I really enjoyed seeing Mighty Marquis today. I think his input meant a lot coming from someone who has personally gone through what he has. One of my best friends was in a gang and was “graced out,” since he was having a baby, but ended up going to prison for a year because of the violence that was part of his ticket out. He is so different now, that I never thought to ask him about his experience, nor did it seem right. I have seen so many different shows about prison, such as Orange is the New Black, that portrays one version of prison that is not usually the norm. It was nice to be able to hear truth instead of seeing Hollywood’s portrayal of it. One of the biggest themes I noticed in his speech was institutional prejudice. When you are African American, the law and its enforcers never seem to be on your side. I never really understood that, since I am a white woman, but that is one thing television has accurately represented. Marquis was in a group of white males and was singled out and told he was being searched “randomly.” This is one area of the United States that needs a huge reform. In 2012, the Black Lives Matter movement began after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. It hopes to build power to intervene in violence committed against the Black community by the state. I couldn’t imagine being in prison. I have problems with mental illness and would not be able to handle the pressure. Mighty Marquis told us how he is an inherently kind and warm individual, as I am. However, when you’re in prison, he explains, you cannot be warm and kind; you must keep a low profile and be cautious. I was sheltered when I was younger, admittedly, and because of that I am a very trusting individual and that is also something that he says is dangerous in prison. Finding someone you can actually confide in can happen, but is rare. The recidivism rate is sadly very high, as we discussed in class, but Mighty has managed to break the cycle and I am honored to have met him. It was a privilege hearing his story. Catzfuhdays789
I am so glad we had the opportunity to hear Mighty Marquis's story today. When Doc told us that an ex inmate would be coming to speak to us, I was expecting something way different. I was expecting an inmate that was violent, that had a difficult time finding a job when he got out, and so on. Although, Mighty Marquis was the exact opposite. He was a young man that loved school and was beyond interested in psychology. He was well educated and spoke with words that most felons would not. Mighty Marquis also had a family, like most people. He told us that he had a childhood where he saw his mother struggle to support him and his siblings. With him having a daughter, he refused to not let him and her struggle like he did as a child. He resorted to selling marijuana. He stated that he would sell 20 to 40 pounds per week, making it probably the top 10 drug busts that they had done. Mighty was sentenced to 14 years to prison, but with good time he got out. He went back in I belief, I was kind of confused on that part. I didn't hear him clearly on that part. Although, he did state that he tried his best to stay out of trouble while incarcerated. He said he had to join as gang after people found out who he was, and why he was in there. But he said he got along with others as well. I did not know that happened. I thought if you were in a gang, you only stuck to your people. Although, mighty stated that he was close with a white man that was not part of his gang. If that white man, or any other person outside of his gang tried to "rock" with his gang members, he would have to "rock" with them back although he was friends with them as well. Mighty stated that most of the officers were cruel and unfair, and talked a lot of smack about them. I will have to believe him, considering he was the one in there for a long period of time and had to encounter them every single day. Although, I don't believe that is always the case, and that all officers are like that. I wish that somehow there was a way to wee out the ignorant officers, so all inmates are treated fairly and with dignity. It was a privilege to hear Mighty Marquis speak to us today, and I am so glad that he beat recidivism and has a good head on his shoulders. He seems like a wonderful man, and father. Rugby_456
I also enjoyed his presentation of his life. A life that was obviously not an easy one. He stated that he was in a gang as a teenager in highschool, and when they realized this while he was in prison because someone recognized him, he had to resort back to those roots. Once you are in a gang, you can't easily get out. He was just protecting himself by staying in and on their side. If he would have resisted, they would have hurt him. He is extremely smart and strong which impresses me greatly that he is able to stay out of trouble now and has a decent job. He is not a man that is out there feeling sorry for himself. He is working hard and making something of himself and showing his daughter that hard work pays off. I love seeing/hearing stories like his because it proves that not all people that go to prison will continue to make the same mistakes. MommaJ789
I was really excited to have the opportunity to hear Mighty Marquis story today. It really put me in a better place due to the fact my father went through the same thing and was convicted for the same crime. It was good to hear his story and then compare it to my father experience and think like wow they really went through the same thing. I enjoyed how open he were and how real he kept it with us. He didn't show no regret in what he went through it was more like a teaching lessons for him. I like the fact that he actually came to tell us his story cause most people don't have the desire to. Another thing I learned from him is that you can break it down to somebody on what to do in life but it's for them to actually take that positive route and follow through with it. Furthermore, not only his story was touching it also gave me a positive look on life and how to go about things. Mighty was sentenced to 14 years of jail, he wasn't ashamed of it because he knew the consequences of what selling drugs come with. I like how in jail he kept a low profile and how he notice jail wasn't for him and he's smarter than what people viewed him as. One thing that was really touching is how he had his daughter there while he talked to us about his story. Most men wouldn’t do that, but what I got from him bringing her there is that he know he made a mistake but he’s not hiding from it and he’s just showing her who he really is not what society view him as. To conclude, Mighty story was very inspirational he owned up to his mistakes, he wasn’t ashamed but most of all when he got out he did the right thing. Another thing I applaud him for his making the right decisions when he got out, he didn’t comeback gang banging he knew it was crunch time and to be there with his daughter. Savage456
I am really glad that I had the opportunity to sit and listen to Mighty Marquis story. His drive and dedication is inspiring to me, and how open he was about his life story. You could tell that he had no regrets with his decisions and how driven he is to stay out of prison and even with the mistakes he made in the past it isn't stopping him from exceeding his goals. Like he said, I do know some people that are in prison but none of them have served their time and still made sure to get their education and still graduate from college. He made it known that you write your own story, that using the excuse of "well I have a felony so I can't get a job" is just pure laziness, if you set goals for yourself and learn that yes I made a mistake, but that it isn't going to define me of who I am. His story also showed what Doc. White has been saying all along, there are some people that are in prison that aren't terrible people, they just made a stupid mistake. With me pursuing a career as a correctional officer for a Federal Bureau Prison, I will always keep in mind of his story while I am working, treat the inmates of what they are, human. Even with being a felon, I praise him of his accomplishments, graduating from ICC, getting out and telling students his story, staying strong with not getting back in to his old life style of selling drugs and staying away from the people that he associated with before being incarcerated and for getting a job and being there for his daughter and his family. FoxRacing456
I like how Mighty Marquis started this presentation off with his background. How it took him more than once of getting caught to actually learn from his mistakes. It was interesting to me that he realized quick and still young that what he was doing was not actually worth the time he spent in prison. He realized quick in life that doing nonviolent actions aren’t worth not being a son, father, brother, or husband. I simply enjoyed the fact that he was open, didn’t sugar coat anything and shared his experience in prison to not just some of us but all of us. It was nice for Marquis to cover the in’s and out’s of the system that he felt was wrong and right. It was interesting to hear him cover how the guards were just complete wrong with the inmates vs. how we just went to the jail and saw differently. I understand not each facility is the same and we looked at a jail and he was from a prison. I also enjoyed that he shared with the entire class as a daily reminder that you can’t let things keep you from what you want to achieve. There’s a difference between believing you can do what you put your mind to vs. making an excuse for everything that comes your way. I just want to thank you for bring Mighty Marquis in for all us to experience his personal experience. unknownzeeha456/789
After visiting the jail and hearing Mighty Marques talk, they both had the same main point; that we should treat everybody, whether in jail or the guard, with dignity and treat them like a human being. After listening to Mighty Marques he opened up a whole new point of view in the prison environment that I would have never known to be there and he is one of those stories that proves if you have something to believe in then you can achieve it. When he said he was arrested for weed and trying to make some extra money for his family, that is what a lot of people are doing, they are just trying to make a living and make a better life for there family. I also had no idea how bad some of the prisons in our country our making the inmates feel like they are nothing and making them not want to succeed. When he first started out and talked about being arrested the first, he brought up the point that when he was getting processed the officers were stereotyping and thought he had some type of prior arrest record. This shows that most of us today judge people by how they look on the outside and never really get to know what the actual person is like unless we have a conversation with them. If we had more people in the country who would want to turn their lives around, then I feel we would start to see a decrease in the number of people who are being arrested and also a decrease in the recidivism rate. Illini123 Illini456
