By Rev. Sylvia Morris, Chaplain
SCI Smithfield held its seventh annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Living the Dream Black History Program. This year's theme was "Honoring the Black Woman."
Smithfield general population inmates had the opportunity to participate in three programs. Opening the day was the prison's Facility Chaplaincy Program Director Rev. Sylvia Morris and a group of men from the Smithfield Protestant Choir, who led the audience in the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Ev'ry Voice."
Assata Thomas, director of the Institute for Community Justice (ICJ), a program of Philadelphia FIGHT, spoke next. Her organization provides support, education and advocacy for individuals, families and communities who are impacted by incarceration. Thomas had the distinction of having been the first female president of the New Jersey Corrections Officers Training Academy.
She is a passionate advocate on behalf of those who have been affected by the system—such as the challenges faced by returning citizens, healthy reintegration back into society and the chance to (re)design their futures and destinies. Accompanying Thomas were Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Hamlet, former inmates who now work for and with Thomas and ICJ.
Retired superintendent John Thomas—who is now a volunteer with Ev'ry Man a Warrior—challenged the men to write to their daughters and families once a week.
He challenged them to not consider themselves expendable because they don't think of their daughters, wives and mothers being expendable and neither are they. He told them "don't go home and just get a job and be an island but go home and give back." Thomas told them they always have the opportunity to reset.
He told them to be like Harriet Tubman, "Keep Going," no matter what distractions you had/have, and "keep focused, keep going. If you are not going anywhere or have stopped doing, just start doing again. Do it with everything you have, remain focused and identify with what your purpose is in life. Take something from each of the speakers and put it in to practice."
All during the day was a wonderful presentation put together by Chaplaincy inmate aide Joseph complete with animation and special effects. The PowerPoint featured past and present contributions made by historical African American women.
The evening included 225 inmates coming to the gym and watching the movie "Harriet."