Restorative Stories: How Fair-Skinned is America’s Vision of Fairness?

The National Association of Community and Restorative Justice claims that it “promotes effective forms of justice that are safe, just, equitable, sustainable, reparative and socially constructive.”

But when an academic conference is attended largely by leaders, teachers, legal professionals and law enforcement, there’s a large population whose voice is missing from the conversation, even though the conversation about equitable forms of justice greatly impacts these populations.

We sought to change that.

After months of group work, getting to know one another, venting frustrations, growing in support, and devising together, eleven formerly incarcerated individuals had written beautiful vignettes illustrating the personal and the emotional realities that have colored their experiences with “social justice.”

We gathered at the conference, held in Denver, to perform these stories alongside lawyers, police officers, and even a District Attorney, in front of nearly two thousand conference attendees. Together, these individuals who have been subjected to the law stood alongside those who have been subjugators, and beautifully brought to light the realities of a justice system that is currently quite destructive.

The following are not my words, but are words written and shared by the brilliant individuals within this ensemble:

“I may have to fight for my survival, but I will not be your entertainment and I won’t let you make me your victim.”

“When they send you to prison, they strip you of your future and your identity. They take away your name and all that you are. But no judge, attorney, or DA will ever face charges for ending a life.”

“When you subject us to the department of corrections, you make us become less correct.”