I really enjoyed listening to his story and his background because it made me think a little more to be more open minded with people that have a criminal background. Not everyone that goes to prison is a bad person but most make bad decisions. It was good to hear it from the inmate’s perspective and not just from someone who works in law enforcement. It’s sad to hear how bad it is in prison and that there are some officers who just come in to work wanting to make the inmates jail time even harder. I’m surprised that all he went through and how he was treated, he still decided to be the best he could be after getting out of prison. His strive to do better and vow that he will never get in trouble is incredible and I wish more people had that kind of drive such as him. It’s clear that his daughter was his main buffer in his life that made him stay focused on getting out and never going back even though he was surrounded by negativity day in and day out. His story is truly inspirational and the fact that I got the opportunity to listen to him and see the expressions on his face when he talked was mind opening. I hate to see that he was locked up for so long for a drug offense even though he was a big time drug dealer, but he wasn’t a murderer or rapist. He had to be locked up with violent and ignorant people and that was something that he wasn’t. Prison really does change people and not for the better. Obviously there are some people that need to be in prison, but I think the non-violent offender, low class offenders are the ones that need help and not jail time. -PizzaLover456
I really enjoyed what Mr. Marquis brought to the presentation and I was very much surprised. I did not expect him to be as educated and insightful as he was. I know a couple people that have had to do time in prison, including my own father, but they definitely did not take advantage of their options like Mr. Marquis did. They also did not look at being in prison from the same perspective that he did which may also have a lot to do with the different outcomes for all the different inmates. He really seems to be happy with his life and what he is doing, and although he spent eight years in prison he still has no regrets in life. I really wish he did more presentations like these because I feel if he got the chance to speak to people in relatable situations he could really make a huge difference. He hit a nerve when he started talking about how important it is to have people to write to, call to, and receive visits from. Before I was old enough to visit on my own I would never see my dad just because that was my mom's choice at the time. now that I am old enough to visit him myself I have not gone to do so. However, my father was just transferred to a closer prison and the thought of going to see him has crossed my mind a few times since then. Another thing that struck a nerve throughout his presentation was when he started talking about helping inmates. The example he made about going to the pond to drink the water spoke volumes to me. This has been a worry of mine for quite some time because my father has spent a majority of his life going back to prison and it truly does worry me that he is never going to get better and stop going back. I feel a lot of my dad's lack of effort has to do with a few different things, such as my grandparents, they buy him his own television and radio for when he goes back. I do not feel like he needs these things in prison, maybe if prison were not so entertaining for him he would not keep going back. Another thing that i think has played an important role in my father's life that MR. Marquis mentioned was the fact that society does not forget or let you forget what you have done. People judge far too easily and harshly based on whether or not they have been incarcerated. I have watched my dad receive a lot of judgment over the years and i can see where it can be discouraging. That is why I admire Mr. Marquis' attitude, he does not care what others think because he knows who he is and he is proud. Not only does he make a good role model for other inmates, but for everyone. I feel that any and everybody could learn a thing or two just from listening to this man speak for a little bit.White789
The Mighty Marquis has opened my eyes to the way people are treated in prison. I don’t like that as soon as they are in there, even for a small crime like marijuana, they are all deemed the same person. Their individuality is stripped so they can reconstruct who they are in hopes of not being a criminal. I have always wondered about this. Is it right to take away their personality? Is it right to serve them food that is worse than a school cafeteria? Yes people, horrible horrible people are in prison for reason I don’t even want to mention. Do they deserve to be treated as animals? No, I am sorry, but no. I don’t think we should be making matters worse by taking away someone’s Id. Their sense of self and no communication (or barely at all) because a crime was committed. I know people who have been charged for things that don’t make sense to me. A man (or woman) peeing in the park and then charged as a sex offender then have to register for the rest of their lives. Was it wrong? Yes, it was. They should be punished somehow but I feel like the courts see and inch and take a mile. Or people who sleep with someone who is younger than they are. For instance, a 20-year-old and a 17-year-old. That is not a huge age gap but if one thing goes wrong the parents or the 17-year-old can press charges for statuary rape. My point is, is there are many different degrees for each crime and most of the time people are not judge fairly. Being put in prison for 7 years because of marijuana, in my opinion that is over the top. I am not for or against legalizing it because I don’t know much about it, but these men and women who are in jail for this charge, will they be released? Is there a way that we can put the actual prisoners who deserve life locked up in a different prison so the people who made a mistake can learn without having to go into jail one person and coming back out worse? Is there a way to make life in there a little better like not serving them food with roaches? I wish there was a way to reach out to the people who joined gangs to tell them there is protection and shelter somewhere but not here. I also wish there was a way to change people, to open their eyes to situations that are unhuman to make this world a better place, but I sound like I’m promotion world peace for a pageant when in reality I wish everyone would stop the nonsense and realize greed, jealousy, and gluttony are the way wars are started. Another thing is, he was talking about the way his life has gone. He knew he was better than the life he chose but he did it anyway because that was what he knew. He mentioned that if someone doesn’t want to be helped then there is no helping them. Your mothers taught you to drink the water and the path to take to get to the pond you take that with you in life. If you’re an adult and still don’t know how to drink the water, there is no helping you. Or you can give someone the keys to the car, but they are the ones who drive it. With my personal experiences in life these statements have helped. Even though I have been told a million times by other associates, Marquis was the one that finally opened my eyes. He speaks the truth to something I can relate to and I am grateful for his responses. Slimjim789
I decided to come to this presentation over going to the jail because I have a brother in jail who is currently awaiting a sentence for burglaries. Burglaries that he committed to be able to purchase drugs. This isn't my brothers first go at this and I was sure that before it wouldn't be his last because he has done this so many times. I don't feel sorry for him, but many do. I know that my brother is intelligent. He just makes really bad choices. He, like Marquis, has children. But, unlike Marquis, my brother choses to place the blame on others for his actions. I believe that this is the difference between the two of them. Marquis admitted that he made the mistake and didn't blame someone else. He took what he had coming and vowed to make it his last time and made something of himself. He attended college courses while locked up. He is a great role model to his daughter and other inmates out there. He is proof that you don't have to just assume you are going to go back to jail. He made sure that he stayed on his education and got job training and other skills to use in the workplace after he was released. My brother took welding classes as well. But my brother stated that he couldn't get a job, because no one would hire a felon. I appreciate the fact that he stayed with it and found another trade that he was able to excel in. I learned a few things as well. That no matter what, I still need to be there for my brother. As much as I am disappointed in him for hurting himself and the rest of the family, I need to support him and show him that I care. He is my brother and he needs me to be supportive regardless if I agree with what he has to say. I wish and pray that we have more Marquis' out there that stand up and make something of themselves and are able to show positive influences for their children. MommaJ789
It was very interesting listening to Marquis talk to us about his prison experience. The most eye catching part was how he was describing his time at Statesville prison and how diminishing it was to go there. One of the more touching things of the presentation was him saying the main thing he missed that was outside the prion was his daughter. Even after a day of thinking about it I still cant believe he went to jail for 7 years for that amount of weed I figured he would have got 14 years even after the 50/50 rule. I know today weed is a big issue as to why our jail population is so overcrowding and we need to put those people in for less time or not incarcerate them at all but the amount of weed he had was just to much for a small time dealer to have. Another eye catching thing he said was that he doesn't really talk to his family anymore but he talks to his "family" from prison because they were his "family" while he was incarcerated. I would love to go to another presentation by Mr. Mighty because his experience in prison just made everyone have a high fear of stepping foot in one. CarlBaconWho456
