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PREMATURE DRAGON - GEORGE JACKSON AS A MODEL FOR THE NEW MILITANT INMATE

NCJ Number
62741
Journal
Contemporary Crises Volume: 3, Dated: (1979) Pages: 295-315
Author(s)
D D DORIN; R JOHNSON
Date Published
1979
Length
21 pages
Annotation
GEORGE JACKSON'S LEGACY AS A MILITANT INMATE IS EXPLORED IN THIS ESSAY THAT STATES THAT HIS BOOKS, 'SOLEDAD BROTHER,' AND 'BLOOD IN MY EYE,' PROVIDE A VIABLE MODEL FOR INMATES WHO SEEK TO RESIST THE SYSTEM.
Abstract
WRITERS ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM DEPICT JACKSON AS THE ARCHTYPE OF THE PRISON REVOLUTIONARY. PLACED WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA PENITENTIARY SYSTEM FOLLOWING AN ARMED ROBBERY CONVICTION IN 1960, HE BECAME INVOLVED IN A SERIES OF VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS UNTIL HE WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN AN APPARENT ESCAPE ATTEMPT IN 1971. BOTH HIS BOOKS DESCRIBE HIS LETHAL ENCOUNTER WITH THE CALIFORNIAN CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND THE ESSAY DESCRIBES AND COMMENTS ON JACKSON'S STRATEGIES OF ADAPTATION AS COMPARED WITH THOSE OF OTHER BLACK PRISONERS. IT STATES THAT THERE ARE THREE MODES OF BLACK RESPONSE TO PRISON: COOL (PASSIVE MILITANT), WITHDRAWAL (EMOTIONAL SHELL) AND DEFIANT (EXPLOSIVE). JACKSON'S WRITING REVEALS THAT THE THREE MODES OF RESPONSE WERE TRANSFORMED AND INTERWOVEN INTO A PERSONAL PATTERN THAT SUGGESTS THE TOTAL FRUSTRATION OF AN INMATE WHO, ON A YEAR-BY-YEAR BASIS, HAD BEEN DENIED PAROLE NINE TIMES. HOWEVER, AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF A PRISON GUARD, JACKSON EMERGES AS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO DOES NOT HESITATE TO RESORT TO VIOLENCE AND IS THE QUINTESSENCE OF A PRISONER LEAST LIKELY TO SURVIVE A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION. THE PRISON BECOMES NOT THE INCUBATOR FOR THE REBEL, BUT HIS BATTLEFIELD, AND HIS VIOLENT REVOLUTION AGAINST IT INEXORABLY FAILS. THE ESSAY CONCLUDES THAT JACKSON DOES NOT PROVIDE A MODEL FOR PRISON SURVIVAL YET REMAINS A FOCAL AND SYMBOLIC FIGURE OF PRISON MILITANTS. NOTES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)