Portrait of Rap's George Jackson
On Saturday, December 7th, at the Queen Memorial Church of God in Christ, in Oakland, California, grassroot activists and others will join forces in a joint fundraiser for two premier newspapers who are reporting from behind the prison wall, the California Prison Focus, and San Francisco Bay View. Proceeds for the fundraiser will be raised through a silent Prisoner Art auction.[1]
On August 12, 2019, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation oversaw the release of one of its most profound prisoners, William E. Brown, also known as Min King William, aka Pyeface, the George Jackson of Rap. Behind-the-wall, Pyeface unwaveringly stood for peace. This didn't endear him to many, especially from those who profit from racial, gang, and prison guard on prison inmate, discord. Violence is a way of life in prison. In California, it was thought if they provided prison yards for those who did not want to participate in violence, the California prison experience would be less violent. California's experiment, known as Sensitive Needs Yards, became an abject failure. These Sensitive Needs prison yards, with Protective Custody inmates, and dropouts from both prison and street gangs was a place that bred new gangs, especially the powerful Two-Five.[2] See also the September 24th, 2019 Associated Press story, "APNewsBreak: California halts prison gang peacemaking effort." https://apnews.com/f6dc74673369497c96237a9dca3f439f Prison guards also have an incentive to keep this status quo ante. With a very low educational threshold to entry, California prison guards earn nearly $60,000 a year, and if overtime is included, double that amount. As with most government jobs, health benefits are phenomenal. While the CDCR's management may espouse rehabilitation, rank-and-file, not so much. In the aughts, Pyeface started K.A.G.E., Kings Against Genocidal Environments. K.A.G.E. would later become Kings & Queens Against Genocidal Environments. Pyeface, who did six years as a federal prisoner prior to becoming a California prisoner, where he would serve an additional 18-years, had become America's principal Peacemaker. One prisoner in California in whom Pyeface had impressed, was Joedee. Joedee, like Pyeface, had done time in the Feds. He grew up in the 1960s, and lived right down the street from the Black Panthers headquarters in Los Angeles, and vividly remebers the 4-Hour gun battle between the LAPD and the Geronimo Pratt lead Black Panthers at the L.A. Headquarters. While Joedee’s father was a Black Panther, Joedee latched onto the emerging neighborhood click known as the Baby Avenue Cribs that would later become the Crips. When Joedee and his family moved to Compton, he brought with him his South Central Los Angeles Baby Avenue Crib mentality, and was instrumental in the Crips foundation in Compton. Joedee never did like gang banging, nor drugs use, and the system that brought these plagues to his community. Behind-the-wall, Joedee uses his talent as a visual artist to espouse Black Love. To espouse Universal Love. "One thing about Pyeface," Joedee told us, "He reminds me of George [Jackson]. Most people think it's about using your fist, but a true leader uses his mind. Pyeface was just like George, they were great orators."
Upon his release from prison, Pyeface has been quite active in dealing with the issues for those he just left behind in prison, and the issues facing the world he has been welcomed back into. He has been the brainchild of several fundraisers since his release that include gentrification and the prisoner press. For years he had watch the "Prisoner's Voice" be exploited. Incarcerated men and women who lend their drawings and writings for the cause to end mass incarceration, or some other cause, without compensation. The fundraiser, Artivists In Action & Solidarity, will be raising money through a silent Prisoner Art auction, whereby 40% of sales will return back to the prisoner. One such artist who donated to the event, is the Revolutionary Prisoner Artist named Joedee. It is Joedee’s hand as an artist, who has given us a Portrait of the George Jackson of Rap, fist pumping, reading the San Francisco Bay View, besides his idol, George Lester Jackson.[3]
Photo of newly released Pyeface holding obituary of George Jackson
ARTIVISTS IN ACTION & SOLIDARITY
(Prison Art Auction for the National Prisoner Press)
Saturday, December 9th, 4-7 p.m.
