http://gawker.com/a-letter-from-ray-jasper-who-is-about-to-be-executed-1536073598/@tcraggs22
Ray Jasper is set to be executed in Texas on March 19. He has written an important letter (above link) regarding the prison industrial complex, capital punishment, black identity and the pressures of systemic racism. Sadly, these are the same problems that have been around for decades and, at least in Texas, things do not seem to be getting any better.
“We look at slavery like it’s a thing of the past, but you can go to any penitentiary in this nation and you’ll see slavery.”
“It’s not about crime and punishment, it’s about crime and profit.”
“Black history shouldn’t be a month, it should be a course taught year round.”
“The death penalty needs to be abolished. Life without parole is still a death sentence. The only difference is time. To say you need to kill a person in a shorter amount of time is just seeking revenge on that person.”
Punkonomics (@DearBalak) 