Felon’s Alphabet: U is for unity

For many incarcerated people, the concept of unity has been complicated in the past. Unity meant choosing sides, belonging to a certain neighborhood, a race, or a group that promised protection – but it also came with expectations. 

“U” is for Unity. 

Webster’s Dictionary defines unity as, “the condition of being united or combined.” Joined together, connected, standing with one another for a common purpose. 

Walls exist around us already. Why create walls between us when we don’t have to? What if we decide that for us today, unity means that we unite by recognizing the humanity in one another? I always say that if it takes a village to raise a child, it takes many incarcerated people to send one of theirs home. Because the goal is home. The goal is healing. And no one heals alone. Trauma can happen in isolation, but true healing occurs through unity. 

Whether we realize it or not, every person we encounter influences the direction of our lives. Every conversation in the yard or by Work Change, every act of kindness either carried out or witnessed, every encouraging word by a mental health provider or by a peer. Likewise, every act of disrespect has the power to shape another human being. 

So, what shape do you want to create? That is why unity matters. Of course being united doesn’t erase differences. It reminds us instead that our differences don’t have to become borders, because walls keep out what we as humans need to thrive – a connection that comes with unity. 

We the incarcerated can unite and find in others the strength we may lack in ourselves. An African proverb states, “If you want to go fast, travel alone. But if you want to go far, travel with others.” 

Our incarcerated community isn’t strong because we all agree. I think you already know that we don’t! It is strong because different people decide to work toward something greater than themselves. Peer mentors and facilitators share daily of themselves and their testimonies which include accountability, remorse, and insight to the “why” behind their crimes. In these small ways, a united community can create hope. 

Some of us have misconceptions about strength, believing it only exists in independence. To them I say, while healthy boundaries are important, isolation from the herd can often become its own prison. Human beings were never meant to carry every burden alone. Strength comes from connection, each person supporting the other. 

Unfortunately, pain has a way of convincing us that everyone is against us. If we’ve experienced betrayal, abandonment, violence – and a lot of us have – it becomes easier to assume that every relationship will bring more of the same. 

So what do we do? We keep people at a distance. We stop believing that genuine connection is possible. But I promise you, healing often begins when someone proves those assumptions wrong. Maybe today you can prove another person’s assumptions wrong. 

There are moments that remind us that goodness still exists. Hold on to those moments. A beautiful thing about unity is that it creates accountability. Because real unity doesn’t encourage poor choices – it challenges people to become better.