Author Faces Nerves, Privilege While Teaching In Prison
n this photo taken Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, inmates look on in their college world history class at the Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Wash. College education in American prisons is starting to grow again, more than two decades since federal government dollars were prohibited from being used for college programs behind bars. The shift … Continued
Elaine Thompson / Associated Press
When best-selling novelist Joshilyn Jackson first walked into prison, she was scared. This was despite the fact that she would be able to leave any time.
Jackson was there as a volunteer for the nonprofit Reforming Arts, which works to provide a liberal arts education to women in prison. On this edition of “Writer to Reader,” Jackson shares the reservations she had about the possibility of teaching inmates.
Looking back on her lesson plan, Jackson says that her book choice, “To Kill A Mockingbird” was “the worst, best choice.”
The best, as she explains, because themes of race, class, justice and privilege are found throughout the book and are relevant to people in prison.
The worst, because as a middle-class white woman, talking about those themes with people who have been personally affected by them makes her incredibly uncomfortable, questioning if she has the authority to do so.
Upon walking into the front office on her first day, Jackson says she was smiling and overly-friendly, despite her fear.
“In terror situations” she says, “I choose charm. Charm is particularly ineffective against, say, wolves or fire, but when I’m scared, it’s my go-to move.”
As she worked her way past the final set of gates to get to her classroom, Jackson had a moment to reflect on her own past decisions and all the opportunities she’s had to get her to where she is today.
“Waiting for the gate to buzz” Jackson says, “I think ‘What if my life had gone just a little differently?’”
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