I liked Mighty Marquis because he was honest wit us about all of his experiences. I was shocked when he said that he came from a pretty decent background because usually when people end up in prison. We assume that they come from a home of poverty, or that they just had some type of issue that eventually forced them into the streets. He had knowledge though, he knew what he could of done but instead he wanted to do it his way. Which is often how very good individuals end up being processed in the system. I think it is great that he is an individual, who makes a promise not to go back, and strives on keeping that promise by going to school. You wouldn't really think he possess so much knowledge by the way he looks because as we learned when we took the bias test. We all have implicit biases and sometimes we judge people before they approach us or even speak. I love the fact that doctor white invited him because usually when you think of an individual who's been out of prison, they think their tough or they're right back where they started. The fact that he was able to reintegrate himself back into the community was great and says a lot about his character. But I think that also says a lot about our justice system as well because if we are not reforming prisoners what is the point of locking them up. We put them into a whole other lifestyle of living, make them adjust based on whether they want to survive or not and then expect them to come back out and be a better person it just doesn't make sense. When he described how he had to be someone he wasn't just to survive that right there should indicate that jail might actually be worse. He had to remind himself when someone cut him off to calm down, but the issue isn't individuals like Mr.Marquis it's the ones that can't be helped or don't want to be helped. I think besides people who deserve to be in prison we need to come up with reform for individuals who don't want to change. They need some type of traumatic impact that changes their views on life, and I believe it all starts in the community, and criminal justice system. McBrightyalife456
Tuesday November 7,2017, we had an exinmate come and talk to us students about his experience, and his life story. It was an extremely satisfying story of not only the back ground of his life, but also his life in prison and the outcome, and where he is now in life. To me it sounds like the Mighty Marquis had a rough child hood. Might Marquis grew up in Chicago, he then got involved with drugs and in to the gang life. Mighty Marquis was not doing very good in life at this time. He began to sell drugs so that he could support his family. Mighty Marquis said that he was selling 40-50 pounds of weed a week. Due to the selling of drugs to support his family, he got caught. Selling drugs then put Marquis behind bars for 14 years, due to good time and other benefits that you can receive in prison he served seven of the 14 years. Marquis is now on parole, but has definitely changed his life around for the better. Not only outside of the prison walls, but who knows of anyone who graduated collage while in prison? Mighty Marquis not only graduated collage while in prison but he got the advantage of walking in his college graduation while still in prison. Marquis is a very educated man, you can tell this man is educated by the way he speaks and the words he uses when he speaks, any one that can be in prison and still be able to graduate collage I will give my full respect to. By have marquis come and talk to many of the students that attend Illinois Central College I think it was a good eye opener for many of us students. He proved that if you want something, you will stay with what you want, and you will go get it Mighty Marquis now has a class x felony on his record, but he also has an education in his back ground and has a well-paying job to support his family with. This man was very inspiring to me he showed me that anyone can turn their lives around and better themselves. Thunder456
Listening to Marquis talk about his experience was very eye opening for me because I️ knew that experiencing being behind bars and hearing about what it is like are two different things. When Dr. white told us, he was bringing in an inmate to talk to us about their experiences in the prison system, I️ thought to myself well they could not have done anything to serious because he is out. But this just shows you the bias we have or how you look at people that have been in the prison system. I️ loved how he was real with it and was very open with his story. He did not joke around with it either. It was very shocking that he got 14 years, but Touring the jail on Monday was not my first time there. This time around I️ learned just a bit more than I️ did than the previous times even though a lot of the information was not all that new to me. What I️ did not know was the are outside where we started was were the process began. I️ did not realize that, that is where the officer takes someone after being arrested and they go through the door to begin the intake process. One thing I️ liked most about it was how they don’t allow their staff to carry any sort of weapon on them. All they must use is their mind and their mouths. I️ agree with that because you need to build some sort of bond or trust with your inmates and if you do not have that then they will not be nice towards you or the other inmates they see that have a good relationship with you. only did seven. Seven to me for his crime is a long time. I️ was glad to see him and his daughter are getting along well and have a good relationship because you don’t really see that if one goes to prison for awhile. He was very intelligent, and you could tell during his presentation. When he admitted that he did some things in there he wishes he had not, just to survive kind of made me think about what you must do to survive in there. I️ was very impressed that he wanted to go on and further his education with Psychology. Hearing his side of his made it very real to me. It’s hard to explain how it did, but it is just one of those things. His experience is nothing like you see on T.V. or even hear about. One thing I️ also like about Marquis when he was telling his story, he has no regrets. He did what he had to do to support his family because growing up he watched his mom struggle to support him and his siblings. I️ can relate because until I was about eleven or twelve, I️ watched my mom struggle to raise my sister and I️. It is hard to watch but we got through it together. No one wants to struggle in life. ~Bears456
[Part 1] The Mighty Marquis is a story of inspiration, because in his own words, he's a warrior. The prison institution is supposed to educate, and fortunately for Mr. Marquis, he had the determination, and the mindset to push himself, to wake up every morning and go to work, go to school, to cut off the people that would drag him down and to claw himself out of the hole that he knew he'd dug for himself. What hit me hardest about his discussion though, was the realization that, for so many of our people in the prison system, that isn't the case. I can't quote him verbatim, but I think it went something like this. "Prison isn't a place to reform you, it's just a place to hold you." We spend thousands of federal tax dollars on education for inmates, on healthcare and psychiatry, but if the system is so broke that these tools can only be used by those willing to use them in the first place (a minuscule percentage), what are we really accomplishing? Instead we have a man with an agonizing health issue getting written off with fiber pills until he medically cannot afford to wait anymore. America touts it's causes and charity balls and it raises money, without ever addressing the root of the problem. We can't throw money and create new programs and just pray that will be the duct tape to wrap around the issues we already have. Rip out the problems by the roots, and then implement a new, better way of thinking. Fight against the bias that Mr. Marquis was first faced with that day they brought him in, stared him down, and asked him if he had any priors, based solely on the way he looked. Tear apart the skewed way of thinking that would have a guard stealing his blanket, just to play power games with an inmate. Attack the problem, and then offer a solution, instead of allowing a problem to fester and then offering a conciliatory band-aid. Because Mr. Marquis got out. He made a new life for himself, with a job that pays well, and a connection with his daughter, who came out to support him at his presentation. Not everyone gets that. In fact, statistically, I think many of the men and women who get out of jail would very fervently disagree with Mr. Marquis that it is so easy to find employment. For one, you have to disclose your status as a felon, and many places, especially places that require little skill or education, will not hire you if you have a record. Mr. Marquis is an intelligent, educated individual. Many of the prison population, however, have not had access to that same education, whether because of monetary means, or because they had other responsibilities, such as taking care of a family. When they seek employment, they are often turned away. This leads to them re-offending. Mr. Marquis said it himself. It would have been too easy to get back in the game. America's recidivism rate is 67.8 percent within three years of release for a reason. We give up entirely too easy on people inside jail and outside jail, because it's easy.
I'm not talking about the murderers, about the domestic violence cases. I'm talking about our non-violent criminals who screwed up their lives and deserve a second chance to enter this world and make it a better place, instead of a worse one. When they're in prison we allow them to either fall into isolation or into a charged up social hierarchy that is controlled with force. When they're out of prison they're reintroduced to a society that has massively changed from the one they remember, and they're out of place, unable to adjust, and sometimes given a limited amount of time to find employment by a parole officer. This means that they have to take a difficult, or dangerous job that no one wants. We don't treat them like people from the moment they enter the system. That needs to change. They're criminals, but they're human beings. The system needs to focus on education, reformation, the health and safety and change of the people put in it's charge, instead of just corralling them in a building until they can shove them back out in the world. I'm glad Mr. Marquis found success, but Mr. Marquis is the anomaly, not the norm, and that needs to change.
