Peace to my APIA wordsmithers,

As some of you may or may not know, I work with the Asian Prisoners Support Committee based out of Oakland, CA. One of the things we do is support inmates via writing letters and some people may be thinking well how the fuck is that doing anything to change the prison industrial complex. Well it isn’t, however, it supports people individually emotionally and shoot, it makes you a better, more understanding person in terms of gaining perspective of a person’s condition and circumstance behind these prison walls. If any of you are familiar with the book, I Love Yous Are For White People: A Memoir by Lac Su; it’s a ill book about Vietnamese American dealing with bi-cultural identity and living in Los Angeles and his childhood upbringing, I just recently read it to get a better understanding of my own situation as my parents are from Vietnam. For me, some of the things that Lac Su got into, that could have easily been me. One of the prisoners I recently wrote is my age, 22 years young, thinking about it, I could have easily become that brother who is now in a cell. It doesn’t take long to write a letter, maybe 30-45 minutes, shoot I know we spend longer times in traffic, on facebook, and what have you. If you interested, holla at sincerejustice AT gmail dot com and I’ll connect you with the right peoples.

SincereJustice

http://www.facebook.com/sincerejustice

P.S. Since this is space dedicated to creative expression, I recently wrote a poem about my brother and comrade, Jaime. Peace to Sahra, I’m enjoying that free chapbook and it has inspired me to create.

for Jaime

this is a poem for my brother

whose skinny frame held a picture of a better world for all

imprinted in his skin, thrived in his blood

affirmed in his commitment daily

as he works to lift and expose injustice

like a veil that covers the face of millions with muffled and silenced voices

a revolutionary in cause and a mexica warrior danzante

laughing and dancing at the oppressor’s jumbled feet

late night propagandist armed with wheat paste and graffiti

where message and medium meet:

“if we don’t stand for something, we may fall for anything” – el hajj malik el shabazz

see, this is my brother, our concerns are deeper than blood

for our community, our world, and us

a friend I trust and I love

thank you, brother

P.P.S Also, if you any of you, Los Angelenos got time and wanna get down, I work with an organization called SEACA (South East Asian Community Alliance) based in Chinatown.  Historically, I have not worked very much with the Asian community, however, I’m bangin’ hard for ‘em because I can see the impact I can, we can make. Also, if you’ve got any used/new books lying around collecting dust, please consider donating them as we’re striving to start a library.

http://www.seaca-la.org/

http://www.facebook.com/seaca

http://seaca-la.blogspot.com/