tweets.txt

Today we woke up before the chicken cawed. We walked to our usual tables to eat our cardboard bread with processed Jelly.
We also ate our usual water filled "oatmeal."
Today we are locked in because an alam went off. #TSO
Well This place sucks because we have to listen to officers-- when we can shower, eat, and sleep.
We also have to PAY to call our loved ones. #15minutecalls #exiledFromTheFreeWorld
Now we have to listen to officers complain about how "annoying" some of us are. I feel officers have favorites when it comes to inmates.
Its locked-in time, its quiet besides the airplane engines roaring through our windows, and inmates from different houses yelling.
Theres no SPA (Suicide Prevention Aid) on the teir. The mice are out #MiceDoingSPA
The most unsanitary place to hold the youth.
One Determines Your Life without Knowing you or nearly seeing you-- the judge!
Am I a criminal because of my childish mistakes? People change give the youth a chance.
Have you ever been chased by 30 people at once
Where's the millions?
The correctional officers are incarcerated with us. They work triples, go home to sleep, come right back.
Money is just money you have to love what you do to be truly happy.
Trying to move forward and not dwell on time.
He said, "They tell me I'm 30 years old, but I'm 17."
F*** I woke up in the morning like damn I got to wash my clothes this morning.
I went to court yesterday and I was kinda upset because the judge offered me 1-3 years #SMH
The same as everyday. Played ball in the gym.
Almost got bit breaking up a dog fight.
Jail is like a camp.
bread jelly milk spaghetti + meatballs fried fish oatmeal coffee creamer peanut butter: certain foods doesnt taste good #Rikersisnthome
played regular uno after the gym
another inmate, another dollar
Day to day dreams, thinking about the world on the other side.
The days move on as it feels like the earth stands still.
The food and games are such a delight / that you leave in the day and return in the night.
The nightmare rehappens incarceration in a cell. When we'll come out, we will never tell.
The breakout of fights are like a combustion of pimples. It brings us down in character.
you will never know true misery till you loose the most priceless thing given to men: thats freedom
every saint has a past but every sinner has a future
my fate is in the hands of a judge who never been in my shoes
I went to a dirtyass cell waiting to go to court and see the Judge and they were talking about sentencing me #SMH
The fish I ate yesterday almost broke my tooth
He said, "I have twenty eight stitches in my back."
He said, "We need a hurricane to get a breeze."
these shoes that they give me in here are very uncomfortable.
some of the food here moves on its own. #imhungry
it sound like im in a zoo with all of the birds chirping.
some of the officers here call us animalescents.
its like were robots doing repetitive things day by day.
after a while i begin to call my cell my room #whatshome
watching planes fly by inspires me to fly over my obstacles.#notoveryet
surviving on my own makes me think of my parents and our talks #amiamannow?
Can't remember the dreams I have at night, but when I'm awake I pray the police stop murdering my people.
I don't normally dream at night.
dreamt he was a cat! (w/ one leg)
I dream of fresh air & New Mexico #ifihadamil
Quietly MIA in the war on the way our 3rd world democracy [I'm not sure if this is what's actually written...-Zainab]
Is it better to be off the grid or on the grid?
turnning people into data
hot potato hot patato
I dreamed I was falling and walking
Google my name my free
If i had a millions dollars it would be a dream come true..
Playing ball, I make a fancy move but missed the shot #soembarrasing #funny
FaceTime my future
Crossed over on the court, looked fly, then missed the shot. dang #funnyrikers
baby ate my homework
Google translates my Spanish homework #com___ do good [the underscore is stuff I couldn't read]
fell off a roof, bounced right back up. Trampoline dreams #rikersdreaming
bounce bounce bounce #rikersdreaming
third world democracy
I need a haircut #dreams
Natthen is worst movie I saw.
Had a dream ex girl gotten eaten by a monster. called to check up on her #HAVEAHEART
If i had one million dollars i'd skydive with oprah #oprahwins
Though im in jail i still want to be a chef #BigDreams
Woke up wishing it was pancakes and eggs but it was hard bread and jelly with school milk.