I would like to say that I really appreciate Marquis for coming and taking the time to talk to us about his journey in life and the experiences that he acquired when he was in jail. I think it is great that he is talking to people that are young enough to see and understand where wrong decisions can take you and how hard this can be. In the other hand there was something that called my attention when someone asked him if he wanted to go and help other inmates. I liked his response when he mentioned that in order for someone to change their ways, they really have to want to change. I think it does become some kind of co-dependency for those the live in the streets and do some kind of illegal activities that gives them that extra boost of endorphins and the release of adrenaline what keep them going. I have personally say that some people actually enjoy doing it because it becomes a game to them and they don't really know how to express the feeling of excitement. Over all Marquis you are awesome man, just keep it up and once again thank you for coming to talk to us about your life and experience. Koi789
Attending the lecture of Mighty Marquis was a very good opportunity to obtain an internal perspective of the U.S. prison system. Coercive organizations naturally have a great deal of inherent questionability, and a lot of the particular experiences that Marquis had with the gang presence in prison were fairly damning of the “rehabilitation” of prisons. However, what interested me most was the experience that he described having involving the outside world. He described the importance of having a “life line” to the outside world and holding on to who you are. Despite holding so strongly onto that world, it rejects you once you rejoin it. His description of the difficulties associated with the treatment that former felons, even of non-violent crimes, had to contend with was sobering, in a number of ways. Those that perpetuate this discrimination are those that perceive a strong line separating criminals and themselves, imagining some sort of comic book villain, when in reality the line between model citizen and repeat felon is thin as ice. When the weight on a person’s shoulders becomes too great for the ice to bear, they plunge into a life full of judgement and hostility that they cannot seem to escape. -SoarSore789
I really enjoyed listening to Mr. Marquis about his prison experience. It was interesting and eye-catching. I was shocked when he said he is college educated before prison time. Let’s face the truth, we as part of society think and assume that people who are ending up in prison are very bad people, people from poor places and poverty. One of the most eye-catching and touching parts of the story he shared was him saying the main thing he missed outside of the prison was his daughter who he sees only once or twice a year. What I cannot believe is that for a few amounts of marijuana, he was sentenced to 14 years and end up serving 7 years of incarceration. What I like about this story is that even though he was in prison, he did not let the system to bring him down and take away his humanity. He had the knowledge and an inspiration to be back and part of the society again and to be part of his daughter’s life. He mentioned that he doesn’t talk to his family anymore, but while he was incarcerated, he became close to the other inmates and they become his new family. Mr. Marquis mentioned that most of the correctional officers were unfair and cruel. I do believe him for a reason he was an ex-inmate who is sharing his story and life experiences in prison with us. The awesome thing I like about Mighty Marquis is when the time he got out, he made the right decisions not to be back on what he did before. I am glad that I had the opportunity to sit and listen and know a person who is not ashamed to tell others his experiences. His drive and dedication are inspiring and how open he was about his life story. -M.Scott456
He was by far my favorite speaker I have ever listened too. He was so engaged with his audience and it really made me listen to every little word he said because he shared something personal with all of us and that's hard to do. He reached down in parts where he probably wants to forget because prison is a dark and hard place to be. But the way he explained every experience it really drew my attention because he really wants you to listen and pay attention because prison isn't like the movies or tv shows portrait it. He was loud and funny and made the whole audience laugh because he was a really caring person. The thing I enjoyed the most was seeing his daughter there with him because like he said you loose a lot of your family when you go to prison because they see you differently and want nothing to do with you but she was there supporting him and videoing him. She laughed with him and stuck through everything with him and that's something really special to have family when you get out like he does. But I really appreciate him sharing his experience with us because it really opened my eyes on the prison system. Shark456
Listening to Marquis speak was really eye opening to how society isolates and creates a bias view of anyone who goes to prison. He committed a nonviolent crime and received a sentence worse in my opinion then what some murderers get. When murderers get sentenced they normally go for life or close to. He got not only the seven years but the forever stain of when people look at him they don’t see a successful father, graduate, and worker they see the label view of an ex inmate. His determination helped to push him to new levels that most would struggle with achieving even without the negative label of an ex-convict. He put his past behind him and pushed through all the negatives and cut out things/people who would bring him back down a road he didn’t want to go down. Marquis mentioned constantly his love for his daughter and how he worked and got better for her so she can be better than he was. Which to me was the most inspiring thing of all. To work so hard for your child so they not only can be with you but so you can give them the best life possible no matter the labels, challenges, and obstacles you may face. Cassiopia789
Being able to sit in and listen to Marquis talk and tell us his experiences in the prison system was such an engrossing and interesting experience. The way he talks and his presence was very captivating and I wasn't bored for a second. Of course I knew that there was a lot of negative things that occur in prisons and jails daily it was definitely eye opening to hear someone talk about their first hand experiences. Personally, I don't know anyone who had been incarcerated so all I was aware of was of what they portrayed on tv, what I read online, and what I was taught in class. I think one of the things that Mighty Marquis mentioned that stuck with me the most is how he talked about how it felt to be treated less than human. It was very saddening to hear him talk about how unfairly he was treated by guards, them randomly searching him, stealing his towels, how hard it was to be away from his family, it really made me think about things. We always talk in class about how high the recidivism and return rate is for former inmates but it was refreshing to be able to hear about how Marquis turned his life around and vowed not to go back to prison. I really appreciate that he and his daughter took time out of their day to come talk to us and I'm very glad I got the opportunity to sit in and listen to his story. -Xielxs456
I'm very happy that we were able to attend the Mighty Marquis presentation. I am not one for presentations or speakers, as most school presenters are not this exciting. I felt I have learned a lot from him and the things that he had talked about. As someone going into the correctional field, he definitely opened up my eyes. He had told us stories we could never hear in the textbook, and that's what really sticks with me. The story of the guard taking his towel, to the searches on the yard. I would like to again thanks Marquis for visiting and say that he has impacted me greatly. Not only as a professional, but as a person. LowAndSlow456
Getting to hear MR.MIGHTY speak was actually a treat for me. learning about is education history and family history it bothered me on how this man had everything going for him in the right direction until he got greedy. That made me wonder how is it that a well educated man went from having it all to moving 29lbs of dope a week got busted. only because of an informant. I was impressed that he still continued on with his education and has the opportunity to make more money than just the bare minimum. Hearing him speak I would have never guessed that this man was in prison. he spoke proper English but then he flipped the script just like that and could speak jail. That was the actor in him. he had to conform into someone to be understood in prison by both guards and inmates. I also learned from him that for rehabilitation to work you have to want it. you can't just go through the emotions to just get by. He wanted out because he realized that he did not belong their over the word incompetent. I think it was a wonderful idea for him to come and speak to us. I think he should go to high schools and speak also to help educate the young ones. ~MYHEARSEISNOTAFUNERALCAR456~
Listening to an ex convict speak really opens up what I have learned in all of my classes here at ICC. Making the connections between what he says and what i have been taught was extremely educational. His stories he told were also very educational and i wish every law enforcement, criminal justice, or psychology major would listen to. If i were to directly compare his stories to what we learned in juvenile delinquency i would have to bring up social disorganization theory. He mentioned growing up in a poverty stricken area in bloomington where he thought his only opportunity to get money was by selling drugs and gangbanging. He soon found out that all of that would land him in prison where he served a 14 year sentence for being found with over 30 pounds of marijuana. His story gets even better when he was in prison and he found a way to distance himself from the negativity in prison but even more importantly when he got out. With him being a very educated man he understood that the nations recidivism rates were through the roof due to people being thrown right back in the environment that got them incarcerated in the first place. When he got out he got a job making 20 bucks an hour and he never sold drugs again. He explained that the nation needs to stop worrying so much about rehabilitating the adults and more focused on worrying about the children that a destined for the same path. He explained that the adults mentality is ruined from being institutionalized and that they will almost always fall right back into their old ways once they are released from prison. With the amount of Americans incarcerated right now i wish they would all have the same mentality as he does. If they did they would all get out and become successful. KLICK123
