Reflection is a skill. To look back and remember your experiences for better or worse is something that should not be taken for granted.
LessWork Local Lifestyle was granted a new opportunity to add book signings to our resume of executed events. The book we were blessed to plan this event around is titled, "Courage Under Fire" by author Brandon "Brad FacTs" Jordan. The book is a semi-autobiographical self-help book of what Brandon Jordan went through, what he learned, and how he applied it. At 15 years old on April 22, 1997, Brad was transferred from the juvenile detention facility to the Milwaukee County Jail to be tried as an adult in court. After multiple encounters with the law, Brad had sacrificed a total of 17 years of his life to the prison system.
As confident as a college graduate, you could never assume Brad has done almost a century worth of time behind bars. Which is a testimony to his moniker to "Be Powerful, Be Purposeful, and Always Stand On Principal" because nothing in life is impossible to overcome.
With no prior relationship with Brad FacTs, we accredit this opportunity to two local leaders in the Madison community. Rebecca "BossLady" Barber (Board of Directors w/ WORT 89.9 FM) and Aaron Hicks (Housing Coordinator w/ Nehemiah). BossLady hit us up with an unique opportunity to work with Aaron to assist with bringing his vision to life. This vision consist of "Controlling The Narratives" surrounding Black male experiences within the justice systems and re-entering American society.
Aaron's focus is to give ex-cons a platform to showcase their contributions to maximize their chances of never returning to prison. With the COVID-19 large gathering ban removed (for now), LessWork linked with The Kingdom Restaurant to provide an event space for the book signing and some of Madison's BEST food. Click here to view Kingdom's menu. Now serving Babcock Dairy Ice Cream.
This is LessWork Literature blog entry #11. Follow the way as Aaron's interview with Brad FacTs delivers literature you can now access @With_LessWork. Watch the complete video here.
Aaron: What is the name of your book you were selling at Kingdom Restaurant on Madison's north side?
Brad: Courage Under Fire: "Nothing Changes Unless You Change"
Aaron: What was it like for you when you were in that fire?
Brad: I was young. I caught my first case when I was 15 years old. I was given 25 years at 15 and waived into the adult system. I received a split sentence which is called a bifurcation. I received 5 years for the shooting and 20 years for the armed robbery. It was 20 years probation and stayed.
Aaron: Did you understand all of that at the time?
Brad: Not at all. I definitely didn't. It wasn't until about 2011 I want to say where I kind of grasped some type of mental understanding of the 20 years, because I had did the 5. I got revoked in '04 on the 20. I didn't realize it was a stayed sentence until about 2011, I was trying to get back in court. They had stamped something on my file that said PMR. I didn't know what the hell that meant. So, I said what is PMR?
Presumptive Mandatory Release - (1) is a presumptive mandatory release date for an inmate who is serving a sentence for a serious felony committed on or after April 21, 1994, but before December 31, 1999. (b) Before an incarcerated inmate with a presumptive mandatory release date reaches the presumptive mandatory release date specified under par.
Which meant that you had to have a new factor to go back into court. For a modification of your sentence. I had no new factors. The major new factor was that the judge would of have to have said, he doesn't intend for you to do all this time. I knew the judge did not say that.
Aaron: What gave you the strength and the courage through all of that to keep your sanity and keep your right mind?
Brad: To get through it?
Aaron: Yes sir.
Brad: I think believing I had a greater purpose. You know what I'm saying? Like, in all honesty. Going through it is one thing. I've watched the other people endure what I've endured and they didn't make it. Meaning that, the ended up in the med-line and being heavenly relying upon the medication that was being provided by the DOC. So, I said to myself I don't want to be like that. I want to still be me. No matter how difficult it becomes, no matter how much it hurts, no matter how many nights I can't sleep. I want to deal with that. I don't want to be sedated, I don't want to be the person who doesn't recall what I went through. Let me be the person that's going through this and I feel every single emotion, every single pain, and every single struggle. That is gonna prevent me from doing something that is going to lead me back.
Aaron: You go through that fire; you go through it; I love that word through, that's a powerful word. That just means it's temporary, you're not staying there. So now, you get back out. How old are you?
Brad: First of all, I can say this. During that 12 almost 13 years I was waiting to hear, you're going home this day. But when he said you're going home on this day. I didn't really believe it was for'real. I was like damn, he telling me that; "thinking about it now, because I don't get that question too often. It conjures emotions because it's like yall been telling me NO for so many years. 12, 12, 24, 12, 12 for so many years.
