“No Shaming Your Shackles” event on 2/25/21
by Zoe Goldstein, Intern, Massachusetts Jobs with Justice 

Massachusetts Jobs with Justice (Mass JwJ) invited the community to our virtual panel “No Shaming Your Shackles” on February 25th. During the event, a panel of speakers who have been directly impacted by incarceration shared their stories and inspired us to action through poetry, song, music and speeches. 

This event was held in honor of Black History Month, to speak up for people in prison who are often left out of important conversations and excluded from protections the rest of us have on the outside. This was a call for racial justice in Massachusetts and across the country for the 2.3 million people in prison in the U.S.. The panelists illustrated how the prison system disproportionately impacts BIPOC and other marginalized communities and the barriers incarceration creates upon reentry. The event was a striking reminder that the fight against the prison industrial complex is key in the fight for racial justice.

One theme that stood out to many throughout the night was the importance of creativity and art for social change - we started the call with a joyful performance by Bomba de Aqui, a Puerto Rican music and dance company. The beats of their drums combined the connection and roots Africans and Puerto Ricans share. 

Especially moving, was the poetry recited by multiple panelists including Mass JwJ’s own Racial Justice Organizer, Jacqueline Velez. She shared some of her original poetry filled with striking imagery, connecting the historical enslavement of Black people to the prison system today, highlighting the ways in which Black people have always resisted and continue to find ways to fight for their liberation: “If I can’t leave through the door / or hop out a windaw / I’m finnin’ na break through the ceilin’ / I’ma finally see the stars.” 

Mass JwJ intern Dayanara also shared a poem made up of “words gathered from phone calls and letters written and spoken by individuals who are locked up in the Hampden County Jail at Ludlow and the Plymouth County Jail”. This poem was full of a yearning for freedom, movement, liberation and reconnection to their children. A line that stood out to me was, “It's the small stuff, the wind, those sounds I miss.”

Other speakers shared poetry too, including Mass JwJ intern Jade who read the poem, “Lord, Why Did You Make Me Black?” by RuNett Nia Ebo. 

I think the reason that the poetry shared at this event stuck with me was because it embodies so much of what this work is about - imagination, creation, and human connection. All of the poems drew us into the stories of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people and their loved ones, while also challenging us to imagine a different world.

Aside from the poetry, a variety of speakers gave impactful speeches and told stories that showcased the work being done right now to fight the prison system. For example, Elhajj Shabazz (Messiah) described the obstacles he faced after leaving prison and the importance of supporting formerly incarcerated people, and Daisy Diaz spoke about her work as a mentor at After Incarceration Support Services and as a substance abuse counselor at a halfway house.

We also heard from Noemi Arguinzoni-Jimenez, a community activist, who shared the story of her son Jafet Robles, an organizer in Western Mass who was killed in 2017. We watched a powerful video of Jafet inspiring the community to unite and organize against mass incarceration - I would recommend watching it here.

Overall, this event inspired me, touched me, and moved me to action. I know the Mass JwJ team was honored that these speakers and the wider community were able to join us. If you are interested in continuing the fight to dismantle the carceral system and build up our communities, fill out this Google form to join our work on prisons and policing: http://bit.ly/jwjfightsinjusticeMA. 

Finally, to support the work we are doing, consider becoming a monthly sustainer. You can also make a one-time donation to Mass JwJ here.