TIME

By TERRANCE STEELE

+EXCERPTS FROM THE ESSAY OF TERRANCE STEELE, “TIME”:

“As I scanned the chow hall …  I became fixated on the amount of time the tables held. For every metal octagon table, the max capacity is four people, and each person has a story to tell and a sentence of time, along with time spent roaming these prison acres.

At our table, I was sentenced to 45 years to life (20 years in custody); an elderly resident was sentenced to 25 years to life (30 years in); a senior resident was sentenced to 7 years to life (40 years in); and the youngster was sentenced to 25 years to life (15 years in). That’s a total sentence of 102 years combined and a total of 105 years served—and counting.

We had four generations at that table who fell victim to the woes of the California justice system, infamously known for mass incarceration.”

“Who wishes to fight must first count the cost”
— Sun Tzu, The Art of War

— Sun Tzu, The Art of War