34:53 / 137 words
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T.J. Parsell is an author, filmmaker, and human rights activist, dedicated to ending sexual violence in prison, and ending the practice of sending juveniles to adult jails and prisons. His passion stems from the years he spent in prison as a teenager and young adult.
This interview discusses T.J. Parsell’s experience in prison, the U.S. prison system and its defects, racial realities inside prison, and his current film project.
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4 Comments
I have never been inside a prison and wouldn’t recognize one if I saw one. However, I correspond with a guy who has been a prisoner for over 20 years and for your interest I am copying out a section of a recent letter from him for you to read without prejudice:
People tend to think that just because a guy is gay he is weak and easy, that’s not true. They can be just as vicious and sadistic as anyone, maybe even more so. People also think these guys are found to be gay, that’s not true either, they were gay before they came to prison, or chose to be so in prison. It’s actually pretty rare that there is so called “prison rape.” That is usually the result of some young white kid thinking he can be friends with non-whites. It is a vicious world. In the state prisons I was in the races did not mix or socialize at all, NEVER.
Are you calling Mr. Parsell a liar?
No. I just threw in a comment from a racially aware friend who is on the inside. That’s all.
I would imagine this is done on purpose to maintain control and stop groups aligning themselves against the prison staff. A divide and rule strategy.