATE OR SLIP BACK INTO THAT ROLE.
MONTGOMERY, VOICE-OVER: THEY EXPECT THE OLD ME.
[LAUGHTER] I CAME FROM CHESAPEAKE, VIRGINIA.
MY FATHER AND MY MOTHER WAS IN AND OUT OF PRISON.
MY SISTER HAD TWO KIDS.
MY OTHER SISTER, SHE HAD KIDS.
EVERYBODY AROUND ME HAD KIDS.
IT WAS, LIKE, THE NORM TO DO.
I ENDED UP PREGNANT.
I NAMED MY DAUGHTER DISHAWNA MONET MONTGOMERY, AND I CALLED HER "DADA" OR "BEBE," AND WE ALL LIVED IN MY GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.
THAT WAS OUR LIFE.
MONTGOMERY: "B" IS CALLING MY PHONE.
HE'S GIVING ME ALL THE ATTENTION THAT I WANT AND I NEED.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN "B."
"B" JUST SLOWLY, SLOWLY...
FADED AS MY KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOR, BEFORE MY EYES.
FIRST TIME I EVER GOT HIT WAS WHEN WE WAS IN THE APARTMENT AND...I MEAN, BEFORE THEN, HE WAS ALWAYS YELLING, LIKE, "OH, MY FOOD'S SUPPOSED TO BE ON THE TABLE" AND "YOU'RE A GROWN WOMAN.
THIS IS SUPPOSED TO-- THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO FOR YOUR MAN."
I GOT FED UP, SO NOW I'M, LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
I'M LEAVING YOU."
AND I GO IN THE CLOSET TO GET MY STUFF, AND OUT OF NOWHERE, HE JUST SMACKS THE HELL OUT OF ME.
HE BEAT MY ASS IN THAT CLOSET, AND THEN HE HELD ME DOWN, CHOKED ME OUT, AND I PISSED ON MYSELF AND I WOKE UP WHEN I CAME TO 'CAUSE HE HAD TO SMACK ME TO GET ME UP.
HE HAD THE GUN TO MY HEAD, AND HE WAS LIKE, "BITCH, YOU LEAVE ME, "I KNOW THAT WINDOW THAT'S OPEN ALL THE TIME AT YOUR MAMA'S HOUSE.
I'LL SHOOT THAT WHOLE ... UP.
I'LL GO IN THAT WHOLE CRIB."
HE'S TALKING ABOUT THE WINDOW, MY SISTER'S WINDOW, WITH ALL THE KIDS SLEEPING, AND THAT JUST STOPPED ME.
I WAS, LIKE, "I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE."
THAT'S HOW MUCH CONTROL HE HAD ON ME.
I CLEANED MYSELF UP AND...CONTINUED TO LIVE, SO TO SPEAK.
[DOOR CLANGS, DISTANT BUZZER] HOW YOU DOING?
HEY!
YOU'RE GETTIN' SKINNY.
[KISS] YOU AIN'T LIFTING RIGHT NOW?
I AM, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU NEED TO... HUH?
JUST TO HAVE A GOOD DIET, AND THEY SERVE TERRIBLE FOOD HERE.
I ALMOST FORGOT THIS.
I'M SITTIN' ON IT.
WHAT IS IT?
PICTURES, THE GRADUATION PICTURES HERE.
OH.
THERE'S ONLY 3 OF THEM, SO... [GIGGLES] SHE IS SO BIG, MAN!
AND SHE'S BAD.
[GIGGLES] SPIVEY-JONES.
VOICE-OVER: I SEE MY SISTER MAYBE ONCE, TWICE A YEAR IF I'M LUCKY.
SHE'S LIVING IN TEXAS RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S BOTSTEIN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE COLLEGE.
SPIVEY-JONES, VOICE-OVER: SOMETIMES SHE'S OUT OF THE STATES.
SHE'LL BE IN AFGHANISTAN, FOR EXAMPLE.
ELITHA SMITH, VOICE-OVER: I'M ALWAYS MOVIN' AROUND, AND THEN EVERY TIME HE GETS A LETTER FROM ME, IT'S A DIFFERENT ADDRESS.
AND THEN HE SENDS A LETTER, AND THEN THE LETTER GETS SENT BACK TO HIM.
IT'S EVEN HARDER TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH HIM WHEN I'M DEPLOYED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE'S WORRIED EVERY COUPLE WEEKS WHEN HE DOESN'T HEAR ANYTHING FROM ME.
SPIVEY-JONES: I'M PROUD OF HER THAT SHE MADE IT THROUGH WEST POINT.
PROUD OF HER THAT SHE FELT THAT SHE WAS MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR COUNTRY...
