Survival Tips and liess bar the £, - p,iyunes
A suide kar & sucesstul trapsition

INTRODUCTION

Ut of 4 need 1o

who ure on their

on what we should do
3 are not beir

Anyone who has read some of the extensive material,
on will understand that the sxpasurs (o this

that it affacts us in many different ways. i'm sure there have b e s
uides presented on behalf an the priso; ot of what i will say may
have been said before. But Afcting us on the Inside

o being successful in present society. What this guide will
ofer i some avenues to take to rebuild relationships with family, sosieey.
friends, and religion.

For us, once we have been liberated, nothi
need all of Gur support systems in place. i a
constant reminder of what we must do before
released.

8 will be easy. We will
raying this will be a
d afler we have becn

In order to survive,
Khalfani X. Khaldun

REAPING THE BENEFITS OF HARD WORK

This work begins with us trying at every chance to transform our
criminal attitude and mentality, which ultimately changes our ideas, what
e do, how we think, our overall thought process, and how we socialize and
e et with men and — especially — women. This work also takes on the
e ater of us sharing our re-educated mindset with the willing prison
e o sla0 want 1o move forward with their education. Once we

‘wareneas and consciousness we are obligated
this, we fail society because some of the men who
vt ot been transformed and still exhibit criminal behaviors would enly
Feturn 1o prey on the innocents of present society. But even
Saciety as & whole ita role by helping and not.rejecti
Seteated souljaa. Parolé policies are very reactionary and are repressive
o he-prisoner who is released under its restiictions.’ We must lesr of
hean repreasive parale traps in order to stop falling into them. Some basic
{ipe for this section on what work should be done once.you'r in prison:

- Find out immediately what the prison you're confined to has available
where it concerns education.

« 1f you didn't finish school, sign up for the education department. Sign
up for the G.E.D. program. Basic reading, writing, and math should be
your first steps.

If you're having problems emotionally, don't be s0 quick to seek prison
mental help; there are some prisoners who are more qualified to help in

These areas. But if you feel more comfortable talking to prison counselors
thendn” Dot et be your it cheie. though, because they talk but

don't help us

moving in a positive direction. Callege
ation courses are all good achievements. Gain
Enowledge and access to all the needed trades and skills available, which
an only be beneficial once you're released.

- Exercise and keep your health maintained and up to par. Mentally!
hysreatly exercising 13 fundamentally beneficial for change and medical
Suability.

AVOIDING THE RECIDIVIST PAROLE TRAPS

In response to the hype of saciety’s heightened fears of iolence, the cal for
more punitive measures to allegedly combat such fear by solciting poitical
and legislative support to build more prisons. .The parole repression.varies
from state to state, but {oF certain, this process does not act.as an effective
taol for staying out. In fact, it.is bringing prisoners. back to prison.’ So
Parole is not & treasure, it is.4 trap. We must begin to research parol
Statistics in the areas we are paroling to. This will somewhat give us'a
“hance to internalize the success rate. How we counter these traps s right
3t our fingertips: it is education while we are stil in prison

Notes from the Center on Crime, Communities, and Culture states
Mationally rates of recidivism for adult offenders in the Urited States are
etraordinarily high, Tanging from 41% to 60%. The difficulty in
Hinpointing specific rates of recivism is often due Lo & confusion of terma.
e national re-arrest rate averages around 63% and the re imprisonment
fate s 41%, Research shows that most prisoners who have oblained G.ED.
o college degrees have been s opposed to
it ot hava fxled 0 gain the

conducted in Tndiana, Maryland, Massachusetss,
New York, and other states have all reported significantly low recdivism
rates for inmates in correctional higher-education programs, ranging from
1% to 15.5%. Educated prison elements can be a stabilicing influcnce in an
allen chaotic prisap environment. enhancing the netential for transioriming
the entire prison population.

5. Research parole statistics for your own confidence in being able (o avaiu
the trap.

= Have patience in getting involved in a lt o activities before you have
stabilized yourself ”

» Stay away from negative elements — parties, drinking, drugs — because
‘your parole is depending on your behavior.