Queen Memorial Church of God in Christ
1324 E. 24th St.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 532-2752
Or donate online:
California Prison Focus http://newest.prisons.org/donate
San Francisco Bay View https://sfbayview.com/donate/
[1] Agnes Gund, Prison Art’s $100,000,000 Patron | darealprisonart https://darealprisonart.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/agnes-gund-prison-arts-100000000-patron/
[2] Sensitive Needs Yards (SNY) Gangs - Gangs - POLICE Magazine https://www.policemag.com/374079/sensitive-needs-yards-sny-gangs
[3] Prisoner Press Fundraiser Gets Support from Revolutionary Prisoner Artist – Artist Social Network https://artistsocialnetwork.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/prisoner-press-fundraiser-gets-support-from-revolutionary-prisoner-artist/
On August 12, 2019, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation oversaw the release of one of its most profound prisoners, William E. Brown, also known as Min King William, aka Pyeface, the George Jackson of Rap. Behind-the-wall, Pyeface unwaveringly stood for peace. This didn't endear him to many, especially from those who profit from racial, gang, and prison guard on prison inmate, discord. Violence is a way of life in prison. In California, it was thought if they provided prison yards for those who did not want to participate in violence, the California prison experience would be less violent. California's experiment, known as Sensitive Needs Yards, became an abject failure. These Sensitive Needs prison yards, with Protective Custody inmates, and dropouts from both prison and street gangs was a place that bred new gangs, especially the powerful Two-Five.[2] See also the September 24th, 2019 Associated Press story, "APNewsBreak: California halts prison gang peacemaking effort." https://apnews.com/f6dc74673369497c96237a9dca3f439f Prison guards also have an incentive to keep this status quo ante. With a very low educational threshold to entry, California prison guards earn nearly $60,000 a year, and if overtime is included, double that amount. As with most government jobs, health benefits are phenomenal. While the CDCR's management may espouse rehabilitation, rank-and-file, not so much. In the aughts, Pyeface started K.A.G.E., Kings Against Genocidal Environments. K.A.G.E. would later become Kings & Queens Against Genocidal Environments. Pyeface, who did six years as a federal prisoner prior to becoming a California prisoner, where he would serve an additional 18-years, had become America's principal Peacemaker. One prisoner in California in whom Pyeface had impressed, was Joedee. Joedee, like Pyeface, had done time in the Feds. He grew up in the 1960s, and lived right down the street from the Black Panthers headquarters in Los Angeles, and vividly remebers the 4-Hour gun battle between the LAPD and the Geronimo Pratt lead Black Panthers at the L.A. Headquarters. While Joedee’s father was a Black Panther, Joedee latched onto the emerging neighborhood click known as the Baby Avenue Cribs that would later become the Crips. When Joedee and his family moved to Compton, he brought with him his South Central Los Angeles Baby Avenue Crib mentality, and was instrumental in the Crips foundation in Compton. Joedee never did like gang banging, nor drugs use, and the system that brought these plagues to his community. Behind-the-wall, Joedee uses his talent as a visual artist to espouse Black Love. To espouse Universal Love. "One thing about Pyeface," Joedee told us, "He reminds me of George [Jackson]. Most people think it's about using your fist, but a true leader uses his mind. Pyeface was just like George, they were great orators."
Upon his release from prison, Pyeface has been quite active in dealing with the issues for those he just left behind in prison, and the issues facing the world he has been welcomed back into. He has been the brainchild of several fundraisers since his release that include gentrification and the prisoner press. For years he had watch the "Prisoner's Voice" be exploited. Incarcerated men and women who lend their drawings and writings for the cause to end mass incarceration, or some other cause, without compensation. The fundraiser, Artivists In Action & Solidarity, will be raising money through a silent Prisoner Art auction, whereby 40% of sales will return back to the prisoner. One such artist who donated to the event, is the Revolutionary Prisoner Artist named Joedee. It is Joedee’s hand as an artist, who has given us a Portrait of the George Jackson of Rap, fist pumping, reading the San Francisco Bay View, besides his idol, George Lester Jackson.[3]
Photo of newly released Pyeface holding obituary of George Jackson
ARTIVISTS IN ACTION & SOLIDARITY
(Prison Art Auction for the National Prisoner Press)
Saturday, December 9th, 4-7 p.m.
Queen Memorial Church of God in Christ
1324 E. 24th St.
Oakland, CA 94606
(510) 532-2752
Or donate online:
California Prison Focus http://newest.prisons.org/donate
San Francisco Bay View https://sfbayview.com/donate/
[1] Agnes Gund, Prison Art’s $100,000,000 Patron | darealprisonart https://darealprisonart.wordpress.com/2019/11/11/agnes-gund-prison-arts-100000000-patron/
[2] Sensitive Needs Yards (SNY) Gangs - Gangs - POLICE Magazine https://www.policemag.com/374079/sensitive-needs-yards-sny-gangs
[3] Prisoner Press Fundraiser Gets Support from Revolutionary Prisoner Artist – Artist Social Network https://artistsocialnetwork.wordpress.com/2019/11/20/prisoner-press-fundraiser-gets-support-from-revolutionary-prisoner-artist/