SO WHEN SHE'S OVER IN AFGHANISTAN, I LISTEN TO THE NEWS AND I'M HEARING ABOUT IEDs BLOWING UP AND, YOU KNOW, YOU START TO WORRY.
SHE ALSO WORRIES ABOUT ME IN PRISON.
SMITH: HE'S, LIKE, TRYING TO LEARN AND KEEP HIS HEAD ON IN A WAR ZONE BECAUSE HE HAS TO WATCH EVERYTHING HE'S DOING.
HE'S UNDER CONSTANT STRESS, UNDER A CONSTANT, WATCHFUL EYE, ON HIGH ALERT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW.
I MEAN, THERE'S THINGS THAT GO ON IN THERE THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT, THAT HE DOESN'T TALK ABOUT 'CAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT US TO JUST BE AFRAID.
♪ SMITH, VOICE-OVER: MY BROTHER AND I WERE VERY CLOSE GROWING UP.
ALL THE THINGS YOU GO THROUGH WHEN YOU'RE YOUNGER, YOU KNOW... AND YOU GET CLOSER.
♪ SMITH, VOICE-OVER: IT'S KINDA LIKE THERAPY WHEN WE GO IN THERE AND WHEN WE--WE SEE EACH OTHER.
IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME, KNOWIN' THAT HE'S IN THE SITUATION HE'S IN, BUT...AT LEAST I KNOW HE'S-- HOPEFULLY THAT HE'S SAFE.
HE'S STILL ALIVE, YOU KNOW.
YEAH.
YEAH, HE'S, LIKE, ALL I HAVE LEFT, SO... ♪ HE IS--YEAH, WE'RE VERY CLOSE.
♪ SPIVEY-JONES: THOSE SHORT VISITS, 4-, 5-HOUR-LONG VISITS, YOU'RE TRYING TO PUT SO MUCH INTO IT AND TAKE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN OUT OF IT, AND SO EVERY WORD MATTERS.
EVERY SINGLE WORD MATTERS.
THAT VISIT, IT BECOMES NOT A 4-HOUR EXPERIENCE, BUT SOMETHING THAT EXTENDS TO MAYBE SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT.
♪ ♪ [INDISTINCT CHATTER] [BIRDS CHIRPING] GRAHAM: "I USED TO BE A PEOPLE PLEASER UNTIL I REALIZED "I AM WHO THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE PLEASING.
"I MAY BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU, BUT NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR MYSELF.
"SOME MAY SEE A PROUD, STRONG, HAPPY MOTHER.
"I SEE A MOTHER THAT HAS FAILED AT MY BLESSED TITLE "AND ALL THE SUBTITLES LIKE NURTURER, PROTECTOR, PROVIDER.
"I WON'T ALWAYS TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR, "BUT I'LL ALWAYS TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR "BECAUSE I AM A TRUE FRIEND INDEED, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ME, "I'LL BE HONEST ABOUT MY BAD AND LET YOU SEEK OUT MY GOOD BECAUSE IF I LOSE MY GOOD, I'LL BE NO MORE GOOD."
TAMARA BARLEY, VOICE-OVER: YEAH, THINGS GOT REAL HARD FOR ME OVER THE SUMMER.
I'M, LIKE, REALLY TRYING TO GET MY STRAIGHT As AGAIN.
I GOT STRAIGHT As LAST SEMESTER, SO I WOULD LOVE TO ACTUALLY GET STRAIGHT As AGAIN.
BUT MY YEAR KIND OF ENDED ROUGHLY.
THIS IS FOR BROTHER JONAH, WHO PASSED AWAY.
"I'M FEELING TOO MANY EMOTIONS.
"TO SAY THE LEAST, I FEEL HOPELESS.
"IT'S CONSUMING EVERY PART OF ME, "AND IT'S KEEPING ME UNFOCUSED.
"SOMETHING ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST UNLEASHED INSIDE OF ME, "AND I'M ANXIOUS AS HELL, LIKE A CONVICT RETURNING TO SOCIETY.
"I REMEMBER CALLING HOME FOR MY BIRTHDAY.
IT WAS OUR LAST CONVERSATION.
THEN A MONTH LATER, I GOT THE NEWS..." BARLEY: MY BIRTHDAY, WHICH WAS JULY 13th, I CALLED HOME AND I SPOKE TO MY MIDDLE BROTHER, JONAH.
HE STRUGGLED WITH THE SAME THINGS THAT I STRUGGLE WITH, LIKE AS FAR AS COMIN' OUT AS A GAY MAN AND, LIKE, I WAS LIKE HIS PROTECTOR WHEN I WAS HOME.
