Why the Caged Man Smiles

Dear Friends,

My name is Daryl Bouie E-31124. I am a 43-year-old black man from Chicago, Illinois. I’m currently serving a Three Strikes sentence of 35 to life for a serious, but non-violent PC 1192.7 burglary/robbery charge. In my past, I’ve spent 19 years in state custody on four separate prison terms and one federal term of seven months.

Three weeks ago I transferred to San Quentin from CSP Solano. I immediately signed up for the two college preparatory classes, which are not in existence at any of the other five prisons I’ve been to. Well, one of the teachers asked me why I smiled so much, and was in such a good mood. So I told her that it was because of the opportunity to attend these college prep classes, and that they weren’t offered to inmates at Solano, so I felt blessed at being given the rare opportunity.

If I could’ve expounded on the subject, I would’ve told her, my life’s biggest mistake was attending Illinois State College for one day only, and never returning. Now I’m in prison, with no girlfriend or wife. Not one single friend or family member in California. In the eight years that I’ve worked at Solano prison, I didn’t get paid one thin dime, and I’m broke. Solano and Susanville and Tracy and Folsom prison, also doesn’t have or promote higher education. From what I’ve experienced and seen, it’s as if they try to turn out worse criminals through denying rehabilitation programs. These prisons are making pit bulls out of poodles, by the way they deny us jobs that have pay numbers, higher education, also by assigning us to trades that we have no interest in. Those that aren’t assigned to anything have no incentive at all to change.

And yet, when I’m in class, I smile because an education is priceless, and it changes people for the better. My grandmother, who’s 83, and my mother are gonna be extremely proud of me once I obtain my degree, so I’m smiling also for them.

I sincerely want to thank everybody who’s involved with this college program and Patten University itself, for all that you do. You’re underpaid, or receive no pay, and under-appreciated. Thank you for giving some down and out prisoners true help in the face of adversity and hardship as we seek to change ourselves for the better and cause a ripple effect of positive change in others.

May God bless you, amen.