= Try to establish a working relationship with your parole persons,

e or
female. Clear communication is the key.

= Just knaw that these people who we have to report to really don't care if
we return to prison. We must stop averlooking this and stay on the path.

GRASSROOTS NETWORKING AND REBUILDING STABILITY IN
FAMILY

Man and wémen on the inside must realize the importance of netwarking
and constantly working to rebuild relations with our children. mothers sad
fathers, aunts and uncles. We must also begin o netwark with institutions
and organizations who reflect a common'interest of the prisoners who are
on their way back Lo society. We must write letters to family and supporters
o reconnect and affirm our commitments to be a positive example 1 socresy
once we are released. We must articulate our agendas and express o
family members how their help is needed to stabilize our successtul
transition.

A successful celease and staying released can be autributed to many
factors. Notjust saying “ts all good” or % have a plan-, Because
economically we come from poverty and more or less will be returning to
poverty. It takes money to eat, clothe yourself place a roof over your head,
take care of lights, gas, plumbing. ete. So we must hone in on our creatve
skills. If the family or support bases can help, that's cool as well. This help
will oy be temporary; we must be ready to work and structure our lives
around things that are going to help us recover and adjust. If we (ail (o
adjust, we wil find ourselves in very desperate situations. Networking is
truly beneficial and re-connecting ia essential or our overall survival i
have outlined for everyone some basic steps.

+ Write letters to all progressive support groups who have proved to be
reliable in meeting the needs of prisoners. Introduce yourself and tell them
Your intention upon relea;

Write stories, editorials, or essays about your prison experiences and
‘send them out to family, friends, and supporters o give them a sensg of
your prison reality.

+ Explain to family and friends the role they can play in your life upon
their release. Make amends with any past misunderstandings you may be-
responsible for with anyone you plan to work with upan your release

« Cannect your supporters, farmily, and friends together Lo allow them
chancs to become acquainted. This is important.

+ Whatever cityor state you are being released to, you should get invalved
in any progressive programs that may be in your immediate area. I
possible, this should be dane before your release. Stepping out into a
Structured progeam is paramount

+ Family or supporters can be advised to try to have you a job available and
waiting on you upon release. So that a lot of the ils dealing with the stress
of ot having a job will not be a problem for you.

+ While stll on the inside, we should always try 1o socialize and keep.
principled relations with the revolutionary elements who are challenging
contradictions on the inside. Keep in contact once the transition is made.
with the elemeats on the iaside who helped or assisted you in preparing or
Jour release

= Upon release we have an obligation to re-b
ur childre

our relations with our
particular, who have sufered the most from our
Il mean doing more than simply talking. Quality
ind affection is 2 most stressed emphasis on our rebuilding

pracess

« Don't make no commitments to anyone until you're sure what your
reality will be like after at least 6 months aftar you're out and have asseased
ation. This way we cut down on disappointments, unkept
‘promises, or face the possibility of breaking our ties to comrads who seek
out our support.

+ Some of us who may have, for some reason or another, developed life-
threatening medical health problems and couldn't get proper treatment in
prison should write or have outside groups who help ex-prisoners with
health problems. Solicit support and help in these areas and maybe yon
could be forwarded to a branch group in the area you're returning to,
AIDS, mental health, cancer, bad vision, or internal problems should be
healable through these support systems.

WHOLISTIC COUNSELING AND EMPLOYMENT

Deing in prison is being exposed to a lot of abnermality, confusion,
stagnation, stress, depression and loneliness” ~ All of the sbove. are
ultimately ' weighing 'on our mental stability. One must be very well
balanced to not succumb insanity_after being released from this prison
colony to the larger prison colany (socety). Not anly are we confrontes wih
e same almormal”conditons” Bt it 1s ‘mach breder a4
overwhelming. Because prison is aaly a microcoum of sosiety, what exiors
in prison on 3 small scale is much arger it sur socisty. Dot the dynemmes
are sull the same. [ our attempt to re-atabilize our livés, we mest s by
confranting the realities of our prison sxperiences. - And how .
mentally béen affected by them. 1 we ail s contront thase resites, they
can and will emerge to affect aur everyday lives as we ry 1o vt opbn]
\We can't work or maintain a worker's focus all stressed out, having
suicidal thoughts, or being averwhelmed with depression. So the outlined
suggestions are some ideas of what to do if confronted with these realities

