Troy Davis- A Life Taken Before It Was Taken

"They give you life...and that's exactly what they take." Red Dufresne speaking on prisons, -Shawshank Redemption.

I didn't want to get into the Troy Davis execution. It's very painful and on everyone's lips. I did want to take a moment though, and voice an opinion on a different perspective of the Troy Davis controversy.

A perspective the sign-holders don't seem to be shouting about.

Troy Davis was executed for murder on September 21, 2011. A murder most believe -myself included -he did not commit. He was killed by lethal injection, thus ending his tragic and tumultuous life.

Troy was given the death penalty in August, 1991 when he was just 23 years old. Descriptions from people who knew him as a youngster state:

Davis's nickname at the time was "Rah," or "Rough as Hell", but some neighbors reported that it did not reflect his behavior; they described him as a "straight-up fellow" who acted as a big brother to local children.   In August 1988, Davis began work as a drill technician at a plant manufacturing railroad crossing gates. His boss once commented that "Davis was a likeable and good worker who appeared to have positive life goals..." Davis was a coach in the Savannah Police Athletic League and had signed up for service in the US Marine Corps. 

"Likeable" or not, Troy spent over 20 years of his life in a Georgia prison. Everyone agrees its wrong to put an innocent man to death,

But what about an innocent man spending his LIFE in jail?

Why isn't anyone screaming and shouting about the life that was stolen?

Troy had two decades of life robbed by a dangerously flawed and prejudiced criminal justice system. Or as it should be called, "the criminal justice assembly line." It is absolutely appalling that he, or any innocent man would be put to death, but what of the day after day, month after month,  year after year aspect of it? The lethal injection took a few minutes.

Two decades is a lifetime.

One that could easily kill the spirit of an innocent Black man serving time. This should not be invisible, ignored or overlooked. I can't help but ask why is no one talking about the life he lived BEFORE execution night?

Has everyone gone blind to the tortures, abuses and even murders that exist in prison?

And aside from the life Troy did have, what about the life he could've had? That is, if true fairness was a possibility for young, Black and poor male defendants. As soon as they enter "the system", they are railroaded by the process. They don't have the monies or legal teams necessary to adequately defend themselves against the plots they fall victim to, and as a result have little to no voice. If Troy had not fallen into the prison trap set up for young Black men, what could his life had been? What financial contributions might Troy have made to his family if given the chance? 75% of Black households are headed by single women. 60% of Black women never marry. Suppose Troy had been one of the few Black men who married and had a family? Jailed at 23, Troy never got the chance to get down on one knee.  He died with no children. Would this have been the case had he been allowed to live a normal, confinement free existence? One not marred by the blood of Georgia's deep-seated racism? What career path might Troy have chosen? He might have become a defense attorney, helping prevent other young Black men from his very fate. Or he could've worked at McDonald's.

We'll never know.

And what of his community? His neighbors said he acted as a "big brother" to local kids. Suppose he had the opportunities to do more? He could've gone from big brother to town mayor.

He, like so many other underprivileged Blacks, was robbed of alternatives.

Troy Davis was not only denied his right to stay alive, but denied his right to live at all. As an inmate, he couldn't choose simple things most of us take for granted. Choosing what we eat for dinner, when we bathe. No inmates are allowed to make these decisions for themselves. Having your every move and freedom dictated to you -as a man especially - is emasculating and dehumanizing.

Does any of that count?

 "Gangsta Rap." "Monicagate."  The election of Nelson Mandela as the President of South Africa. The music of Tupac and Biggie. The deaths of Tupac and Biggie. The assasination of Benazir Bhutto. The internet. Email. The War in Iraq. MySpace. Facebook. 9/11. Kobe. The first Black governor of NY. D'Angelo. The execution of Saddam Hussein. Dave Chappelle. Y2k. Beyonce. iPods. The election of the first Black US president. The death of Michael Jackson.


History! The happenings of America and beyond..

All seen from behind bars.

Are you getting my point?

And why the lengthy sentences? If you want a man dead, why wait 20 years? Racism surely plays a role yes, but surprise surprise, the issue is not a Black one.

It's green.

Troy Davis did time and was executed in Georgia Diagnostic Prison, which is a privately owned prison in Jackson, GA. What most people don't know, is private prisons get between $25-$30 per day, per prisoner from the federal government.

20 years in jail, equals 7,300 days. Multiply that by $25, and the amount is $182,500.00.

So the even bigger travesty, is Georgia state robbed an innocent man of his youth, vitality and life options.  They stole any opportunities for him to live as a free, independent man. Gave him the gift of depression, agony, legal battles, sorrow and complete confinement, amassed roughly 200k off his pain,

then put him to death.

(Jo'juh on my mind, my ass.)

The issue here, is not merely that Troy Davis is dead, or that the death penalty should be retired. The REAL issue at hand here, is that prison is the new slavery. Troy Davis just happened to be the latest victim. Corrupt police, corrupt court appointed attorneys, prosecutors, judges and politicians are all involved in the sham that is the justice system. Many of those we count on to carry out justice, are the ones investing in said prisons, and therefore have a financial stake in keeping inmates locked up.

Anderson Cooper? You there?

Troy Davis was just another legal lynching. He may not have won his legal battle, but the new battle he started will make his death not in vain. For many, the Troy Davis case has spawned the goal of abolishing the death penalty in every state. (As most Blacks know, the death penalty's main purpose is to legally lynch Blacks). However, my hope is that it not only does away with sentencing someone to die, but will force people to look at ALL the inmates, all the sentences, how they are reached and the financial interests of those doing the reaching.

Georgia officials side with the argument that Troy had over 20 years to prove his innocence. Perhaps true, but the United Stated has had over 400 years to stop killing Blacks for sport.

I pray that Mr. Davis has now received the freedom he was so callously denied on Earth.

Rest in Power Troy. You will not be forgotten and how could you be?

Like every Black American in this country and around the world,

I AM TROY DAVIS.