My name is William McCallum Jr. I’ve been incarcerated for the past two decades and now have a few years left on my sentence to do. With this time I have left, I’ve been working with my fiancée to make my transition back into society as easy as possible. I just recently finished Sociology, a collegiate course with UNC Chapel Hill, which is a credential that will help me in furthering my objective within the nonprofit organization my fiancée and I will have up and running soon. We have also joined the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). When I first became incarcerated I had to come to grips with my reality and face it head on, “they will never count me amongst the broken ones”, George Jackson said. So I made a vow to myself that I will surpass today what I was yesterday mentally, physically, and spiritually. That way I can take advantage of the opportunity that I will have re-entering society as a productive citizen and right the wrongs I have committed in society.
Reading, exercising, eating healthy, and meditating got me through my time at the worst prisons during the worst times. Where I was witnessing corruption, unjust acts, discrimination, institutional racism, excessive force, neglect, and the incompetency of those that pledge to serve and protect with the goal of rehabilitation and reform on their sleeves. I’ve had my troubles, but I’ve also had my struggles with the loss of my son, grandmother, and auntie since being incarcerated.
I have now promised to live out a better life with this second chance that I have. This is the man that I am today, self rehabilitated and one that will not allow his past to define his future.
There is so much more to me and you will see as you follow my posts. This is Behind the Walls Talk! Thank you for visiting my website and I hope that you gain an understanding of the struggles that goes on behind these walls with the human beings incarcerated in this system and join the fight to create change.