There are a ton of answers that you would receive if you asked an incarcerated person, “If you had one wish, what would it be?”
Logically most incarcerated people would probably answer, “Freedom!” Others might say, “Justice” or “A fair trial!” While all of these answers are noteworthy, my answer would be vastly different. If the question were posed to me, my answer would be simply, “I wish that every single incarcerated person in the world had an “Alli!”
In order for you to understand the significance of this answer, I have to give a brief glimpse into my life and the significance of what having an “Alli” makes all of the difference. Like most incarcerated people I didn’t have the best childhood. I lost my mother at the tender age of three and my biological father was no where to be found. I spent the majority of my childhood in foster care where I was physically and emotionally abused. I found my way to the streets and criminal activities at the age of 12, seeking affirmations and acceptance from people who did not possess the abilities to provide it.
This empty search continued after I entered prison. I sought out people who I thought cared about me but in reality their only concerns were how much social influence I possessed, the amount of commissary I had in my cell or the physical assistance I could provide them in a fist fight. Those who sought me out from the free society were mostly women with low self-esteem who wanted to feed their petty egos by running off every person you had interactions with so that you would become subservient to them only and/or the inabilities to maintain a real romanic relationship with a man on the outside. ‘
Or they were woman who wanted the prestige of being able to inform the world that they were associated with me in one way or another in hopes of benefitting off of my social capital! In every instance I was involved with. all of the wrong people, for all of the wrong reasons, mostly looking to take from me, as opposed to give.
All that changed one somber day I was sitting in a solitary confinement cell. When the prison guard came around for the mail call, I received a tiny letter written by someone name “Alli” from Oregon. I opened it with the same trepidation and suspense that I had with previous correspondences that I had received from unknown people.
I opened the correspondence and instantly I knew there was something vastly different about Alli. She was a young law student who had aspirations to dramatically alter the course of America’s criminal justice system. She spoke about all of the different ways she wanted to contribute to society and those incarcerated. Never once did she give me the impression that she needed my assistance in anything. In fact, all she wanted to do was give, give, give.
First, beginning with her time, secondly, with whatever unwavering moral and spiritual support was needed. We were of kindred spirits.
From the day that I opened Alli’s letter she has been a staple in my life, providing invaluable support to me during the lowest of lows and the highest of highs. There is not a topic I can’t discuss with her and not a moment where I feel she doesn’t have my back 100 percent. She has truly been a gift from God.
As I travel throughout my prison and converse with other prisoners who are trapped in the same frivolous, toxic, and shallow friendships that once consumed my life, I can’t help but to wish that there were more Alli’s on earth. Every person on this planet, especially those who are incarcerated deserves an Alli in their life.
So if I had one wish, my wish would be for every incarcerated person in the world to have a genuine friendship with someone like my Alli!