I FELT LIKE NOBODY REALLY COULD UNDERSTAND HIM THE WAY THAT I DID BECAUSE I HAD THOSE SAME ISSUES.
AND HE WAS JUST WHO HE WAS.
LIKE, I LOVED HIM REGARDLESS.
I TOLD HIM, "NOW, TELL MOMMY YOU WANT TO COME VISIT," AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME I SPOKE TO HIM.
WOMAN: VIOLENCE ROCKS THE CITY OF ROCHESTER.
7 PEOPLE SHOT IN A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING, 3 OF THEM KILLED.
BARLEY: AUGUST 19th, HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED.
HE WAS ATTENDING A "STOP THE VIOLENCE" RALLY AT A BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
IT WAS SAID THAT SOME GANG MEMBERS CAME THROUGH AND THEY WERE SHOOTING RANDOMLY.
WOMAN: ...RIGHT NEAR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB AT WILSON MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL.
OFFICERS SAID THE... MONTGOMERY: WHEN I HEARD, I DIDN'T KNOW.
LIKE, I ENDED UP, LIKE, HEARING HER SCREAM OR SOMETHIN' AND-- 'CAUSE SHE LIVES, LIKE, RIGHT UPSTAIRS FROM ME.
AND THERE REALLY WASN'T MUCH I COULD REALLY DO FOR HER BUT JUST BE THERE.
IT'S HARD BEIN' IN HERE AND LOSIN' SOMEBODY.
BARLEY: THEY WOULDN'T ALLOW ME OR MY BROTHER JERAMIAH TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL.
THEY DIDN'T WANT ANY TYPE OF RETALIATION.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT THEIR OFFICERS IN JEOPARDY.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO PUT ME IN JEOPARDY, SO THEY FELT IT WAS BEST THAT WE DID NOT GO.
AND THAT WAS A HARD THING 'CAUSE MY MOM, YOU KNOW, SHE REALLY KINDA WANTED ALL HER CHILDREN TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, ONE LAST TIME.
♪ IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HARD TO ACTUALLY ACCEPT THE FACT THAT HE WAS GONE.
I FELT LIKE I WASN'T THERE FOR HIM BECAUSE I WAS IN PRISON, SO I WASN'T THERE FOR HIM.
AND I KEEP ON TELLIN' MYSELF, LIKE, "WHEN I GRADUATE, LIKE, I'M DOIN' THIS FOR HIM, TOO, 'CAUSE HE NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO GRADUATE," SO DEFINITELY GIVES ME SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.
[JOYFUL LAUGHTER] BARLEY: LOOK AT HOW TALL YOU ARE.
HA HA!
BARLEY, VOICE-OVER: IT'S SAD TO SAY, BUT I FEEL THAT SINCE I'VE LOST HIM, IT'S MADE MY FAMILY A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TOWARDS ME.
WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: I SEE THE MATURITY IN HER.
YOU KNOW, SHE'S REALLY GROWING.
I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN EXCELLENT FOR HER, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF INMATES SHOULD BE A PART OF BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER] I ONLY GOT TWO PEOPLE OUT.
I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO HAPPY JUST YET.
ANITA BARLEY: TAKE HIM OUT.
TAMARA BARLEY: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
GRAHAM, VOICE-OVER: IN THE BEGINNING, MY MOM SAID, YOU KNOW, "YOU DID YOUR CRIME, YOU'RE GONNA DO YOUR TIME," AND SHE SAID SHE WASN'T GOING TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME... OH, HI, SWEET PEA.
HI.
BUT I HAVE A CHILD OUT THERE.
MY MOM FELT AS IF, UH, BECAUSE SHE'S ABLE TO OVERCOME THINGS, EVERYONE ELSE IS ABLE TO OVERCOME THEM.
EVERYTHING I DID FOR TAMIKA IS BECAUSE I LOVED HER FIRST AND BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER NICOLE, WHO IS A CORRECTION OFFICER, SAID, "MA, YOU HAVE TO GO SEE HER BECAUSE IT WOULD MAKE HER TIME BETTER."
BUT IF YOU WANT TO SPEND BETTER TIME, THEN YOU WOULDN'T HAVE WENT TO JAIL.
TAMIKA GRAHAM: SO HOW MANY MORE TATTOOS DO YOU WANT?
GIRL: A LOT MORE.
WHY DO YOU WANT THIS LION?
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY.
SHE'S NOT GETTING IT.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
NANA, I REALLY DON'T WANT TO EXPLAIN WHY I WANT IT.
IS THE STORE GONE?
YES.
