Zach Rhoads
Zach Rhoads
Episode 54: Tessie Castillo and George Wilkerson-- "Crimson Letters"
Episode 54: Tessie Castillo and George Wilkerson-- "Crimson Letters"
Episode 54: Tessie Castillo and George Wilkerson-- "Crimson Letters"
Wednesday 8th April 2020
Join Tessie Castillo and George Wilkerson on 'The Social Exchange' as they discuss 'Crimson Letters' and the transformative power of writing for death row inmates.
82 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
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About this podcast
Author:
Zach Rhoads
Overview:
Categories:
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Sobriety Toolkit
Relationships & Community
Body & Mind
Sexual Stigmas & Myths
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Get the buttons here!Crimson Letters: Transforming Lives on Death Row Through Writing
People are more than the worst things that they do.
Imagine teaching a writing class to death row inmates and discovering the profound humanity within prison walls. In this episode of 'The Social Exchange', host Zach Rhoads welcomes journalist and author Tessie Castillo, alongside her co-author George Wilkerson, to discuss their book 'Crimson Letters, Voices From Death Row'. Tessie recounts her experiences teaching at North Carolina’s Central Prison, where she saw firsthand the untapped potential and human stories of those condemned to death.
Her op-ed on the subject led to her being banned from volunteering in North Carolina prisons, but it also sparked a collaboration with four death-row inmates, resulting in their compelling book. George Wilkerson, one of these inmates, joins the conversation from prison, offering a rare glimpse into the lives of those often forgotten by society. Together, they reveal how writing provided these men with a sense of purpose and a means to express their stories.
This episode challenges listeners to rethink their views on incarceration, highlighting systemic issues like racism and the treatment of addiction and mental illness. It's a powerful testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the potential for change within even the most oppressive environments.