Aaron: So when you say 12 or 24 for the people who don't understand this, what are you referring to?
Brad: So when you go to the parole board; well in Wisconsin it's like this; I had 20 years so; 25% of your sentence you are eligible for parole; so I did 5 years which was from 04' to 2009. I went to see them for the first time and he told me a 24 month deferral. Which meant I would see them again in 2 years. It causes a sense of hopelessness. It's like hey, you're telling me if I do this, do that, take this program, take that program. Then you would do something for me. So I'm doing every for you, which is ultimately for me. So when I come before you guys you're not giving me what I want. So it's like; Why would I even keep coming back to see you? I stopped going to see em after a while.
I said to myself, I'm working on me anyway. I'm gone be released mentally. Yall got me physically and this is the only way you gone have me. When the parole commissioner finally said; "Your release date is May 3rd. Which was about 26 days after that day. It went from being a potential remaining 5-6 years to being a month pretty much. I was like damn. Every sleepless night, every heartbreak, every time somebody lied to me, every time they took my clothes and socks because I had too many of em. Every time they took books that was on the denial list. All of that was worth it.
I had 20 years, but in the middle of it; I always say this, "The side of the mountain will teach you more than the top of it ever will." In the middle of it I was on the side of the mountain. I was climbing to the top. When he told me 26 days. I said damn, I'm close to the top. You know what I'm saying; Then it became a thing where I assumed the responsibility of being the representative of the people who's gonna still be there after I left. So I had to do certain things or conduct myself in a certain manner that said hey listen, the guys that's still there deserves a chance too because I was just like them.
Aaron: Real Talk
Brad: It's no different than when Fredrick Douglas escaped slavery and he went to D.C. and he spoke as eloquently as he could have about slavery and they didn't believe he was a slave. They had this preconceived notion of what a slave was. They thought; hey, you can't articulate, you can't be sharp, you can't be all of these things and you were a slave. For me it was that; you can't be civilized, you can't be educated, you can't be informed, you can't be all of these different positive things and you were just a convict.
Aaron: It's a lot of people that will never be in prison, that's incarcerated currently.
Brad: Definitely.
Aaron: In saying that, you out now. You talked about setting an example; you also talked about climbing a mountain. Now you have some new mountains in your life. You have a career. Let me ask you; What's going on with that?
Brad: My personal challenge was finding my place. Not only physically but morally and mentally in terms of my values and my principles. My place in society. I found it and I said to myself; "My job is to show other people that they have a place as well." The people that I left. Who spent their formative years in that place. In confinement, in incarceration, in segregation, etc etc. We belong! As a matter of fact! We belong probably more than the people who didn't take advantage of their opportunities. That's what it was for me. Now I come home and I got this agenda, it's the music, it's the books, it's the speaking, and it's other people like; Help me. You we're never in prison like I was in prison. Physically, you were in prison but mentally. So now it's on me to unlock the gates, unlock these doors, and show you that how you imprisoned yourself. You can emancipate yourself as well.
Aaron: Nah I love that in you. Final thoughts before we get off of here. My question to you is, when can we expect another book?
Brad: Laughs; Imma say next year, 2022. I wrote this particular book last year. The pandemic wasn't a thing for me. I was like hey, they talking about you can't go outside. I'm at home, I'm already outside. I'm just in a more luxurious cell. With all the amenities.
written by: 1neofmani of LessWork Local Lifestyle
photos by: K.I.L.O aka Skit'Lz of LessWork Local Lifestyle & lead photographer w/ LessWork Lens
Watch the full interview on YouTube for extended content with Aaron, Brandon "Brad FacTs" Jordan, and more testimonials from previously incarcerated Black Men. We love you brothers like breathing, STILL.
Words from the writer:
In many ways this experience aligned with my moral compass and my sense of thought. Everyone has something to offer. If you don't protect and fight for your point of views this persuasive world will disregard em. Brad FacTs did 17 years in a landmark for breaking minds, bodies, and souls of those engulfed. I'm sure life scars remain engrained in Brad's mental but he's learned to embody his experiences as pathways to his foreseeable progression. Find your Courage Under Fire copy and share your screen shot receipt, tagging LessWork Local Lifestyle for a chance to win merchandise, blog reviews, studio time, local giveaways, or photography services. It could happen for you. Whatever you're trying to do.
We The Way, Not The Wave. This shit is directional and beyond exceptional. In the words of Brad FacTs: "Be POWERFUL, Be Purposeful, and ALWAYS Stand On Principle." #LoveIsLove We Say, Easy Wins.
Comments