TAMIKA HAD A GREAT CHILDHOOD, LIKE ALL THE REST OF MY CHILDREN, AND THEN YOU GO AND YOU COMMIT A CRIME, AND NOW YOU WANT THE FAMILY TO COME TOGETHER AND BE IN YOUR CORNER.
SO NOW I HAVE A GRANDDAUGHTER THAT I HAVE TO RAISE, AND I HAVE TO TRY AND MAKE SOME SENSE OF THIS.
WHEN YOU GRADUATE?
JUNE 1st.
WOW.
JUNE 1st?
HOW ARE YOU GONNA GET HERE?
I'M NOT DRIVING DURING-- UM, ON THE WEEKDAY.
I'M NOT DOING IT.
AND THEN I GOT TO COME BACK AND PICK YOU UP.
I'M NOT DOING IT.
WAIT.
WHEN DO YOU COME OUT?
THE 15th.
EXACTLY, SO THAT MEANS I'M COMING DOWN TWICE IN... TWO WEEKS.
I'M NOT-- AND THE 15th IS ON A WEEKEND OR A WEEKDAY?
I ONLY TRAVEL ON THE WEEKENDS.
THURSDAY.
WE DON'T GET RELEASED ON THE WEEKEND.
ALL RIGHT, WELL, THEN I GOT--WE GOT A PROBLEM THERE, TOO.
YEAH, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 7 YEARS.
MOM, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PICK ME UP.
OK, GOOD 'CAUSE I'M NOT DOING IT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE AT MY GRADUATION.
AGAIN, I'M GONNA WALK AWAY IN ABOUT TWO SECONDS.
I ALREADY TOLD YOU WHAT IT WAS, AND I'M GETTING READY TO WALK AWAY.
[OVERLAPPING CHATTER] BARLEY: RIGHT.
SEE?
LOOK AT THAT.
YOU GOT A 1 AGAIN.
GRAHAM: I AM NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO THE COMPUTER LAB TO TYPE UP MY PAPERS UNTIL THE EVENING TIMES, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE PROGRAM HOURS.
HOLD ON.
THIS IS MY TAX DOLLARS, AND IF YOU COMMIT A CRIME, I WOULDN'T GIVE A RAT'S ASS.
UM, DO THE TIME.
IT SHOULDN'T BE FUN.
IT SHOULDN'T BE CABLE TV.
NO, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUN, BUT A PRISON SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO REHABILITATE PEOPLE, AND IT'S SUPPOSED-- GO TO PANAMA, TAMIKA, GO TO PANAMA.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I'M NOT IN PANAMA... GO TO THE DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WHERE-- SO WOULD YOU PREFER US TO SIT HERE-- I PREFER FOR YOU TO NOT COMMIT CRIMES AND WASTE MY TAX DOLLARS FOR THIS BULL... OK, SO, MA-- THAT'S WHAT I PREFER.
YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE MADE YOURSELF INTO A GOOD LIFE.
WHO, ME?
YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE-- HOW YOU KNOW I LIVE A GOOD LIFE?
YOU HAPPEN TO HAVE MADE YOURSELF INTO A GOOD LIFE.
MA, YOU WAS 12.
I WAS NEVER A CRIMINAL, OK?
I NEVER COMMITTED CRIMES, AND I WAS NEVER A CRIMINAL, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ... YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT RIGHT NOW.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN PRISON, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO GET REFORMED OR REHABILITATED.
YOU WOULD WANT TO GET THE SAME EDUCATION THAT WE'RE IN HERE GETTING!
LEAVE ME [INDISTINCT].
TELL HER TO BE QUIET.
I DON'T NEED TO TALK ABOUT-- DON'T TELL ME ABOUT... SONYA GRAHAM, VOICE-OVER: MY FRUSTRATION WAS NEW BECAUSE I NEVER REALLY LET IT OUT.
I--I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM IS PRIVATELY FUNDED, OK?
ALL I KNOW IS THAT MY DAUGHTER GOT A FREE DIPLOMA WHEN I HAVE TO PAY FOR MY OTHER KIDS TO GO TO SCHOOL.
SO FOR THAT, I MIGHT AS WELL JUST GO AHEAD AND COMMIT CRIME, PETTY--A CRIME THAT, UM, MIGHT BE FORGIVEN WITH SOCIETY AND LET ME JUST DO TWO YEARS AND GO GET ME A DEGREE.
SONYA GRAHAM, VOICE-OVER: WE JUST AIN'T GONNA SEE EYE TO EYE, EVER.
TAMIKA GRAHAM, VOICE-OVER: A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK THE WAY MY MOTHER THINKS.
