"My life experiences as an Afro-Latina raised in Harlem has given me the opportunity to observe the consequences of mass incarceration and the adversity my community faces when encountering the criminal justice system. Because of this, I am concerned with the current state of our prison system and I have a personal interest to address the systematic oppression embedded in carceral systems.
As an undergraduate student at CUNY Hunter College, I double majored in Sociology and Psychology. Though, as a Freshman, I was unsure what my future held, I always knew I wanted to make a difference for those impacted by the criminal justice system. I interned for the Drop the Rock campaign with the Correctional Association of New York to repeal the Rockefeller Drug Laws. As an intern for the Prisoner Reentry Institute, I gained research experience by reviewing reentry methodologies to be included in the National Reentry Resource Center "what works" library. Through my internship at The Legal Aid Society, I assisted defense attorneys in preparation for their cases by locating witnesses, reviewing case details, and serving subpoenas. As an undergraduate student, I also volunteered with The Fortune Society, a nonprofit organization supporting individuals after their release from incarceration and promoting alternatives to incarceration. Here, I provided services for individuals involved in the criminal justice system by serving as an instructor of the introductory GED math course. All of these experiences illuminated my insights into the social inequalities in the criminal justice system, pushing me to strive to effectively address such inequalities and contribute to a successful change.
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Walking through La Victoria Penitentiary in Santo Domingo, I experienced the narrow hallways, small prison cells, open recreational areas, and the overcrowded prison. I asked the incarcerated men about the lives they once led, the experiences they encountered, and their intentions upon release. This study abroad experience was pivotal in my choice to pursue an advanced degree in criminal justice. I recognized the urgent need for research and education on the criminal justice system, and the alleviation of inequalities and adversities faced by underrepresented racial-ethnic groups. Thus, as an undergraduate student, I decided to apply for doctoral programs in criminal justice and enrolled at Rutgers University-Newark School of Criminal Justice.
Without a doubt, being a 1st-generation college student and the first in my family to seek and earn a doctoral degree has posed its obstacles. Yet, I was fortunate enough to have great mentors who guided me throughout the educational process and who continue to be a source of motivation as I continue my journey as a criminal justice researcher. My attendance at local meetings and events has exposed me to the reality that researchers are often missing from meetings among legal representatives, criminal justice-involved individuals, community leaders, and advocates. Thus, I have made it my mission as a researcher to not only conduct innovative research relevant to the field, but to also remain involved in civic engagements, to continue interacting with individuals in the criminal justice system, and to maintain my direct involvement in reform efforts.
Generally, my research evaluates prevalent disparities that hinder social equality – that is, the racial-ethnic differences in policing strategies, the detrimental impact of incarceration rates in communities of color, and the obstacles women face post-incarceration. Now, as an Assistant Professor, I am pleased to be working on my first book to highlight the experiences of formerly incarcerated mothers of color and, essentially, give them a voice. When society thinks of incarceration or ex-offenders, the common image that comes to mind is typically that of males – Black males, to be exact. Even though the criminal justice system may also trap women of color with its oversized grip, women of color with children are largely invisible in current discussions and practical efforts intended to help formerly incarcerated individuals. When these women actually become visible, it is usually through the viewpoint of their children who have experienced maternal incarceration. In my book Invisible Mothers, I will put formerly incarcerated mothers at the forefront to demonstrate how their gender, racial-ethnic background, and maternal role make their experiences unique. Formerly incarcerated women are already marginalized across both gender and racial-ethnic background; they are, then, stigmatized for challenging social norms of motherhood. My book will explore how helping mothers in their reintegration and avoidance of the revolving door of incarceration may improve mother-child relationships and create better circumstances for them and their children. Si Dios quiere, my book Invisible Mothers will be published in 2022.
I am extremely excited to be engaging in work that is meaningful to me on a personal level, but – more importantly – helpful for those who have been impacted by the criminal justice system." ~ Janet Garcia-Hallett, Ph.D
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"I am Kevin Brutus, an Afro-Latino from the Central American country of Belize. Often, I’m confused as racially ambiguous but I like to keep the lines straight. I’m a black man and I am Latino. Social issues have plagued me from as early as I can remember but the one time it’s sincerely hit home was during the stop and frisk era of NYPD tactics. I would’ve never called myself a devious child, yet on two occasions I’ve been stopped, questioned, and physically violated due to suspicions based on my physical features and my location.
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After joining Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity in 2014, I found myself volunteering more in my own community at soup kitchens, food pantries, for walks, etc. Graduating from CUNY Hunter College, I began working for CORE Services Group, a Human Services provider based in Brooklyn, NY. As an employee of CORE, I work as a Community Coordinator at their Bergen House facility in Crown Heights. In this position, I am responsible to be the liaison to both the outside community.
Working at Bergen has been a special experience for me being that Bergen House is a special population transitional residence (more commonly known as a shelter), with 104 beds, only catering to men 62 and older. Often stigmatized, shelters are known to be rundown, filled with criminals and drug abusers, etc. However, it is my job to open up that discussion to both sides about how either can be perceived. Occasionally, I meet with community leaders such as churches, businesses, landlords, and neighbors to assist in the best that they can for the men of the facility. This is New York. At any point it could be any one of us residing in a shelter for a list of reasons: landlord sold their building; illegal eviction; fire; issues with family members; health issues; loss of job; etc. It may be a difficult affair, yet I find it’s important to understand who your neighbor is before making a false judgement and to help in the best way that we can."
Connect with Kevin on Instagram: @brutus_thebold
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"I’m from the hood-ass part of Queens (Southside Jamaica) which has colored my perspective from a very young age. Being from a hood, you automatically understand the world differently. I went to CUNY Hunter College expecting to major in psychology, but by sophomore year I was drawn toward Media Studies (my true calling). I didn’t understand why I wanted to do media, but I felt at home in those courses. Skip to graduation, and I had no clue what to do with my BA, and I ended up taking a journalism intensive at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY before my AmeriCorps term (NYC Civic Corps). I liked the intensive, and I was interested in journalism, but I didn’t take the plunge and apply to grad school until Fall 2015 after my AmeriCorps term ended. I got accepted to the Social Journalism program for their second cohort (we were guinea pigs lol). Social Journalism is about working with communities to report stories that matter to them. The community I picked was the AfroLatinx population in NYC. I spent a year focusing solely on AfroLatinx and meeting folks like Tamika Burgess the founder of this newsletter.
Now I report about different stories that matter on my IG stories. I love highlighting and uplifting other voices on the platforms I have created on Twitter and IG. Being a journalist to me means that at times I need to let go of the mic and pass it to others." ~ Sasha Fountain
Connect with Sasha:
Portfolio: www.smarguerite.co
Twitter + Instagram: @sash_marguerite
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This anthology looks at the AfroCuban experience through the eyes of the island’s writers, scholars and artists. "A rich portrait of AfroCuba—one of the most vibrant and least well-documented of the black Caribbean diasporas."
-Stuart Hall
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Visit Es Mi Cultura's Accessory store on Esty.
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Es Mi Cultura is published every first Monday of the month by Tamika Burgess.
Tamika is a Afro-Panameña, California based Writer. Learn more about her by visiting TamikaBurgess.com
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