Pre-School to Prison Pipeline: Breaking the Soul Ties II

The Robert Wesley Branch Show

RWB Talks. The Execution of Ray Jasper. Examining the prison-industrial complex through the abolitionist writings of Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau’s work “Civil Disobedience.” Also, telling the crime and punishment story of former death row inmate Ray Jasper, who was executed by the state of Texas in 2014. Ray Jasper’s Letters from Death Row. Examining two letters written (to Gawker.com) by death row inmate Ray Jasper, who was executed by the state of Texas in 2014. In those letters, Ray Jasper writes profoundly of the prison-industrial complex, racism in America, and the spiritual teachings that sustained him during his 15 years on death row in the state of Texas. Brother Shakoure Char returns to continue our conversation on the pre-school to prison pipeline, with special emphasis on his story of (at age 18) being convicted (using the felony murder rule) and sentenced to 23 years “behind the wall.” Released 18 months ago (at the time of this recording), Shakoure shares on the state of his consciousness as a teen: how he gravitated toward the “street life,” how there was a lack of access to older Black male mentorship in his life, and how he used his years in prison to complete two undergraduate degrees, as well as a Master’s Degree. In this episode: Writer-podcaster-recovering television producer Robert Wesley Branch; television executive producer and business development consultant Michele Wilson; civil rights investigations supervisor, singer-songwriter Dante Bonner; and jazz singer-songwriter and music producer Mai Maiesha. [The Robert Wesley Branch Show #222: Pre-School to Prison Pipeline: Breaking the Soul Ties II - originally broadcast on Saturday, November 5, 2016] #TheRobertWesleyBranchShow #KeepItConscious #RealRawRelevant