There are so many outrages to keep left-wingers busy that's it's easy to lose sight of the national disgrace represented by American prisons. A terrible milestone of sorts is on the horizon: At some point in the next several months, the United States is likely to execute the 1,000th death-row inmate since the execution of Gary Gilmore reopened capital punishment in the United States in 1977.
One of the many problems that have grown worse since privatization made prisons a lucrative industry is that prison library budgets have shriveled away. But if you have read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, you know just how transforming books can be to people who have every reason to give up hope.
While in prison, Malcolm X taught himself to read, literally, by starting on page one of a dictionary and going through it word by word. In his chapter, "Freedom through learning to read," we discover how the dictionary we take for granted as a reference tool was the doorway to his career as one of the most influential civil rights figures of the century.
Malcolm X wrote: "I knew right there in prison that reading had changed forever the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke in me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive."
If you'd like to do one small thing that can change a prisoner's life, send $5 in postage to Books to Prisoners so that this terrific organization can mail dictionaries to three prisoners who have requested one.
Books to Prisoners is unique. Founded in 1973, it has no rented space and no paid staff. Although it is affiliated with Seattle's Left Bank Books, it operates out of a borrowed basement with 100% unpaid volunteers, governing itself by consensus. All revenues go to acquire books, buy packaging materials, and pay for postage to respond to requests from about 9000 prisoners a year-- from prisons all over the country.
We have a lot of books, but lack of postage means we're chronically four or five months behind in responding to requests. Often we will have stacks of dictionaries and other books wrapped, addressed, and ready to go out the door, simply waiting for postage.
Here are some samples from the hand-written requests we received in July (the letters just being opened in November because we lack postage):
"I am a texas prisoner in lock-up. I was hoping you could send me books on witchcraft or magic or wicca any books on rocks or minerals or spiders and animals trees and plants, nature in general or living in the wild."
"At the time that I came to prison I couldn't read or write a letter. I would like to see if you can send me some books that will help me to learn to read and write a lot better. I would say that I'm on a fifth grade level. I would also like to see if you have a dictionary to send me that will help me. I'm not getting out anytime soon so why I'm here I would like to better myself. And I would like to thank you for all the help that you can give."
"Thank you for the Georgetown Law book and the Misc. Lit that you sent to me. Thank you for your service to us who are incarcerated and forgotten."
"I would like to receive books from you I do not have a lot of money or a lot of friends in here. That is why I am righting to ask for a few books. Humor. Arts. American Indian all I can get on this subject. Math."
"I am incarcerated here in Tx prison away from population. If you all can send educational material that'll help me educate myself in my cell, which Im in 23 hours 7-24, material such for G.E.D. math, science, history. English textbooks. Thank you much!!!"
"A friend told me about you all that you could help me with some novels too read. Also said that you could help me with a Webster dictionary. I realy need it I can't spell too good and need one to help me with my spelling I reather have a Dictionary than the Novels."
It's nearly unbelievable, but sometimes when prisoners write back to thank us, they enclose two 37-cent stamps.
If you can afford to send postage, packaging material, books, or a donation to Books to Prisoners, you can be sure that every penny, every scrap, and every page will be greatly appreciated.