That movie candycandy has a alesson behind it. "A family can be built anywhere
If i had a million $ i would bail myself out #getmehome #ifihadamil
watched somebody slip on water from a flooded cell #funny
If i had a million dollars it wouldn't be enough
If i had million dollars, I'd buy  everyone a Bre____
If i had million dollars I'd pay rent in a random community for a month or id create a fund to allow international travel, blind or ___
Chicken or segal's? #RikersisntHome #Horriblefood
Department of Corrections or Department of Courption?
#Arewealljustanumber? #statistic #MoneyoverMatter #Justanotherdollar
Who am I?
Does Our Past Determine & Deprive Our Future...?
The voices of the night are like a room full of politices
God forgives courts don't!
I didn't know water bug fly!
The world is a Jail are we really free?
Those who lack intellect and in-Dept learning lose to the system
Jail make us feel deprived and cause vagueness-- lacking definite form or character
I'm not playing with guns no more
#pythoninprison
our program worked on the first ty!!
covered more in class today than we did in 3 weeks of high school AP CS
"This sandwich is the newest thing all week!"
Brought some Dunkin Donuts for everybody Saturday morning
Tyrique: Viral video maker part-time coder.
They ain't ready for us, man.
#WherestheSympathy
We read some bell hooks together w the Columbia group-- wonder if we should be reading it w the young ppl @ Rikers too?
Remembering the writers that moved me at 16 + 17: Audre Lord, bell hooks, Judith Butler, James Baldwin, Assata Shakur, Malcolm X
#RikersReadingGroup after #Rikersbot?
"It's at 6 p.m.? In the night?? Past curfew?!?!!?!"
Girls, drugs, and guns got me here
Some fight for respect  + others fight for survival
Salute me or shoot me
A crip use one phone a blood use the other
A lion helps the sheep grow #righteous king
slashings and fights get you known #browniepoints
jail is a political world
bad is good good is bad
#wheresthesympathy
#childhoodgoneinseconds
#hereforoneyear
Ideally, this bot wouldn't exist because Rikers wouldn't exist. #Rikersisnthome
Young ppl describe Rikers as a place that is just as 'normal' as it is violent--a normal that expects them to return. #Rikersisnthome
Part of the youth programming includes training and befriending dogs. #Rikersisnthome
Several cats live at the 1st checkpoint entering the island. They have houses on the patio, & their houses have open doors. #RikersForADay
Poster of Harriet Tubman hangs in classroom. Wonder how this is coherent with the logic of a jail. #RikersForADay
Volunteered @ Rikers hoping to learn from and w/ a group of young people who are often acknowledged and ignored for all the wrong reasons
All the textbooks remind me of my middle school and early high school days.
I sat in chairs just like this when I was in high school.
All the birds outside the windows make it so hard to hear anything.
Didn't expect some of the COs to be so playful...
Seems like some friendships have formed among the young ppl. Wonder if they last...how long?
Education at its best? Let's start by taking young ppl out of jail cells and barbwired walls
Every Saturday I walk in here knowing I'll get to leave in just a few hours. Could my temporary presence be painful?
#RikersIsntHome
#WeHaveAFuture
#KnowMyPast
#StrivingForChange
#TrappedInMyThoughts
#AnotherChance
#EveryInmateAnotherDollar
#RikersNoEsMiCasa
Our voices must be heard by the world of positive and negative activity. 
We can make better choices.
How do people see us?
We are still young.
Follow to hear our stories.