I really enjoyed seeing Mighty Marquis today. I think his input meant a lot coming from someone who has personally gone through what he has. One of my best friends was in a gang and was “graced out,” since he was having a baby, but ended up going to prison for a year because of the violence that was part of his ticket out. He is so different now, that I never thought to ask him about his experience, nor did it seem right. I have seen so many different shows about prison, such as Orange is the New Black, that portrays one version of prison that is not usually the norm. It was nice to be able to hear truth instead of seeing Hollywood’s portrayal of it. One of the biggest themes I noticed in his speech was institutional prejudice. When you are African American, the law and its enforcers never seem to be on your side. I never really understood that, since I am a white woman, but that is one thing television has accurately represented. Marquis was in a group of white males and was singled out and told he was being searched “randomly.” This is one area of the United States that needs a huge reform. In 2012, the Black Lives Matter movement began after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman. It hopes to build power to intervene in violence committed against the Black community by the state. I couldn’t imagine being in prison. I have problems with mental illness and would not be able to handle the pressure. Mighty Marquis told us how he is an inherently kind and warm individual, as I am. However, when you’re in prison, he explains, you cannot be warm and kind; you must keep a low profile and be cautious. I was sheltered when I was younger, admittedly, and because of that I am a very trusting individual and that is also something that he says is dangerous in prison. Finding someone you can actually confide in can happen, but is rare. The recidivism rate is sadly very high, as we discussed in class, but Mighty has managed to break the cycle and I am honored to have met him. It was a privilege hearing his story. Catzfuhdays789
ReplyDeleteI am so glad we had the opportunity to hear Mighty Marquis's story today. When Doc told us that an ex inmate would be coming to speak to us, I was expecting something way different. I was expecting an inmate that was violent, that had a difficult time finding a job when he got out, and so on. Although, Mighty Marquis was the exact opposite. He was a young man that loved school and was beyond interested in psychology. He was well educated and spoke with words that most felons would not. Mighty Marquis also had a family, like most people. He told us that he had a childhood where he saw his mother struggle to support him and his siblings. With him having a daughter, he refused to not let him and her struggle like he did as a child. He resorted to selling marijuana. He stated that he would sell 20 to 40 pounds per week, making it probably the top 10 drug busts that they had done. Mighty was sentenced to 14 years to prison, but with good time he got out. He went back in I belief, I was kind of confused on that part. I didn't hear him clearly on that part. Although, he did state that he tried his best to stay out of trouble while incarcerated. He said he had to join as gang after people found out who he was, and why he was in there. But he said he got along with others as well. I did not know that happened. I thought if you were in a gang, you only stuck to your people. Although, mighty stated that he was close with a white man that was not part of his gang. If that white man, or any other person outside of his gang tried to "rock" with his gang members, he would have to "rock" with them back although he was friends with them as well. Mighty stated that most of the officers were cruel and unfair, and talked a lot of smack about them. I will have to believe him, considering he was the one in there for a long period of time and had to encounter them every single day. Although, I don't believe that is always the case, and that all officers are like that. I wish that somehow there was a way to wee out the ignorant officers, so all inmates are treated fairly and with dignity. It was a privilege to hear Mighty Marquis speak to us today, and I am so glad that he beat recidivism and has a good head on his shoulders. He seems like a wonderful man, and father. Rugby_456
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed his presentation of his life. A life that was obviously not an easy one. He stated that he was in a gang as a teenager in highschool, and when they realized this while he was in prison because someone recognized him, he had to resort back to those roots. Once you are in a gang, you can't easily get out. He was just protecting himself by staying in and on their side. If he would have resisted, they would have hurt him. He is extremely smart and strong which impresses me greatly that he is able to stay out of trouble now and has a decent job. He is not a man that is out there feeling sorry for himself. He is working hard and making something of himself and showing his daughter that hard work pays off. I love seeing/hearing stories like his because it proves that not all people that go to prison will continue to make the same mistakes. MommaJ789
DeleteI was really excited to have the opportunity to hear Mighty Marquis story today. It really put me in a better place due to the fact my father went through the same thing and was convicted for the same crime. It was good to hear his story and then compare it to my father experience and think like wow they really went through the same thing. I enjoyed how open he were and how real he kept it with us. He didn't show no regret in what he went through it was more like a teaching lessons for him. I like the fact that he actually came to tell us his story cause most people don't have the desire to. Another thing I learned from him is that you can break it down to somebody on what to do in life but it's for them to actually take that positive route and follow through with it. Furthermore, not only his story was touching it also gave me a positive look on life and how to go about things. Mighty was sentenced to 14 years of jail, he wasn't ashamed of it because he knew the consequences of what selling drugs come with. I like how in jail he kept a low profile and how he notice jail wasn't for him and he's smarter than what people viewed him as. One thing that was really touching is how he had his daughter there while he talked to us about his story. Most men wouldn’t do that, but what I got from him bringing her there is that he know he made a mistake but he’s not hiding from it and he’s just showing her who he really is not what society view him as. To conclude, Mighty story was very inspirational he owned up to his mistakes, he wasn’t ashamed but most of all when he got out he did the right thing. Another thing I applaud him for his making the right decisions when he got out, he didn’t comeback gang banging he knew it was crunch time and to be there with his daughter. Savage456
ReplyDeleteI am really glad that I had the opportunity to sit and listen to Mighty Marquis story. His drive and dedication is inspiring to me, and how open he was about his life story. You could tell that he had no regrets with his decisions and how driven he is to stay out of prison and even with the mistakes he made in the past it isn't stopping him from exceeding his goals. Like he said, I do know some people that are in prison but none of them have served their time and still made sure to get their education and still graduate from college. He made it known that you write your own story, that using the excuse of "well I have a felony so I can't get a job" is just pure laziness, if you set goals for yourself and learn that yes I made a mistake, but that it isn't going to define me of who I am. His story also showed what Doc. White has been saying all along, there are some people that are in prison that aren't terrible people, they just made a stupid mistake. With me pursuing a career as a correctional officer for a Federal Bureau Prison, I will always keep in mind of his story while I am working, treat the inmates of what they are, human. Even with being a felon, I praise him of his accomplishments, graduating from ICC, getting out and telling students his story, staying strong with not getting back in to his old life style of selling drugs and staying away from the people that he associated with before being incarcerated and for getting a job and being there for his daughter and his family. FoxRacing456
ReplyDeleteI like how Mighty Marquis started this presentation off with his background. How it took him more than once of getting caught to actually learn from his mistakes. It was interesting to me that he realized quick and still young that what he was doing was not actually worth the time he spent in prison. He realized quick in life that doing nonviolent actions aren’t worth not being a son, father, brother, or husband. I simply enjoyed the fact that he was open, didn’t sugar coat anything and shared his experience in prison to not just some of us but all of us. It was nice for Marquis to cover the in’s and out’s of the system that he felt was wrong and right. It was interesting to hear him cover how the guards were just complete wrong with the inmates vs. how we just went to the jail and saw differently. I understand not each facility is the same and we looked at a jail and he was from a prison. I also enjoyed that he shared with the entire class as a daily reminder that you can’t let things keep you from what you want to achieve. There’s a difference between believing you can do what you put your mind to vs. making an excuse for everything that comes your way. I just want to thank you for bring Mighty Marquis in for all us to experience his personal experience.