I MADE A MISTAKE, AND I LEARNED FROM THAT MISTAKE, AND THEN I TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITIES I COULD HAVE.
JUST BECAUSE I'M IN PRISON DOESN'T MEAN THAT I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL, DOESN'T MEAN THAT I SHOULDN'T BE ABLE TO PICK UP A SKILL SO I CAN WORK IN A JOB SOMEWHERE DOING SOMETHING LEGAL.
WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THERE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE DO IS WRONG...IN A MORAL WAY.
♪ KENNER: BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING THIS WORK, THAT THE POLITICS HAVE CHANGED IN AN EXTRAORDINARY WAY... AT THE LOCAL, THE STATE, AND THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
♪ JUDY WOODRUFF: NOW TO A BIPARTISAN EFFORT ON CAPITOL HILL TO TRY TO REFORM THE NATION'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
AND SO WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS A BROAD-BASED TRANSFORMATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE THAT ACTUALLY SAVES TAXPAYER DOLLARS, EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO SUCCEED, AND KEEPS OUR STREETS SAFE.
SENATOR PAUL, YOU COME FROM A VERY DIFFERENT POLITICAL WORLDVIEW THAN SENATOR BOOKER, BUT YOU SEE THIS THE SAME WAY HE DOES?
WELL, I THINK THE INTERESTING THING IS I DON'T THINK IT'S A RIGHT OR A LEFT ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S AN ISSUE THAT WE BOTH BELIEVE STRONGLY IN.
EVERY YEAR, WE SPEND $80 BILLION TO KEEP FOLKS INCARCERATED, 80 BILLION.
WHAT I COULDN'T DO WITH $80 BILLION.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
FOR WHAT WE SPEND TO KEEP EVERYONE LOCKED UP FOR ONE YEAR, WE COULD ELIMINATE TUITION AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
MASS INCARCERATION MAKES OUR COUNTRY WORSE OFF, AND WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
[APPLAUSE] HARI SRINIVASAN: THIS SUMMER, THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION SAID, AS A PILOT PROJECT, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL PARTNER WITH 67 COLLEGES TO PROVIDE HIGHER EDUCATION TO PRISONERS WHO CAN'T AFFORD IT.
♪ ♪ ♪ BELTRAN: THE REALITY OF THE MATTER IS THAT WE'RE ONLY 10% OF THE POPULATION IN ONE PRISON.
IN ONE PRISON, WE'RE 10% OF THE POP.
WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER PRISONS IN THE SYSTEM, RIGHT?
AND THE LACK OF PROGRAMS, THE LACK OF ANYTHING MEANINGFUL TO THESE GUYS THAT WE'RE SAYIN' WE WANT TO LET THEM OUT, RIGHT, IS ANYBODY, LIKE, REALLY STOPPING TO EXPLORE?
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REFORM ON THE GROUND, IN HERE, RIGHT, WITH THE GUYS THAT WE LOCK AROUND, WHAT DOES REFORM LOOK LIKE?
WHAT DOES IT EVEN MEAN TO THEM?
I DIDN'T COME TO PRISON TO GO TO COLLEGE, YOU KNOW.
I CAME HERE AND I GOT REALLY, REALLY LUCKY AND DID SOME THINGS RIGHT, BUT AT NO TIME DO I WANT TO BE SOME TYPE OF POSTER BOY FOR, LIKE, "LOOK AT WHAT PRISON CAN DO FOR YOU."
IT'S A VERY STRESSFUL AND... KIND OF DISGUSTING PLACE, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BAD PLACE.
IF I HAD TO CHOOSE TO GO TO COLLEGE, I WOULD NOT DO IT HERE.
HERNANDEZ: YOU FRAMED IT AS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT PRISON CAN DO FOR YOU.
IT'S NOT WHAT PRISON'S DOIN' FOR YOU; THIS IS WHAT EDUCATION IS DOIN' FOR YOU.
TATRO: TRUE.
YOU GO HOME AND SAY, "I WENT TO--I MESSED UP, I WENT TO PRISON."
YOU GOT LUCKY, LIKE YOU SAID, MADE IT HERE, YOU GOT INTO BPI, YOU LEARNT, AND YOU ARE NO LONGER THE SAME PERSON YOU WAS WHEN WE WERE TOGETHER IN FIVE POINTS.
AM I WRONG?
TATRO: NO, YOU'RE NOT.
DID PRISON DO THAT FOR YOU OR DID EDUCATION DO THAT FOR YOU?
EDUCATION.
WHEN I CAME TO PRISON, THE FIRST THING I WAS THINKING ABOUT WAS HOW DO I GET INTO COLLEGE?