We won't hack your account.
wishing i can go home and sleep in my own bed
Salute me or shoot me
Dont pay rent give'em all your strength
Be yourself dont be a follower
Now that i walk the prison its the hall of fame-
How can the judges manage to give us time when they dont know us
Survive from your mistakes
Follow your heart it can take you places you need to be
You got people that depend on you, so you cant give up
Positive mind so you won't do the CRIME or TIME !!!
when will be my time to shine? #patience
what will be my future?
watch what words you say,you speak your future.
will i ever meet friends whereever i end up in life? #ItsAllAboutFate
your locked up but the cellbars dont last forever
it temporary for a season get ya mind right! #Home$oon
Do the time,dont let the time do you.
never show your real emotion.
they cant keep you forever youll be home one day#HaveHope
looking for juliet...#NotHereThough :')
i want to go home now!
you could make the one move that changes your life #powermoves
one bad move doesn’t make you a bad person #NoJudgement
a moment in here doesn’t mean you can’t have a good life #nostatisticslivehere
I’m brilliant #youasmartintelligentblackman
educating myself on the history of my people #learningthecode
I’m defined by more than my choices #nostatiscslivehere
Recognize the odds against me before I make my next move #powermoves
Everyone’s trying for something even if it seems a little crazy #nostatisticslivehere
become an expert on where you failed #nojudgement
What is a robot? #learningthecode
The words in the right place #learningthecode
Imagine being surrounded by intimidation rikersisntit
Being taught intro to Python and always wearing your visitor pass #learningthecode
Imagine spending your b-day in browns #nostatisticslivehere
Brown suits match the skin color of most of us #blacklivesmatter
I have a loving family and I care about them #nostatisticslivehere
Imagine being told when to take a shower and use the bathroom #lifeonRikersIsland
Humans occupy these cells #nostatisticslivehere
You wash your clothes by wearing them in the shower. Ain’t no washer/dryer here. #lifeonrikersisland
We didn’t get the memo if only God can judge me why I gotta go to court #youasmartintelligentblackman
Just because I did something wrong doesn’t mean I’m a wrong person #nojudgement
Wish I knew the system before I got here #learningthecodethehardway
The code is 6/5. 6 years here, 5 years probation. Set up to come back #learningthecode
I’m not a prisoner, I’m a person #nostatisticslivehere
Use your mind and think what you can exactly do #powermoves
Stop going left and go right #2BHonest
If only god can judge you why you go to court? #answerthat
Avoid negativity and think positive #lifeonRikersIsland
Joseph did 20 years in jail and became a king. #itdoesntendhere
Intake on HS graduation day #youwillneverunderstand
Thinking about going back to college when I get out #itdoesntendhere
She always told me jail isn’t a fun place #mommawasright
I’m not a package!!! #youwillneverunderstand
My calling privileges restore at 9:30 but lockdown is at 9 SMH #phonesonallnight
Every day we eat the same meal #youwillneverunderstand
We never have time to talk to our people #phonesonallnight
Stop staying out late #mamawasright
I wish I could ….. #youwillneverunderstand
Your friends ain’t your friends #mamawasright
Red alarms everyday lock down in the cell is an issue #dontknowwhatibeenthru
Mom said dead or in jail #mamawasright
She said those aren’t your friends #mamawasright
“You don’t have any friends” #mamawasright
In reality I don’t have friends #mamawasright
SMH I can’t believe I’m in jail #mamawasright
I hate being on lockdown for multiple hours #youwillneverunderstand
Seeing someone get sliced over a color #youwillneverunderstand
A minor setback followed by a major comeback #itdoesntendhere
Jail is so stressful #youwillneverunderstand
I haven’t spoken to my grandmother all day #phonesonallnight
Gotta change my circle #mamawasright
I have to finish school #itdoesntendhere
I wish I can call my mom right now #phonesonallnight
I’m going to college when I get out of here #itdoesntendhere
I can’t sleep on this bed #youwillneverunderstand
Stop hanging around with those people #mamawasright
I forgot to tell you something #phonesonallnight
No calls are available at this time #keepthe #phonesonallnight
No visits. No mail. No one cares #mamawasright
Friend turn into stranger #mamawasright
Bet your ass won’t stand by that liquor store #mamawasright
The media might tell you but #imnotacriminal
I’ve done things that have hurt people and I am sorry #iamhuman
#Justbecauseimblack don’t mean I’m broke.
