Kaia Stern, Director of the Prison Studies Project at Harvard University was kind enough to send us this letter written by Eddie Ellis, the Director or Metro Prison Ministry. The letter addresses the power of language and the desire for those in prison to be identified as people and not the many other terms referring to incarceration.

AN OPEN LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS

Dear Friends:

One of the primary initiatives of The Riverside Church Metro Prison Ministry is to respond to the negative public perception about people formerly or currently incarcerated as expressed in the language and concepts used to describe us. When we are not called mad dogs, animals, predators, offenders and other derogatory terms, we are referred to as inmates, convicts, prisoners and felons. All terms devoid of humanness which identify us as “things” rather than as people. While these terms have achieved a degree of acceptance, and are the “official” language of the media, law enforcement, the prison industrial complex and public policy agencies, they are no longer acceptable for us and we are asking that you stop using them.

In an effort to assist our transition from prison to our communities as responsible citizens and to create a more positive human image of ourselves, we are asking everyone to stop using these negative terms and to simply refer to us as PEOPLE. People currently or formerly incarcerated, PEOPLE on parole, PEOPLE recently released from prison, PEOPLE in prison, PEOPLE with criminal convictions, but PEOPLE. We habitually underestimate the power of language. The bible says, “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” In fact, all of the faith traditions recognize the power of words and, in particular, names that we are given or give ourselves. Ancient traditions considered the “naming ceremony” one of the most important rites of passage. Your name indicated not only who you were and where you belonged, but also who you could be. The worst part of repeatedly hearing your negative definition of me, is that I begin to believe it myself “for as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” It follows then, that calling me inmate, convict, prisoner, felon, or offender indicates a lack of understanding of who I am, but more importantly what I can be. I can be and am much more than an “ex-con,” or an “ex-offender,” or an “ex-felon.”

The Riverside Church Metro Prison Ministry firmly believes that if we can get progressive publications, organizations and individuals like you to refrain from using the old offensive language and simply refer to us as “people,” we will have achieved a significant step forward in our life giving struggle to be recognized as the human beings we are. We have made our mistakes, yes, but we have also paid or are paying our debts to society. We believe we have the right to be called by a name we choose, rather than one someone else decides to use. We think that by insisting on being called “people” we reaffirm our right to be recognized as human beings, not animals, inmates, prisoners or offenders.

Accordingly, please talk with your friends and colleagues about this initiative. If you agree with our approach encourage others to join us. Use the new language in your publications, web sites and literature. When you hear people using the negative language, gently and respectfully correct them and explain why such language is hurting us. Please circulate this letter on your various list serves. If you disagree with this initiative, kindly write and tell us why at the above address or e-mail us at eellis@theriversidechurchny.org. Perhaps we have overlooked something.

Please join us in making this campaign successful. With your help we can change public opinion, one person at a time. Thank you so much.

In Solidarity and Love,

Eddie Ellis
Director,
The Riverside Church Metro Prison Ministry

Toronto Hot Docs was both amazing and a drag…  Yes, I love the films and I thought the filmmakers were fantastic.  I was especially ecstatic to see Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady’s film “12th and Delaware” about a fake abortion clinic (a must see).   I have known these two women for years and to see how far they have come is very cool.

The mixed part was that the business of documentary filmmaking is increasingly off kilter.  I looked around the table at the commissionning editors who were part of the Toronto Documentary Forum and it was startling to see how little energy there was, how little change there was in terms of new blood and how little opportunities there are for US filmmakers in that universe.  Why? Most of the attendees are from public broadcasters scattered throughout the world. The amount of money they can offer a foreign filmmaker is meager, their value is in their capacity to stimulate funds set up in each country for the citizens of that country.  So, perhaps they can put up 10 – 20% of the budget, well in their country that makes it possible but for an American pitching to them, it’s not much use.

I think the greatest creativity when if comes to social media is on-line. There are so many innovative, cutting edge things being launched that the old form (feature docs), while wonderful to watch and important for many reasons, lacks financial support.

