The Committee on Black History Month Activities by Arnold Joyner

For the longest, the prison population of Illinois Department of Corrections has been forced out of participating in its Programming and Activities Committee.  These programs and activities were and are a vital part of every prisoners rehabilitation errant.  Prisoners can find a sense of values, principles and morals through watching other prisoners display acting abilities, singing, song-writing skills, poetry and other participation within Illinois Department of Corrections.

It’s considered changed behavior.  The prisoners must change their behavior, especially from what got them put in prison in the first place.  We as men must M.A.N.  (Motivate Assist & Nurture) one another constantly.  We must hold one another to a higher standard than what I.D.O. C.’S holding us to.

On February 21, 2019, Dixon Correctional Center allowed some of its prisoners to participate in a spoken word, Poetry/ Rap Concert.  It was absolutely magnificent.  There were 21 performers and I started things off with a piece I wrote called “Black History.”  John McClutchen played the trumpet to a Miles Davis instrumental of Killer Joe.  Terrence Burns did a piece called “Transitions” that brought many out of their seats.  Lil Rob Adams rapped “Keep Your Head Up” followed by Marvin Alexis’s Mama’s advice “Get Out of Your Own Way” which kept a pulsating flow.  Brother Joel E. Davis performed “The Ascension” and Adam reloaded continued to captivate their attention spans.  Next, Toussaint Daniels gave us his rendition of “A Love Poem” touching hearts and souls near and far.  There were many honorable mentions, but “One Mic” rapped by Roy Duckworth, Brian Harrington and Swavell Toliver rocked the house further.

From what I am told, Dixon prisoners have never had such a positive response to a program organized by other prisoners.  It was a packed house and not one negative incident.  Moreover, we must give props to Dixon Correctional Center’s three Wardens, Pastor Stramka, Joel, Jeff and Brian Beals who put together the Committee on Black History Month Activities.  The Assistant Warden of Programs was so astounded by our talents and performances, she requested an encore performance.  On February 26, 2019 we brought the house down again!