THAT WAS MY PRIMARY CONCERN, AND I'M SURE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE.
SPIVEY-JONES: THERE ARE GROUPS ALL OVER THE PRISONS, ALL OVER THEM.
THEY'RE READY.
THEY'RE READY.
THEY JUST NEED THE OPPORTUNITY, AND THEY WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET IN THAT SEAT.
ANTHONY ANNUCCI: THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF INDIVIDUALS ARE GONNA BE RELEASED FROM PRISON.
THEY'RE COMING BACK HOME, THEY'RE COMING BACK INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES, SO IF I'M ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY INTERVENE IN THEIR LIVES, THEN I'M SAVING FURTHER VICTIMIZATION.
I'M SAVING TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
TAMIKA GRAHAM, VOICE-OVER: THE WAY I LOOK AT IT IS, WOULD YOU PREFER A PERSON WHO MESSED UP SOMETIME IN LIFE, COMMITTED A CRIME, GOT ARRESTED FOR IT, CAME TO PRISON, AND DID ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY NOTHIN' MOVE NEXT DOOR TO YOU AND PLOT ON YOUR HOUSE?
OR WOULD YOU PREFER A PERSON WHO MESSED UP, CORRECTED THEIR MISTAKE, GOT AN EDUCATION, CAME OUT, AND HAD A GOOD JOB?
AND INSTEAD OF THEM PLOTTIN' ON YOUR HOUSE, YOU'RE HAVING BARBECUES OR SOMETHING TOGETHER.
[TELEPHONE RINGS] HELLO, PICTURE MOTION.
JULE SPEAKING.
[CALLER SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY] WOMAN, VOICE-OVER: YOU CAN ALMOST UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE ARE HESITANT TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN PRISON.
I RUN A COMPANY OF 20-SOMETHING-YEAR-OLD WOMEN, AND SO I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING THIS PERSON ON PAPER WHO MIGHT LOOK SCARY INTO OUR OFFICE BECAUSE HE'S BEEN IN PRISON FOR 22 YEARS.
HE WENT TO PRISON FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A WEAPON, I THINK ACCESSORY TO A MURDER, AND HE IS A VERY TALL HUMAN.
[CHUCKLES] AND THEN YOU MEET JULE, SO, AFTER THE FIRST INTERVIEW, WE'RE LIKE, "THIS GUY IS OBVIOUSLY GREAT."
YOU'RE WELCOME.
THANK YOU.
'NIGHT.
MARCHESE: HE'S GOT MORE DEGREES THAN MY PARTNER AND I COMBINED, HE SPEAKS MORE LANGUAGES THAN OUR OFFICE COMBINED, AND SO WE CALLED AROUND, AND EVERY REFERENCE WE CALLED CONFIRMED WHAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT HIM, AND SO WE OFFERED HIM THE JOB.
HALL: I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE INTERNET OVER HERE.
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS LAST WEEK, AND I JUST WANTED TO CHECK TO SEE IF IT--THERE WERE ANY, UH, INDICATIONS THAT THERE WAS PROBLEMS IN THE AREA.
MARCHESE, VOICE-OVER: A LOT OF OUR OPERATIONS WORK IS COMPUTER-BASED, AND HE HAD TO CATCH UP ON 20 YEARS OF COMPUTER HISTORY.
HALL, VOICE-OVER: I'VE LEARNT THAT WHEN IT COMES TO WHETHER IT'S THE TECHNOLOGY-- THE iPAD, OR THE iPHONE-- IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR REGULAR PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN OUT HERE ALL THIS TIME.
SORRY, WENDY, WE GOT A LOT GOING ON HERE TODAY.
VOICE-OVER: ONE OF THE MOST PROBLEMATIC THINGS FOR ME IS THE USERNAME AND THE PASSWORD BECAUSE IT'S LIKE I NEVER HAD TO USE A PASSWORD.
ONLY NUMBER I HAD TO REMEMBER WAS MY STATE NUMBER.
FEMALE VOICE ON RECORDING: ...9.
IF THIS IS CORRECT, PRESS 1.
[PHONE BEEPS] WENDY, CAN YOU HEAR US?
WENDY, ON PHONE: YEAH.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
YES, I CAN HEAR YOU.
HA HA HA HA!
[INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME" PLAYING] HALL, VOICE-OVER: I'LL BE 41 YEARS OLD, UH, NOVEMBER 8th.
I THINK I AM MOST PROUD OF-- OF HOLDING A JOB.
♪ HALL, VOICE-OVER: IT'S JUST ME AND MY AUNT, AND WE HAVE A NICE, COMFORTABLE SPACE.
