Potential
An excerpt from NEUTRAL: A Treacherous Balance, by Bednago Harper
I am suspicious that my incarceration was preordained by my Higher Power; a sacrificial expenditure for me to gain costly knowledge to measure the priceless value of my freedom.
When I look around this prison, and draw upon all I have come to know, and all I believe in, I envision the limited, yet limitless potential of men who must endure the inescapable frustrations of prison life, while they at least try to maintain a reasonable level of sanity.
This commands a great exercising of one’s will.
I’ve witnessed untapped and immense reserves of unmistakable talent in music, art, poetry and athletics, just to name a few, and sadly, many of these talents will remain untapped in the stagnating reserves of prisons, simply because there are no outlets for them to be channeled.
It’s a waste of human potential. A terrible waste, and it disturbs me greatly.
I find myself very troubled during this time I have been locked up; a time I hope will be the last time I’ll ever be incarcerated, and I hope and pray my brothers, red, yellow, black, white and brown, will use this time wisely and constructively, and direct what you will to just one young person when you are released from here.
Just one.
Instill in them the knowledge that prison is not the way.
Once you are released, resisting the temptations that can bring you back here will never be easy. But I can tell you this…
Resisting them is much easier than doing time.
The first book in Harper’s NEUTRAL series can be purchased here. More of his paintings can be seen here.
From the contributor:
Through my writing, my life’s mission is to pass the information, extend the knowledge, and wordfully illustrate true to life reflections of African American life and culture in modern day Urban America. In my NEUTRAL trilogy, I cast a harsh, insightful view on the trials and tribulations faced by rainbow colored people from all walks of life in urban settings throughout this country, as seen through the eyes of my alter ego, Morris Jackson.
Under the uncompromising perfectionism of my invaluable literary accomplice, Quaitie Siverly, all the heavy lifting in this stage of our journey has been impeccably accomplished. Our goal now is to kick it up a notch, and join forces with a larger scale publisher. This will allow us to continue our life’s mission of reaching out and sharing the written word on a much broader scale.
In Options Zero: The Final Resurrection, you will get to know me through Stephen Langston, who stumbles upon a fighting dog that was more dead than alive; where Langston and the dog Brandy, both torn and damaged misfits, are thrust onto a dangerous path of recovery and redemption through the underground world of illegal dog fighting.
While all my novels are urban fiction, they differ from the typical urban fiction that glorifies the life. My writings detail the ugly truth about the streets, gangs, jails, prisons, and the tremendous loss that comes from it. Drawing from true life experiences through my pen, I aim to have my writings utilized as identifiable vessels of learning and growth to readers on all levels, and all walks of life. I strive to have my work interpreted as reflections of the black experience in urban America, as opposed to the traditional urban novel.
You can contact me or my editor (information below).
Thank you for your time.
Pen & Brush: The Artistic Expressions of Bednago Harper
Bednago Harper B50687
Danville C.C.
3820 East Main Street
Danville, IL 61834
Quaitie Siverly, Independent Editor/Publisher: quaitie@yahoo.com
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