ReplyDeleteunknownzeeha456/789
After visiting the jail and hearing Mighty Marques talk, they both had the same main point; that we should treat everybody, whether in jail or the guard, with dignity and treat them like a human being. After listening to Mighty Marques he opened up a whole new point of view in the prison environment that I would have never known to be there and he is one of those stories that proves if you have something to believe in then you can achieve it. When he said he was arrested for weed and trying to make some extra money for his family, that is what a lot of people are doing, they are just trying to make a living and make a better life for there family. I also had no idea how bad some of the prisons in our country our making the inmates feel like they are nothing and making them not want to succeed. When he first started out and talked about being arrested the first, he brought up the point that when he was getting processed the officers were stereotyping and thought he had some type of prior arrest record. This shows that most of us today judge people by how they look on the outside and never really get to know what the actual person is like unless we have a conversation with them. If we had more people in the country who would want to turn their lives around, then I feel we would start to see a decrease in the number of people who are being arrested and also a decrease in the recidivism rate. Illini123 Illini456
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed listening to his story and his background because it made me think a little more to be more open minded with people that have a criminal background. Not everyone that goes to prison is a bad person but most make bad decisions. It was good to hear it from the inmate’s perspective and not just from someone who works in law enforcement. It’s sad to hear how bad it is in prison and that there are some officers who just come in to work wanting to make the inmates jail time even harder. I’m surprised that all he went through and how he was treated, he still decided to be the best he could be after getting out of prison. His strive to do better and vow that he will never get in trouble is incredible and I wish more people had that kind of drive such as him. It’s clear that his daughter was his main buffer in his life that made him stay focused on getting out and never going back even though he was surrounded by negativity day in and day out. His story is truly inspirational and the fact that I got the opportunity to listen to him and see the expressions on his face when he talked was mind opening. I hate to see that he was locked up for so long for a drug offense even though he was a big time drug dealer, but he wasn’t a murderer or rapist. He had to be locked up with violent and ignorant people and that was something that he wasn’t. Prison really does change people and not for the better. Obviously there are some people that need to be in prison, but I think the non-violent offender, low class offenders are the ones that need help and not jail time.
ReplyDelete-PizzaLover456
I really enjoyed what Mr. Marquis brought to the presentation and I was very much surprised. I did not expect him to be as educated and insightful as he was. I know a couple people that have had to do time in prison, including my own father, but they definitely did not take advantage of their options like Mr. Marquis did. They also did not look at being in prison from the same perspective that he did which may also have a lot to do with the different outcomes for all the different inmates. He really seems to be happy with his life and what he is doing, and although he spent eight years in prison he still has no regrets in life. I really wish he did more presentations like these because I feel if he got the chance to speak to people in relatable situations he could really make a huge difference. He hit a nerve when he started talking about how important it is to have people to write to, call to, and receive visits from. Before I was old enough to visit on my own I would never see my dad just because that was my mom's choice at the time. now that I am old enough to visit him myself I have not gone to do so. However, my father was just transferred to a closer prison and the thought of going to see him has crossed my mind a few times since then. Another thing that struck a nerve throughout his presentation was when he started talking about helping inmates. The example he made about going to the pond to drink the water spoke volumes to me. This has been a worry of mine for quite some time because my father has spent a majority of his life going back to prison and it truly does worry me that he is never going to get better and stop going back. I feel a lot of my dad's lack of effort has to do with a few different things, such as my grandparents, they buy him his own television and radio for when he goes back. I do not feel like he needs these things in prison, maybe if prison were not so entertaining for him he would not keep going back. Another thing that i think has played an important role in my father's life that MR. Marquis mentioned was the fact that society does not forget or let you forget what you have done. People judge far too easily and harshly based on whether or not they have been incarcerated. I have watched my dad receive a lot of judgment over the years and i can see where it can be discouraging. That is why I admire Mr. Marquis' attitude, he does not care what others think because he knows who he is and he is proud. Not only does he make a good role model for other inmates, but for everyone. I feel that any and everybody could learn a thing or two just from listening to this man speak for a little bit.White789
ReplyDeleteThe Mighty Marquis has opened my eyes to the way people are treated in prison. I don’t like that as soon as they are in there, even for a small crime like marijuana, they are all deemed the same person. Their individuality is stripped so they can reconstruct who they are in hopes of not being a criminal. I have always wondered about this. Is it right to take away their personality? Is it right to serve them food that is worse than a school cafeteria? Yes people, horrible horrible people are in prison for reason I don’t even want to mention. Do they deserve to be treated as animals? No, I am sorry, but no. I don’t think we should be making matters worse by taking away someone’s Id. Their sense of self and no communication (or barely at all) because a crime was committed. I know people who have been charged for things that don’t make sense to me. A man (or woman) peeing in the park and then charged as a sex offender then have to register for the rest of their lives. Was it wrong? Yes, it was. They should be punished somehow but I feel like the courts see and inch and take a mile. Or people who sleep with someone who is younger than they are. For instance, a 20-year-old and a 17-year-old. That is not a huge age gap but if one thing goes wrong the parents or the 17-year-old can press charges for statuary rape. My point is, is there are many different degrees for each crime and most of the time people are not judge fairly. Being put in prison for 7 years because of marijuana, in my opinion that is over the top. I am not for or against legalizing it because I don’t know much about it, but these men and women who are in jail for this charge, will they be released? Is there a way that we can put the actual prisoners who deserve life locked up in a different prison so the people who made a mistake can learn without having to go into jail one person and coming back out worse? Is there a way to make life in there a little better like not serving them food with roaches? I wish there was a way to reach out to the people who joined gangs to tell them there is protection and shelter somewhere but not here. I also wish there was a way to change people, to open their eyes to situations that are unhuman to make this world a better place, but I sound like I’m promotion world peace for a pageant when in reality I wish everyone would stop the nonsense and realize greed, jealousy, and gluttony are the way wars are started.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing is, he was talking about the way his life has gone. He knew he was better than the life he chose but he did it anyway because that was what he knew. He mentioned that if someone doesn’t want to be helped then there is no helping them. Your mothers taught you to drink the water and the path to take to get to the pond you take that with you in life. If you’re an adult and still don’t know how to drink the water, there is no helping you. Or you can give someone the keys to the car, but they are the ones who drive it. With my personal experiences in life these statements have helped. Even though I have been told a million times by other associates, Marquis was the one that finally opened my eyes. He speaks the truth to something I can relate to and I am grateful for his responses.
Slimjim789
I decided to come to this presentation over going to the jail because I have a brother in jail who is currently awaiting a sentence for burglaries. Burglaries that he committed to be able to purchase drugs. This isn't my brothers first go at this and I was sure that before it wouldn't be his last because he has done this so many times. I don't feel sorry for him, but many do. I know that my brother is intelligent. He just makes really bad choices. He, like Marquis, has children. But, unlike Marquis, my brother choses to place the blame on others for his actions. I believe that this is the difference between the two of them. Marquis admitted that he made the mistake and didn't blame someone else. He took what he had coming and vowed to make it his last time and made something of himself. He attended college courses while locked up. He is a great role model to his daughter and other inmates out there. He is proof that you don't have to just assume you are going to go back to jail. He made sure that he stayed on his education and got job training and other skills to use in the workplace after he was released. My brother took welding classes as well. But my brother stated that he couldn't get a job, because no one would hire a felon. I appreciate the fact that he stayed with it and found another trade that he was able to excel in. I learned a few things as well. That no matter what, I still need to be there for my brother. As much as I am disappointed in him for hurting himself and the rest of the family, I need to support him and show him that I care. He is my brother and he needs me to be supportive regardless if I agree with what he has to say. I wish and pray that we have more Marquis' out there that stand up and make something of themselves and are able to show positive influences for their children. MommaJ789
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting listening to Marquis talk to us about his prison experience. The most eye catching part was how he was describing his time at Statesville prison and how diminishing it was to go there. One of the more touching things of the presentation was him saying the main thing he missed that was outside the prion was his daughter. Even after a day of thinking about it I still cant believe he went to jail for 7 years for that amount of weed I figured he would have got 14 years even after the 50/50 rule. I know today weed is a big issue as to why our jail population is so overcrowding and we need to put those people in for less time or not incarcerate them at all but the amount of weed he had was just to much for a small time dealer to have. Another eye catching thing he said was that he doesn't really talk to his family anymore but he talks to his "family" from prison because they were his "family" while he was incarcerated. I would love to go to another presentation by Mr. Mighty because his experience in prison just made everyone have a high fear of stepping foot in one.