OH, MY, THAT LOOKS GOOD.
AUNT WANGO: I ALREADY TRIED IT.
[BOTH CHUCKLE] BIG PIECE MISSING ALREADY, HUH?
HALL, VOICE-OVER: I'M INTO THE LITTLE THINGS.
JUST BEIN' FREE, FOR ME, IS A BLESSING AND TO BE ABLE TO MARK ANOTHER YEAR ALIVE AND FREE IS ALL I NEED.
HA HA!
MMM.
WOW, IT'S GREAT.
CAN YOU PASS ME THE SAZON?
REALLY?
YOU TRYING TO GET THAT?
THANK YOU.
AND I'M GONNA MAKE RICE AND BEANS, AND MONTY'S GONNA DO TUNA CAKES, WHICH MOST PEOPLE OUTSIDE WOULD DO-- THEY'RE NOT CAKES.
IT'S PATTIES.
PATTIES.
EXCUSE ME.
AND WHEN YOU'RE IN THE PENAL SYSTEM, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE.
SO A PLASTIC KNIFE IS ONE OF THEM, BUT, AS YOU CAN SEE-- BUT YOU CAN HAVE THIS.
WE IMPROVISE.
DANG, IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE DID THIS.
BARLEY: I KNOW.
I MISS YOU GUYS.
THAT'S--THAT'S GOOD.
WHY'D YOU PUT SO MUCH-- YOU PUT TOO MUCH WATER IN THAT RICE.
NAH, YOU KNOW MY POT IS SMALL.
MONTGOMERY, VOICE-OVER: WHEN I GO HOME, I WANT TO GET A JOB AND I JUST WANT TO, LIKE, BE ABLE TO STAND ON MY OWN TWO FEET.
MONTGOMERY: AFTER THE FIRST BEATING, IT NEVER SLOWED UP.
IT WAS-- I'D GET HIT FOR ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING.
I'D NEVER SEEN HIM HIT MY DAUGHTER DADA.
NEVER SEEN "B" HIT DADA.
NOW, I'M PREGNANT AGAIN.
MONTGOMERY: FEBRUARY 12, 2010, IT WAS SNOWING CRAZY OUTSIDE.
SEE, I WAS ASLEEP.
"B" WOKE ME UP.
SO HE'S ALREADY IN ONE OF HIS MOODS.
HE TELLS ME, "WELL, WE HAVE TO MAKE BREAKFAST.
WE HAVE TO GET UP.
WE HAVE TO EAT BREAKFAST NOW."
I'M, LIKE, "WHATEVER," SO I GET UP.
I GET DADA OUT, HE WAS, LIKE, "YEAH, GET HER OUT, TOO.
I'M, LIKE, BUT I'M JUST-- I'M, LIKE, "LISTEN, CAN I JUST LAY DOWN, PLEASE?
LIKE, I'M TIRED, I'M PREGNANT."
AND HE WAS, LIKE, "NO, ... OUT OF HERE.
"LIKE, SHE'S EATING.
YOU'RE EATING, TOO.
COME ON.
WE'RE HAVING BREAKFAST."
AND THAT WAS RULE, SO I'M LIKE, "BEBE, COME ON.
GO BRUSH YOUR TEETH," SO SHE GOES WITH "B," SHE'S SCREAMING, CRYING ALREADY, AND-- [SNAPS FINGERS]-- QUICK LIKE THAT, "B" IS BACK UP THE STAIRS.
AND SO I LOOK BEHIND ME AND I'M LIKE, "THAT WAS FAST."
AND BEFORE I EVEN GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, THERE'S JUST A THUMP.
SO...I GO IN THE KITCHEN, AND SHE'S LAYING ON THE FLOOR.
AND I PICK--GO TO PICK HER UP, AND HE TAKES HER FROM ME AND HE'S LIKE, "NO, SOMETHING IS--SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT WITH HER."
AND INSTANTLY, WHEN HE SAID THAT, HER EYES ROLLED BACK, AND I REMEMBER SITTING THERE, I'M FROZEN, STATUE.
[SIREN] AND WE GO TO THE HOSPITAL, "B" WAS LIKE, "LISTEN, "THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GET US FOR CHILD NEGLECT.
"YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT WE BOTH WENT DOWNSTAIRS AND GAVE HER BREAKFAST."
THE DOCTOR COME OUT, HE'S LIKE, "YOU KNOW, SHE WAS VERY ILL. SHE DIDN'T MAKE IT.
WE DID THE BEST WE CAN."