Just because I have a felony don’t mean I’m a criminal #mistakesdontdefineme
Don’t turn me away or treat me differently #justbecauseimblack
Don’t deprive me of an education #justbecauseimblack
I made a mistake, I’m not a monster #imonlyhuman
Same crime, different sentences #ineedtobetreatedequally
Getting stopped and frisked almost 5 times a month #justbecauseimblack
Looking at 15 years for my first offense #imnotacriminal
Brown jumpsuits and mistakes, but I forgive them anyway #iamhuman
I am my brothers keeper #iamhuman
Remembering my strength #justbecauseimblack
I do the wrong things for the right cause #imafather
We all make mistakes, nobody’s perfect #iamhuman
I’m a good guy just make bad decisions sometimes #imnotacriminal
Why am I always in a dark situation #justbecauseimblack
If your skin is light your charge is light #ineedtobetreatedequally
I shouldn’t be defined by my mistakes #justbecauseimblack #imnotacriminal
I’m not a number #imhuman
I’m not a criminal #justbecauseimblack
You don’t have to keep your distance #justbecauseimblack
#Ineedtobetreatedequally because it’s right
I wondered why it rained today #sixwordmemoir
Why he didn’t do the drill #sixwordmemoir
Friends will eventually turn into enemies #sixwordmemoir
Why today such a bad day #sixwordmemoir
I want to go home badly #sixwordmemoir
Leader, I will not accept failure #sixwordmemoir
A war hero prepared to fight #sixwordmemoir
Chains will never stop the movement #sixwordmemoir
My choice isn’t yours think again #sixwordmemoir
Time is money, money is power #sixwordmemoir
Loyalty make a man not freedom #sixwordmemoir
Being in jail can ruin relationships #sixwordmemoir
Walls make you think at night #sixwordmemoir
No love when you’re behind walls #sixwordmemoir
Damn, sometimes I wonder why me #sixwordmemoir
I’m in love with her badly #sixwordmemoir
I want to be free already #sixwordmemoir
I’m never ever coming back here #sixwordmemoir
How come loyalty doesn’t exist anymore #mamawasright
Loyalty makes family not blood #sixwordmemoir
Abraham is the father of mankind #sixwordmemoir
Love comes and go like seasons #sixwordmemoir
Bros turn into foes one day #sixwordmemoir
Loyalty over royalty in any day #sixwordmemoir
There are rats running around here! #sixwordmemoir
I wanna go home right now! #notnowbutrightnow
This food is so trash like! #sixwordmemoir
I hate wearing the same clothes! #sixwordmemoir
God gave me style and ambition #sixwordmemoir
Don’t wait on it… achieve it #sixwordmemoir
Goals are nothing to an accomplisher #sixwordmemoir
Even Goliath fell to the underdog #sixwordmemoir
You’re going through hell? Keep going #sixwordmemoir
So focused, so real, so independent #sixwordmemoir
God has a plan for you #sixwordmemoir
Your story will free many people #sixwordmemoir
Write, draw everything God shows you #sixwordmemoir
When you’re free, you will see #sixwordmemoir
reading from the autobiography of Malcolm X, he struggled at first but by the 3rd line he had confidence to finish
just looking for someone to listen to their story, to listen to how they may have felt or feel
2 people came to the 1st session of the architecture program. At the last session there were 12. Both times, the creative energy ruled.
It was inspiring to witness the creative problem solving of the young folk who attended the Rikers Studio.
We made community agreements and then found things we had in common: younger siblings, beach city origins... then we built a neighborhood.
I ripped tape while he balanced the pieces of chipboard that would become the roof of the arcade we were designing. We made the walls gold.
We had to design the neighborhood skatepark. I asked what we should do and without a word he nimbly crafted a skate rail.. out of tape.
In the Rikers Studio we ate granola bars and decided the ideal community we would want to live in, then built it.