ReplyDeleteCarlBaconWho456
I liked Mighty Marquis because he was honest wit us about all of his experiences. I was shocked when he said that he came from a pretty decent background because usually when people end up in prison. We assume that they come from a home of poverty, or that they just had some type of issue that eventually forced them into the streets. He had knowledge though, he knew what he could of done but instead he wanted to do it his way. Which is often how very good individuals end up being processed in the system. I think it is great that he is an individual, who makes a promise not to go back, and strives on keeping that promise by going to school. You wouldn't really think he possess so much knowledge by the way he looks because as we learned when we took the bias test. We all have implicit biases and sometimes we judge people before they approach us or even speak. I love the fact that doctor white invited him because usually when you think of an individual who's been out of prison, they think their tough or they're right back where they started. The fact that he was able to reintegrate himself back into the community was great and says a lot about his character. But I think that also says a lot about our justice system as well because if we are not reforming prisoners what is the point of locking them up. We put them into a whole other lifestyle of living, make them adjust based on whether they want to survive or not and then expect them to come back out and be a better person it just doesn't make sense. When he described how he had to be someone he wasn't just to survive that right there should indicate that jail might actually be worse. He had to remind himself when someone cut him off to calm down, but the issue isn't individuals like Mr.Marquis it's the ones that can't be helped or don't want to be helped. I think besides people who deserve to be in prison we need to come up with reform for individuals who don't want to change. They need some type of traumatic impact that changes their views on life, and I believe it all starts in the community, and criminal justice system. McBrightyalife456
ReplyDeleteTuesday November 7,2017, we had an exinmate come and talk to us students about his experience, and his life story. It was an extremely satisfying story of not only the back ground of his life, but also his life in prison and the outcome, and where he is now in life. To me it sounds like the Mighty Marquis had a rough child hood. Might Marquis grew up in Chicago, he then got involved with drugs and in to the gang life. Mighty Marquis was not doing very good in life at this time. He began to sell drugs so that he could support his family. Mighty Marquis said that he was selling 40-50 pounds of weed a week. Due to the selling of drugs to support his family, he got caught. Selling drugs then put Marquis behind bars for 14 years, due to good time and other benefits that you can receive in prison he served seven of the 14 years. Marquis is now on parole, but has definitely changed his life around for the better. Not only outside of the prison walls, but who knows of anyone who graduated collage while in prison? Mighty Marquis not only graduated collage while in prison but he got the advantage of walking in his college graduation while still in prison. Marquis is a very educated man, you can tell this man is educated by the way he speaks and the words he uses when he speaks, any one that can be in prison and still be able to graduate collage I will give my full respect to. By have marquis come and talk to many of the students that attend Illinois Central College I think it was a good eye opener for many of us students. He proved that if you want something, you will stay with what you want, and you will go get it Mighty Marquis now has a class x felony on his record, but he also has an education in his back ground and has a well-paying job to support his family with. This man was very inspiring to me he showed me that anyone can turn their lives around and better themselves. Thunder456
ReplyDeleteListening to Marquis talk about his experience was very eye opening for me because I️ knew that experiencing being behind bars and hearing about what it is like are two different things. When Dr. white told us, he was bringing in an inmate to talk to us about their experiences in the prison system, I️ thought to myself well they could not have done anything to serious because he is out. But this just shows you the bias we have or how you look at people that have been in the prison system. I️ loved how he was real with it and was very open with his story. He did not joke around with it either. It was very shocking that he got 14 years, but Touring the jail on Monday was not my first time there. This time around I️ learned just a bit more than I️ did than the previous times even though a lot of the information was not all that new to me. What I️ did not know was the are outside where we started was were the process began. I️ did not realize that, that is where the officer takes someone after being arrested and they go through the door to begin the intake process. One thing I️ liked most about it was how they don’t allow their staff to carry any sort of weapon on them. All they must use is their mind and their mouths. I️ agree with that because you need to build some sort of bond or trust with your inmates and if you do not have that then they will not be nice towards you or the other inmates they see that have a good relationship with you. only did seven. Seven to me for his crime is a long time. I️ was glad to see him and his daughter are getting along well and have a good relationship because you don’t really see that if one goes to prison for awhile. He was very intelligent, and you could tell during his presentation. When he admitted that he did some things in there he wishes he had not, just to survive kind of made me think about what you must do to survive in there. I️ was very impressed that he wanted to go on and further his education with Psychology. Hearing his side of his made it very real to me. It’s hard to explain how it did, but it is just one of those things. His experience is nothing like you see on T.V. or even hear about. One thing I️ also like about Marquis when he was telling his story, he has no regrets. He did what he had to do to support his family because growing up he watched his mom struggle to support him and his siblings. I️ can relate because until I was about eleven or twelve, I️ watched my mom struggle to raise my sister and I️. It is hard to watch but we got through it together. No one wants to struggle in life.
ReplyDelete~Bears456
[Part 1]
ReplyDeleteThe Mighty Marquis is a story of inspiration, because in his own words, he's a warrior. The prison institution is supposed to educate, and fortunately for Mr. Marquis, he had the determination, and the mindset to push himself, to wake up every morning and go to work, go to school, to cut off the people that would drag him down and to claw himself out of the hole that he knew he'd dug for himself. What hit me hardest about his discussion though, was the realization that, for so many of our people in the prison system, that isn't the case. I can't quote him verbatim, but I think it went something like this. "Prison isn't a place to reform you, it's just a place to hold you." We spend thousands of federal tax dollars on education for inmates, on healthcare and psychiatry, but if the system is so broke that these tools can only be used by those willing to use them in the first place (a minuscule percentage), what are we really accomplishing? Instead we have a man with an agonizing health issue getting written off with fiber pills until he medically cannot afford to wait anymore. America touts it's causes and charity balls and it raises money, without ever addressing the root of the problem. We can't throw money and create new programs and just pray that will be the duct tape to wrap around the issues we already have. Rip out the problems by the roots, and then implement a new, better way of thinking. Fight against the bias that Mr. Marquis was first faced with that day they brought him in, stared him down, and asked him if he had any priors, based solely on the way he looked. Tear apart the skewed way of thinking that would have a guard stealing his blanket, just to play power games with an inmate. Attack the problem, and then offer a solution, instead of allowing a problem to fester and then offering a conciliatory band-aid. Because Mr. Marquis got out. He made a new life for himself, with a job that pays well, and a connection with his daughter, who came out to support him at his presentation. Not everyone gets that. In fact, statistically, I think many of the men and women who get out of jail would very fervently disagree with Mr. Marquis that it is so easy to find employment. For one, you have to disclose your status as a felon, and many places, especially places that require little skill or education, will not hire you if you have a record. Mr. Marquis is an intelligent, educated individual. Many of the prison population, however, have not had access to that same education, whether because of monetary means, or because they had other responsibilities, such as taking care of a family. When they seek employment, they are often turned away. This leads to them re-offending. Mr. Marquis said it himself. It would have been too easy to get back in the game. America's recidivism rate is 67.8 percent within three years of release for a reason. We give up entirely too easy on people inside jail and outside jail, because it's easy.
Buwowski222
[Part 2]
ReplyDeleteI'm not talking about the murderers, about the domestic violence cases. I'm talking about our non-violent criminals who screwed up their lives and deserve a second chance to enter this world and make it a better place, instead of a worse one. When they're in prison we allow them to either fall into isolation or into a charged up social hierarchy that is controlled with force. When they're out of prison they're reintroduced to a society that has massively changed from the one they remember, and they're out of place, unable to adjust, and sometimes given a limited amount of time to find employment by a parole officer. This means that they have to take a difficult, or dangerous job that no one wants. We don't treat them like people from the moment they enter the system. That needs to change. They're criminals, but they're human beings. The system needs to focus on education, reformation, the health and safety and change of the people put in it's charge, instead of just corralling them in a building until they can shove them back out in the world. I'm glad Mr. Marquis found success, but Mr. Marquis is the anomaly, not the norm, and that needs to change.