+ We must seek revolutionary and psychological counseling and therapy &~
from skilled and trained individuals who represent the people's best

interest. Discussions should take place allowing the ex-pnsder = chance

to release his or her peat-up emotions. If there is no release, there will only
be a build-up of rage, uncertaiaty, depression, alienation, and insecuritics

+ Ex-prisoners'shduld eall o support from every progrissive entity or
institation in'our communities: churches, mosques, centers, boys. and
giels elubs

+ Sociologists, peychologists, community couriselors, and organized
‘mentor centers should be called upon for weighing out the conditions we
face collectively and individually.

* If we begin to develop mental distractions while working and trying to
ilable to us. If they don’t help, then expose them.

= New Afrikan leadership and other leadership from anti-suthoritatian
roups must be called to task on their ineflective support of the prisaner
before and after release.

+ Ex-prisoners should get involved in as much exercise as possible. I need
be, get yourself a membership to a workout cub. Our exercise also acts a3 »
release of stress and frustration, Exercise s very important.

# Ex-prisoners should try very hard to cullectively build relationships

etween their families and other ex-prisoners’ family members in an

attemptta build groups to aid prisoners nside and those guys coming
ome.

with its myriad of
varying jurisdictions and regulations, limits community response. This

[ ion of fundamental changes in the
system quite difficult.Patterns of racism and unfair treatment of prisoners
and convicted persons tend to get lost in & multitude of seemingly
unconnected individual appeals for redress from specific local, state, or
federal institutions.

The battle lines are predictable: _pris
families, and prisoner’s rights advocates on one.
bureaucracies, elected officials, victims of crime, and a majority of the
general public on the other. Society has been conditioned by all the bad

about prisoners and prison that their. approach is one of reluctance
indiffecerice in dealing with us. When communitiés begin to deal with
issues of crime and justice, the focis 13 generally on “helding criminals
accountable” and *making them pay™ Unfortunately, there 18 relatively
little attention given to holding society accountable for faling to address the
poverty, lack of education, lack of jobs and employment opportuaities.
which has paved the way 1 prison for prisoners universally, to return 15
prison. 1€ we. don't begin to challenee. thase realitics,,the system. by

friends and
‘and criminal justice

sending pritoners bac 1o priso, prsvents vty givin
an inside view of prison sonditions” Thus thes o L %
b comimard brlawadhing of e communitin 5s e ity S,

et visd ar b i prisn themsles wil have o B e
or knowledgs of the conditions that exis. o st band account

vl community refuses to hire prisoners or jobs, or allow them to receive

£uppar from organized community-based oreisns o Lo
for survival are extremely limited. o heir chances

;. Prisenees who ae deseted by umily o friends because of put acion
£ven after making every attempt to becore & teanaformes o worict
productive in ther thinking, attide, aciars, sed Sehewio e
nteraction, can b forced by desperation and hecessy vl it course,

g dociety at Targe

» lncarceration is not the alternative to being mentally unstable,
‘uneducated, or unemployed; which ultimately are motivators of scts of
Violence or eriminal activity. What is supposed ta be in place to chllenge
this is social institutions prepared to work with, and on behalf of, the
prison

POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS PRISONERS AND POLITICAL PRISONERS

