Life Behind Bars - An Awesome Review Among Others.

 

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Life Behind Bars.

Gain a deep understanding of the parasitic cottage industries thriving within the American prison system in "Life Behind Bars". Discover the shocking truth that lies just beyond the walls and how it affects both inmates and officers alike. Authored by Femi Olawole, a former lieutenant of the Delaware Department of Corrections, this book reveals the intricate web of oppression and the thin line separating those trapped within the system from those who enforce it. Don't miss your chance to delve into this eye-opening exploration of America's booming prison business. 

Don't miss out, grab your copy! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9S9CK6F/

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BOOK OF THE MONTH: LIFE BEHIND BARS by Ifeoluwa.

America’s carceral system is deeply flawed. It is filled with deep injustices and its criminalization of black and brown bodies can never be fully stated. Those are facts. More so, the American prison system suffers from the prison-industrial complex. Where to begin? The imprisonment of people has resulted in the massive economic profit and political influence for certain groups. Again, these are facts. 

But what about the people watching over these inmates? Seldom do we hear about correctional officers and staff charged with the responsibility of overseeing inmates.  Here is where the book of this month comes in. Life Behind Bars is a first-hand testament of the author, who spent fifteen years on a tour of duty at the Delaware Department of Corrections (DOC). He provides excellent and never-before-seen/heard insights into the world of DOC in Delaware. 

What makes this a unique book is that we rarely get to hear of perspectives of the officers that are in charge in American prisons. Yet, this book takes a combined approach of shining a light on the injustices that plagues both inmates and the officials that guard them. The author understands that criminals are often paying for crimes they have committed (and in some cases have not committed) and yet the offenders have guaranteed rights that are enshrined in the United States Constitution. It is this kind of humanity with which the author approaches telling his story.

Apparently, being a corrections officer is one of the least desirable professions in the United States. In the state of Texas, for instance, the attrition rate for correctional officers is 40%.  Several states have officer vacancies upwards of 20%, and in 2022, both Mississippi and Alabama had empty correctional officer positions to the tune of 50 and 58%, respectively.   Correctional officers are more likely to experience stress, exhaustion, hostile work environments, violence, mental health challenges, and PTSD. The author should know these; he was not exempt from some of these negative outcomes himself. 

And yet, up until now, we had not had a firsthand perspective of what it must be like to work at the Department of Corrections, and to be in some sense, stuck behind bars just like the inmates. especially drawing on insights from working with the Delaware system. He gives an honest take of these challenges that makes this a page turner for sure.

In a lot of ways, this book takes us on a a sociological journey to understand our society better. One theme that sticks out in this book and which I hope you get to appreciate for yourself is microaggressions and the amount of intrinsic violence embedded in the system, all of which are perpetuated not necessarily by inmates but also by staff. A lot of important themes will jump out at you in this book, I promise. And it will leave you even more shocked about what goes on in the prisons, and ergo, among law enforcement officers. In addition to sharing his experience with inexperience of staff, favoritism, impropriety, indiscipline, among other things, the author proposes helpful recommendations that can, if taken seriously, transform Delaware’s Department of Corrections. 

It's a griping memoir, a courageous one too. Because speaking out so boldly against a racist, xenophobic, unjust, and deeply flawed system requires the kind of courage that most aren’t willing to exercise. It is completely factual in a way that no other law enforcement memoirs dare to be.

I know you’ll love it too!

Love

Ifeoluwa.

You can order your copy of Life Behind Bars Life Behind Bars at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Femi-Olawole/author/B002BM0TJ2.

Available at Select Book Retailers.

Life Behind Bars

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Encounter with Inmate in Cell Number 4.

 On that first day of my resumption, I was in the company of a correctional officer while conducting a security check. In doing this, we had to walk and stand before each cell to look at the inmate to make sure he was alright before moving on to the next cell. Midway into this task, we got to a cell where the occupant, a horribly looking African American man, wanted to test the strength of my character.

Upon the exchange of some pleasantries between the inmate and me, I wanted to move on to the next cell when he called out to me. Usually, some other person would ignore the inmate by walking away. But in the job of corrections, it would not be advisable to do that as the inmate might be calling out legitimately.

“Hey sergeant…” he barked as we were about turning away. “Your accent sounds like that of an African…”
   “Yes…” I turned back to face him. “I’m originally, an African.”
“No shit…” he yelled menacingly at me. “You motherfucker came all the way from Africa to boss around American citizens.”
“For your information, inmate in cell number four,” I responded firmly. “I’m also an American citizen.”
   Suddenly, the other inmates in the building applauded me as some of them yelled.      
   “That’s right…” they chorused. “…the man says he is American as we all here.”
   On hearing the noises being made in my favor, the inmate was silent.
   “Well mister…” I stared hard at him. “Any more question before I move on.”
   “Fuck you…” he yelled. “…and by the way, go back to Africa, you motherfucker.”
“What the hell is this jerk talking about.” an inmate next door asked. “The sergeant is an American like us. How can he go back to Africa, you ignorant negro?”
   “Hey listen…” I pleaded with the other inmates. “I’ll answer the idiot…”
“What answer do you have?” the inmate in cell number 4 stated in a bid to have the last word.
   “Listen, inmate in cell number four” I continued to say. “I’ll go back to Africa”. 
   “Great…” he was beginning to smile. “…go back to the Motherland, motherfucker.”
“Sure…” I nodded. “I’ll go back to Africa. But first, don’t forget you’re a black man like me. So, when next you talk to your sorry-assed family on phone, tell them to go back to Africa. And if you are ever released from jail, pack your load, and go back to Africa.”
   There was an eruption of cheering noises from the other offenders as I turned around to continue my security check. In the meantime, the inmate in cell number four was now speechless. 

- Being an excerpt from Life Behind Bars, A Retired DOC Lieutenant's Story by Femi Olawole.

Poverty as a Nigerian People's Ideology.

COPIED:

Poverty is an ideology driven by specific ideas and habits that tilt people towards lack. Below are seven reasons people are poor:

1. Getting married even when you don’t have a job or business

2. Having children anyhow because they are "God’s gifts", and "God will provide"

3. Going to church, or mosque, not for the love of God, but in search of ‘miracle’ money

4. Praying for money and mistaking laziness for faith

5. Giving your many children limited education

6. Teaching your children to hate their wealthy relatives for not helping you to raise them

7. Waiting for your poorly-raised kids to grow and repeat the poverty cycle by pressuring each of them to get married even when they have no job or business

Generational curses don't cause poverty. What creates poverty is generational bad habits.

Reno Omokri.