Fair and Just
By Roger Black Jr.
As I sit here thinking about the past,
It seems as though this pain will always last.
Some have said I’m the one that made this bed,
others say I would be better off dead.
Its been said I’ve disgraced my father’s name,
Though silent, others likely feel the same.
Most of my family have disowned me,
This comes without ever hearing my plea.
The general public is quick to judge,
too easily biased, they hold a grudge.
Pleas for a fair chance to speak are refused,
as they cast judgement, I stand here recused.
Imagine if you were falsely accused,
leaving your reputation scarred and bruised.
Wouldn’t you rightly want a chance to speak?
or, would you just crumble, feeling too weak?
What if the masses were up against you?
All due to accusations far from true.
From this system into which you’ve been thrust,
would you beg them to be fair and just?
Imagine being 100% innocent, yet, 100% at fault for where you find yourself at right at this moment. The term “wrongful conviction” differs from “actual innocence’. With actual innocence, you have absolutely no involvement with the crime. The term wrongful conviction does not mean, necessarily, that you had absolutely no involvement with the crime. In some cases, such as mine, you could have some sort of involvement; maybe things went differently than the accusations allege. Maybe you were there, but what was alleged never happened. Yet, you find yourself fighting a 26 year to life prison sentence, how would you feel?
Undue Prejudice
By Roger Black Jr
As I lay here, locked in this prison cell,
I feel like my life has gone all to hell.
Cut off by those that I love and value,
When will the pain and loneliness subdue?
Most turned their back on me through this ordeal,
Never taking the time to hear the real.
They were quick to listen to media.
Media’s corrupt, inter alia.
Media will only reveal one side.
Convicting the defense before they’re tried.
Media just seeks a higher rating,
Ignoring the lives they’re devastating.
Acting as a voice for the prosecution,
Daily they defy the constitution.
It’s basically a defenseless trial,
Utilizing tactics that are vile.
Gives prosecution the upper hand,
Convicting before one can take the stand.
What if media would cover both sides?
That would cause many career suicides.
Giving the public a new perspective,
The media would then be effective.
Airing only one side of the story,
Assisting prosecution’s victory.
It is presented as facts from day one,
A tactic that leaves the lives of many torn.
Yet, quite often cases are overturned,
Long after so many lives are injured.
It is a system full of injustice,
Creating so much undue prejudice.
(We are quick to listen to one side or the other, usually the first to speak up, sounding even slightly credible. Have you had to argue your point in situation recently? We need to realize that in every situation we encounter, there is more than one side of the story. Let’s try to slow down and hear the other side (or sides)).
Bio
Hello, my name is Roger Black. I was born and raised in a small town near Columbus Ohio. At forty years old, I am the third oldest of eight children. I have a beautiful, intelligent daughter named Amar’ah, who will be ten soon.
Facilitating several programs within the institution, and participating in educational training available on our tablets through Edovo has allowed me to grow and help others in positive ways. Helping others, is something that motivates and encourages me.
I have completed Blackstone’s Basic Paralegal Course and studied Ohio law for the past five years, in order to work on my own case in an attempt to get home. This has provided me with yet another opportunity to help others. Others are currently in the process of assisting me with reestablishing a nonprofit Advocacy and Networking organization, which will benefit more than I can even imagine.
Cases are often overturned for various reasons after the court process has cost society valuable time and resources, and devastated many lives, and I aim to add my name to that list as well.
While serving this time, I will use it to my advantage in order to better myself and help as many other men as possible that I encounter.
Hopefully you enjoy the post I submit, but more so, I pray that they impact at least one person’s life in a positive way.