Due process often does not exist within prison walls. Disciplinary and

fievance procedures in these prisons are unfair and usbalanced becauss a

of these prisons operate on a platform of institutional racism. Politicdlly

conscious prisoners have assumed the role and responsibility for

challenging these racist tendencies, procedural violatioas, injustices,
o -

brutality,

i of our activities and challenges againat such conditions,
of awareness in prisoners. Our work, beliefs, and stady
rials have become the alternative, as opposed to the alleged
s prisons clai offer the' prisoner for education and
rebabilitation. _Political and revolutionary materials are creating s
development and character that is g prevalent widely throughout
the pri i ' prisons alike. Our way of life
and belief systems are expressive of a concrete reality that most prisoners
are accepting of. Our efforts to iraprove prison conditions are off base as far

28 prison staff are concerned and are often met with hostility.

led, troublemakers;
e et (ke redht o nhm"mmr-@u‘
syatem wants o be able 5 fake eredit ve ranstormation o th
Prsoner who are bl Io make a sucess] Shabee 50 s oo o0
el ook, and et e S ] S
the prisen populations., By putting us in contrel weit setinge: eut it ci.
our contact with the general prison population statewide. ‘However, they "
have ot been able ks stop the Erowdh amg deselopiosit g the preh
movement. This won't stop until we allow it to be stopped. Outlined
some examples of repression waged against prisoners who resist.

« Segregation of ll natural leaders.

« Physical removal ofprisoners o areas suficiently sclated o efecively
break or seriously weaken close emotional tis.

« Use of cooperative
the inside.

on leaders against other progressive elements on

« Spying on the prisoners and reporting back on private materials, texts on
the internet, ete.

« Tricking prisoners into signing statements agai
leadership

inst others recognized

« Exploitation of prisoner opportunists and informants
+ Systematically withholding maut or destroying it

« Using techniques of charactes

alidation, e.g. rumors or bad-jacketing.

. prisaners whoe willpower has been seriously weakened or
eroded ina living situations with several others who are mare advanced in
their thought patterns and whose job it s to further undermine the
risoner's emetional support, already strainéd through isolation from
family and riends.

The struggle for survival has continued and prisoners must start to slowly

ravitate ta the sid of political consciousness. We have legal books, and all
O other mecessary materials. We can help each other. A luta continuat

INDIANA GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS: 1995-199

'm sure this has changed now, but i want to illustrate it for prisoners here
in Indiana.

« Indianapolis had an increase in gui-related deaths from 81 persons in

1995 to 90 persons in 1996. In 1996, there were 13 more Afrikans killed as &
result of gun violence.

« The cities of South Bend, Muncie, and Evanaville expericuced an
increase in gu-related deaths in 1996

+ In 1995.1996 in Gary, Muncie, and Evansville, all New Afiikans killed a3
+ result of gun violence were killed by New Afrikans.

+ 1n 1995.96, of the cties reporting, all women killed were killed with gurs.

« 1n 1996, of the ities reporting, 67% of New Afrikan males killed were
etmetn the ages of 19-30 years id (110 New Afrikan males), as compared to
32% of white males (7 white males)

§.Chicago ABC Zine Distro
P.0. Box 721
Homewood, IL 40430
CUNCLUSION

¥m sare there are some issued releases i have failed to cover. Don't fault
fon bccause am outlining general, yet personal, issues that prisapers pere
have who are about o make their transition. ‘Sesing o moee of today's

nearly 13 years

the chance that i have always wanted to shars my

about. making our freedom wark for us. ‘So | do it
se.

il power to the people who dare to struggle and dare to win. Free
e world, the land, and our oppressed natio's peopl. Free Al policy
prisoners and prisoners of war

REFERENCES/NOTES

* Indiana Comunission an the Status of Black Males, 1995.96 issue
* A Call to Action, National Commission on Crime and Justice.

* Prison research documents of behavior modification.

an anti-imperialist, anti-
. It consists of various

e can L et tsgh sy e e i

thank you Raze the Walls for this important contribution
Write for guide:
Raze the Walla!

2351 Callege Station Road, apt. 523
Athens, GA 30605

The vai

of an Indiana political prisoner
from the trenches i rise!
Bro. Khalfani X. Khaldun #874304

P.O. Box 30 24d
Pendletan, IN 46064

<opyright ©1998 Khalfani X. Khaldun