NCJ Number
52634
Date Published
1978
Length
18 pages
Annotation
THE STEREOTYPE OF GEORGE JACKSON IS COMPARED WITH THE PERSONALITY REVEALED IN JACKSON'S BOOK, 'SOLEDAD BROTHER,' AND THE VIABILITY OF JACKSON'S RESPONSE TO IMPRISONMENT IS CONSIDERED.
Abstract
GEORGE JACKSON, WHO USUALLY IS DEPICTED AS THE ARCHETYPICAL PRISON REVOLUTIONARY, WAS PLACED IN THE CALIFORNIA PENITENTIARY SYSTEM FOLLOWING AN ARMED ROBBERY CONVICTION IN 1960. THERE HE BECAME INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS AND WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN AN APPARENT ESCAPE ATTEMPT IN 1971. IN 'SOLEDAD BROTHER,' JACKSON SETS FORTH HIS REVOLUTIONARY IDEALS AND ALSO RECOUNTS HIS INNER STRUGGLE. APPARENTLY CONVINCED THAT HE COULD SURVIVE IN PRISON ONLY THROUGH HIS REPUTATION FOR VIOLENCE, JACKSON ALSO REALIZED THAT PARTICIPATION IN VIOLENT CONFRONTATIONS JEOPARDIZES PAROLE, INVITES SOLITARY CONFINEMENTS WITH DIFFERENT STRATEGIES OF SURVIVAL. EVENTUALLY THE PRAGMATIST SUCCUMBED TO THE IDEOLOGUE, AND THE STRATEGIES OF 'COOL' AND WITHDRAWAL GAVE WAY TO VIOLENCE. IN HIS LAST YEAR, JACKSON SPOKE OF BEING DRIVEN BY A 'PAIN BEHIND THE EYES' TO CLASH WITH INMATES AND GUARDS IN EVER MORE VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS. WITH THE FULL FORCE OF THE STATE'S COERCIVE POWER TARGETED UPON HIM, JACKSON'S VIOLENCE SEEMS SUICIDAL. JACKSON EXPLAINED THAT THE REPRESSION DIRECTED AGAINST BLACK MILITANTS WITHIN CALIFORNIA MAXIMUM SECURITY UNITS DURING HIS INCARCERATION MADE ANY OTHER TACTIC IMPOSSIBLE. JACKSON'S SIGNIFICANCE MAY LIE IN HIS ARTICULATION OF THE BLACK MILITANT INMATE'S SENSE OF VICTIMIZATION, IN HIS MARXIAN PORTRAYAL OF THE ROLE OF THE BLACK IN THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM, IN THE WAY THAT HE LASHED BACK AT THE SYSTEM THAT OPPRESSED HIM, OR IN HIS PLEA THAT A CRIME-OBSESSED SOCIETY FOCUS ITS ATTENTION ON THE DEHUMANIZING FORCES OF ITS OWN INSTITUTIONS. HOWEVER, JACKSON DOES NOT PROVIDE A VIABLE MODEL FOR THE MILITANT, OR EVEN THE REVOLUTIONARY, WHO SEEKS TO SURVIVE IMPRISONMENT. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)