Buwowski222
I would like to say that I really appreciate Marquis for coming and taking the time to talk to us about his journey in life and the experiences that he acquired when he was in jail. I think it is great that he is talking to people that are young enough to see and understand where wrong decisions can take you and how hard this can be. In the other hand there was something that called my attention when someone asked him if he wanted to go and help other inmates. I liked his response when he mentioned that in order for someone to change their ways, they really have to want to change. I think it does become some kind of co-dependency for those the live in the streets and do some kind of illegal activities that gives them that extra boost of endorphins and the release of adrenaline what keep them going. I have personally say that some people actually enjoy doing it because it becomes a game to them and they don't really know how to express the feeling of excitement. Over all Marquis you are awesome man, just keep it up and once again thank you for coming to talk to us about your life and experience. Koi789
ReplyDeleteAttending the lecture of Mighty Marquis was a very good opportunity to obtain an internal perspective of the U.S. prison system. Coercive organizations naturally have a great deal of inherent questionability, and a lot of the particular experiences that Marquis had with the gang presence in prison were fairly damning of the “rehabilitation” of prisons. However, what interested me most was the experience that he described having involving the outside world. He described the importance of having a “life line” to the outside world and holding on to who you are. Despite holding so strongly onto that world, it rejects you once you rejoin it. His description of the difficulties associated with the treatment that former felons, even of non-violent crimes, had to contend with was sobering, in a number of ways. Those that perpetuate this discrimination are those that perceive a strong line separating criminals and themselves, imagining some sort of comic book villain, when in reality the line between model citizen and repeat felon is thin as ice. When the weight on a person’s shoulders becomes too great for the ice to bear, they plunge into a life full of judgement and hostility that they cannot seem to escape.
ReplyDelete-SoarSore789
I really enjoyed listening to Mr. Marquis about his prison experience. It was interesting and eye-catching. I was shocked when he said he is college educated before prison time. Let’s face the truth, we as part of society think and assume that people who are ending up in prison are very bad people, people from poor places and poverty. One of the most eye-catching and touching parts of the story he shared was him saying the main thing he missed outside of the prison was his daughter who he sees only once or twice a year. What I cannot believe is that for a few amounts of marijuana, he was sentenced to 14 years and end up serving 7 years of incarceration. What I like about this story is that even though he was in prison, he did not let the system to bring him down and take away his humanity. He had the knowledge and an inspiration to be back and part of the society again and to be part of his daughter’s life. He mentioned that he doesn’t talk to his family anymore, but while he was incarcerated, he became close to the other inmates and they become his new family. Mr. Marquis mentioned that most of the correctional officers were unfair and cruel. I do believe him for a reason he was an ex-inmate who is sharing his story and life experiences in prison with us. The awesome thing I like about Mighty Marquis is when the time he got out, he made the right decisions not to be back on what he did before. I am glad that I had the opportunity to sit and listen and know a person who is not ashamed to tell others his experiences. His drive and dedication are inspiring and how open he was about his life story. -M.Scott456
ReplyDeleteHe was by far my favorite speaker I have ever listened too. He was so engaged with his audience and it really made me listen to every little word he said because he shared something personal with all of us and that's hard to do. He reached down in parts where he probably wants to forget because prison is a dark and hard place to be. But the way he explained every experience it really drew my attention because he really wants you to listen and pay attention because prison isn't like the movies or tv shows portrait it. He was loud and funny and made the whole audience laugh because he was a really caring person. The thing I enjoyed the most was seeing his daughter there with him because like he said you loose a lot of your family when you go to prison because they see you differently and want nothing to do with you but she was there supporting him and videoing him. She laughed with him and stuck through everything with him and that's something really special to have family when you get out like he does. But I really appreciate him sharing his experience with us because it really opened my eyes on the prison system.
ReplyDeleteShark456
Listening to Marquis speak was really eye opening to how society isolates and creates a bias view of anyone who goes to prison. He committed a nonviolent crime and received a sentence worse in my opinion then what some murderers get. When murderers get sentenced they normally go for life or close to. He got not only the seven years but the forever stain of when people look at him they don’t see a successful father, graduate, and worker they see the label view of an ex inmate. His determination helped to push him to new levels that most would struggle with achieving even without the negative label of an ex-convict. He put his past behind him and pushed through all the negatives and cut out things/people who would bring him back down a road he didn’t want to go down. Marquis mentioned constantly his love for his daughter and how he worked and got better for her so she can be better than he was. Which to me was the most inspiring thing of all. To work so hard for your child so they not only can be with you but so you can give them the best life possible no matter the labels, challenges, and obstacles you may face. Cassiopia789
ReplyDeleteBeing able to sit in and listen to Marquis talk and tell us his experiences in the prison system was such an engrossing and interesting experience. The way he talks and his presence was very captivating and I wasn't bored for a second. Of course I knew that there was a lot of negative things that occur in prisons and jails daily it was definitely eye opening to hear someone talk about their first hand experiences. Personally, I don't know anyone who had been incarcerated so all I was aware of was of what they portrayed on tv, what I read online, and what I was taught in class. I think one of the things that Mighty Marquis mentioned that stuck with me the most is how he talked about how it felt to be treated less than human. It was very saddening to hear him talk about how unfairly he was treated by guards, them randomly searching him, stealing his towels, how hard it was to be away from his family, it really made me think about things. We always talk in class about how high the recidivism and return rate is for former inmates but it was refreshing to be able to hear about how Marquis turned his life around and vowed not to go back to prison. I really appreciate that he and his daughter took time out of their day to come talk to us and I'm very glad I got the opportunity to sit in and listen to his story.
ReplyDelete-Xielxs456
I'm very happy that we were able to attend the Mighty Marquis presentation. I am not one for presentations or speakers, as most school presenters are not this exciting. I felt I have learned a lot from him and the things that he had talked about. As someone going into the correctional field, he definitely opened up my eyes. He had told us stories we could never hear in the textbook, and that's what really sticks with me. The story of the guard taking his towel, to the searches on the yard. I would like to again thanks Marquis for visiting and say that he has impacted me greatly. Not only as a professional, but as a person.
ReplyDeleteLowAndSlow456
Getting to hear MR.MIGHTY speak was actually a treat for me. learning about is education history and family history it bothered me on how this man had everything going for him in the right direction until he got greedy. That made me wonder how is it that a well educated man went from having it all to moving 29lbs of dope a week got busted. only because of an informant. I was impressed that he still continued on with his education and has the opportunity to make more money than just the bare minimum. Hearing him speak I would have never guessed that this man was in prison. he spoke proper English but then he flipped the script just like that and could speak jail. That was the actor in him. he had to conform into someone to be understood in prison by both guards and inmates. I also learned from him that for rehabilitation to work you have to want it. you can't just go through the emotions to just get by. He wanted out because he realized that he did not belong their over the word incompetent. I think it was a wonderful idea for him to come and speak to us. I think he should go to high schools and speak also to help educate the young ones. ~MYHEARSEISNOTAFUNERALCAR456~
ReplyDeleteListening to an ex convict speak really opens up what I have learned in all of my classes here at ICC. Making the connections between what he says and what i have been taught was extremely educational. His stories he told were also very educational and i wish every law enforcement, criminal justice, or psychology major would listen to. If i were to directly compare his stories to what we learned in juvenile delinquency i would have to bring up social disorganization theory. He mentioned growing up in a poverty stricken area in bloomington where he thought his only opportunity to get money was by selling drugs and gangbanging. He soon found out that all of that would land him in prison where he served a 14 year sentence for being found with over 30 pounds of marijuana. His story gets even better when he was in prison and he found a way to distance himself from the negativity in prison but even more importantly when he got out. With him being a very educated man he understood that the nations recidivism rates were through the roof due to people being thrown right back in the environment that got them incarcerated in the first place. When he got out he got a job making 20 bucks an hour and he never sold drugs again. He explained that the nation needs to stop worrying so much about rehabilitating the adults and more focused on worrying about the children that a destined for the same path. He explained that the adults mentality is ruined from being institutionalized and that they will almost always fall right back into their old ways once they are released from prison. With the amount of Americans incarcerated right now i wish they would all have the same mentality as he does. If they did they would all get out and become successful.
ReplyDeleteKLICK123