It’s always a risk averse universe where people be on horses they’ve ridden before.  I know the world.  I can be part of the clique, but I don’t like cliques and I don’t like elites so it’s not comfortable for me.

More good things…

The pitch for Connected went well.  I was nervous most of the week trying to figure out how to be concise in the presentation, but still remain real.  Not an easy thing when your film is about information and Communication Technology … right?  I think we did a good job.  My partner Mara pushed and pushed and it was much needed and deeply appreciated.  Anyhow, you be there judge.  Click this link to read the transcript.

I believe in what we are doing and confident that the right ideas always surface. I believe this is our destiny and I know it will happen.  So keep following us… it’s going to be a fun ride!

I’ve been back from Nigeria over a month and been steadily working on a presentation to Sundance and the Skoll Foundation. Now that I’m done with the cut, I think we’ve got something really amazing here. I had imagined ten minutes of material (all that I was required to create), but I ended up with 25 good minutes…scenes, characters and a narrative. Of course, I feel good about it!

Indeed, from the very beginning, I wanted to tell a story about Africans returning from the Diaspora to create wealth, not to fight poverty. I wanted the business to be part of the new economy, not traditional ones such as agriculture or extractive mineral industries. It couldn’t be about manufacturing or micro credit. No, I wanted something that would be a potential game changer in Africa.

I believe we’ve found it. SW Global is that company and what they’re doing in Nigeria might change the economic landscape for that country and perhaps the entire region. At the heart of what they’re doing is the creating of accountable and accurate digital identities that allow Nigerians to begin to participate in the formal economy. No one can get on line and purchase goods in Africa and that means the costs are inflated (sometimes two and three times what we pay here in the US) and black markets evolve.

I’m excited and confident that the film will be made. I knew it was an important film. Now, I’m confident it’s going to be a good one.

Yesterday afternoon, I headed off to film in a market in Lagos.  I was a bit nervous for while I had a remarkable few days around the city, shooting in markets can be dicey.  Now admittedly, I was well accompanied.  I am certain that alone, I would not have lasted long, but guiding us into this world was Amanda Angell, a smart, lovely, fun woman who, as the daughter of the former police chief of Lagos, had a very good sense of how to work in this city.

As soon as we got to the location, I climbed up the stairs of a pedestrian overpass to get a good view of the crowded market entrance.  It was a perfect perch, human energy, like a bee hive below, with enough distance (and a long enough zoom) to capture lots of cool moments.  Then after a week of hitchless shooting, two of the screws that hold the plate on the Sony Ex 1 fell out and were gone into the street below.  There were two left but it was insufficient to hold the camera down.  At first, I tried using the tripod to balance the camera, but it was really impossible. Exasperated I dismounted the plate and began trying to tighten the remaining screws, each the size of a pin head. Amanda and my partner from SW Global, Anita Nomah suggested they go look for a screwdriver in the market which struck me as looking for a needle in a haystack.

At this moment, a young man who had been watching me for the past ten minutes approached.  After a quick glance at the camera he said, “let me see if I an help” and he reached into his bag which unexpectedly contained a set of well used tools.  He then pulled out a mini screwdriver that fit perfectly and in a few seconds all was fixed.

People here are poised for opportunities and ready to work hard when they come and deeply grateful when that ingenuity is appropriately rewarded.

Something like a metaphor….

I’m in traffic on my way back to my hotel in Accra, Ghana at the end of a long day of shooting. I am here to make a film on SW Global, a nascent software company headquartered in Accra, whose dedicated team is trying to revolutionize the way their country – and their continent – does business. I’m here solo, shooting and directing without technical support – another crazy challenge. This project is also particularly hard because it’s not easy to make a strong film about technology. How to avoid boredom?

Yet, Dr. Aloy Chife, SW Global’s founder and CEO, is inspiring, forthright and a visionary. If we get this right, we not only help SW Global succeed but we can raise worldwide awareness of an intriguing path to progress.

… Just as I was noting the terrible traffic, our driver lurched forward and slammed into the car in front of us. No one was hurt, but the long ride at he end of a long day just got a lot worse.