“Prisoners are like men and women who quit the human race,” said Chester Himes, former prisoner, detective novelist and blackballed screenwriter from the mid-20th century. Himes was Black when being Black wasn’t good.
Which brings me to “States of Incarceration,” the interactive traveling exhibit at UWM’s Student Union. The exhibit allows viewers to experience a criminal legal system simulation. Created by over 800 people in 18 states, “States of Incarceration” explores the roots of mass incarceration starting in colonial times. The roots sprouted weeds, and the weeds kept growing. The exhibit’s story angle is that the carceral system is built on fear and separation rather than effectiveness and reason.
Shannon Ross is the CEO of The Community, whose mission is to foster the full potential of people with criminal records through pre-entry. Ross and his staff are responsible for bringing the exhibit to Milwaukee. He knows a great deal about incarceration. When he was 19, Ross committed a violent crime and received a 17-year prison sentence. In 2014, while still incarcerated, he founded his organization, The Community, and created a newsletter read by 5,000 incarcerated people in the Wisconsin prison system.
I’ve known Ross since his release in 2020 and seen his activism for prison reform gain momentum. A few days ago, we met at the exhibit.