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
SO WE GO IN THE BACK, AND BEBE WAS LAYING ON THE BED, AND I GO TO HER, BUT I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT IS THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO.
♪ I JUST WANT TO GRAB HER, YOU KNOW, TAKE HER BACK, BUT SHE LOOKS VERY WELL-GUARDED, YOU KNOW, LIKE, EVERYBODY'S WATCHING.
AND I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO, SO I GO TO HER, AND I JUST TOUCH HER FOREHEAD, THEN HER HAIR AND HER ARM AND I JUST, LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU JUST WANTED THAT.
♪ THE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES WERE CALLING, AND WE GO FOR AN INTERVIEW.
AND "B" GIVES ME A HUG AND HE SAYS, "DON'T FORGET WHAT I ... TOLD YOU."
AND THAT HOMICIDE DETECTIVE, HE WAS A BIG BURLY GUY, AND HE COMES IN AND HE SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
"I'M DONE WITH THIS ...
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
"YOU'RE GOING TO KEEP ON PLAYING LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW, "YOU'RE DUMB, YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING?
I'M DONE WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW HOW YOUR DAUGHTER DIED?"
AND I'M, LIKE, "NO, I DON'T KNOW."
AND HE SAID, "SOMEBODY HIT HER WITH SOMETHING "SO ... HARD THAT IT LACERATED HER LIVER.
YOU KNOW WHAT THE ...
I MEAN?"
AND INSTANTLY, I DIE.
AND HE'S LIKE, "YOU DID IT."
I'M, LIKE, "NO!
I REALLY DIDN'T."
AND HE'S, LIKE, "NO, YOU ... DID IT.
YOU LACERATED HER LIVER.
SHE'S DEAD."
SHE'S A TWO-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND SHE DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS AND I'M, LIKE, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I DID."
HE'S LIKE, "SIT THERE."
HE WAS, LIKE, "HERE, SIGN RIGHT HERE," AND THEN HE LEAVES.
AND THEN THEY COME AND PUT THE HANDCUFFS ON ME.
♪ I HAVE, LIKE, THIS FANTASY IN MY HEAD THAT, ONE DAY I WILL SEE "B" AND HE WOULD JUST SAY, "LISTEN, LIKE, I HIT HER, BUT I DIDN'T MEAN TO HIT HER SO BADLY "AND I FREAKED OUT WHEN SHE DIDN'T ACT RIGHT AND I RAN UPSTAIRS," BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I REALLY THINK HAPPENED.
I THINK HE JUST...IS SO ABUSIVE THAT IT TRICKLED DOWN TO HER.
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, I PUT HER IN THAT PREDICAMENT.
I GOT 9 YEARS, AND I'M OK WITH THAT 'CAUSE, AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU STILL HAVE A DECISION, AND MY DECISIONS LED ME TO WHERE I AM NOW.
AND MY DAUGHTER'S NO LONGER HERE BECAUSE OF DECISIONS THAT I DID, AND IT IMPACTED HER LIFE.
IT ENDED HER LIFE.
SO I COULD DO 7 YEARS FOR HER NOT BEING HERE, DO 9 OR 10, 'CAUSE SHE'S NOT HERE NO MORE, AND I HAD MY HAND IN THAT.
THAT'S WHY I CAN DO THE TIME.
MONTGOMERY: WHEN I HAD MY SON IN COUNTY, I DECIDED THAT I WANTED HIM TO HAVE A CHANCE.
I WANTED HIM TO BE SO FAR AWAY FROM WHERE HE ORIGINALLY CAME FROM THAT HE WOULD BE THIS WHOLE NEW BRAND PERSON, LIKE, JUST HAVE A CHANCE AT LIFE.
AND SO--[CHUCKLES]--I LET HIM-- THEY'RE OPEN ADOPTION.
THEY HAD HIM SINCE THE DAY HE WAS BORN, AND THEY JUST--YOU COULD TELL, YOU COULD--THEY LOVE HIM.
YOU COULD JUST TELL.
I WANTED THE BEST FOR HIM.
♪ I LOOK AT LIFE WAY DIFFERENTLY.
I KNOW THAT...HOW I WAS LIVING AND MY WAY OF THINKING, IT JUST WASN'T RIGHT.
WELL, NOW, I REALIZE I AM A WOMAN OF WORTH.
WHEN I GET OUT, I JUST PLAN TO GO TOWARD MY BACHELOR'S AND FIND A PART-TIME JOB.
I JUST WANT TO BE BETTER... AND DO BETTER AND ACCOMPLISH SO MANY THINGS AND GIVE BACK, AND...I DON'T WANT MY DAUGHTER'S DEATH TO BE IN VAIN.
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