Peyton Harbors No Prejudice and Displays Courage (The Prison Chronicles #4)
"I Don't Even Have a Problem with You Guys"
Note: The names I use for the detainees are not their real ones, to protect their privacy. IOW, “Peyton’s” name is not really Peyton; the same is true for other names I use throughout this series.The prison had been under what is called a “modified program” for quite some time. What this means is that normal privileges are curtailed, such as moving somewhat freely throughout the inside of the prison, and being allowed to go into the yard for open-air recreation with members of other races. The reason for the modified program was some race-based riots that had taken place.
NOTE: A “riot,” as far as the prison authorities are concerned, is defined as a fight involving three or more people (two people fighting is simply a fight; if another one jumps in, it technically becomes a riot). However, a riot that causes a modified program to be implemented typically involves more than just three people, and often more than one occasion of such violence occurs before the somewhat drastic measure of implementing a "modified program" (some call it a "lockdown") is decided on.As time passed, the prison authorities wanted to start integrating the races in the yard again — instead of having one race go out together at one time, and another race together at another time, they wanted to eventually have them all out together again.
NOTE: This separation was not just race-based, but also gang-related. Sometimes people of the same race were separated from each other because of being from different parts of the State, and thus belonging to different gangs.In a step toward re-integrating the population, all of the white inmates were individually interviewed as to whether they had a problem with any other racial groups or gangs.
As peer pressure was high to “stick together” and present a united front, Peyton was threatened to exhibit solidarity with “his” race. He didn’t succumb to the pressure, though. He was the only white inmate who responded to the question presented to him by a prison official (“Do you have a problem with any other races or gangs?”) with, “No, I don’t.” He added, “I don’t even have a problem with you guys.” (meaning the guards, who are sometimes considered enemies by the detainees).
NOTE: It’s a challenge to know how to designate the prisoners. Previously, they were referred to as just that (prisoners), or inmates; then they became the somewhat less harsh sounding “detainees” — which makes me think of Woody Guthrie’s song Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos), but the most current nomenclature recommended is resident. I don’t know how they themselves feel about this. I think if I was them, I would consider it a bit on the phony or patronizing side. Yes, they reside there, but the word "resident" seems to imply (to me, anyway) that their stay is optional, or voluntary.Due to Peyton’s response, and his being the only white person who did respond that way, he was the only white detainee allowed to be in the yard with a certain gang while they were out there. He didn’t have to go out with them, but he was allowed to. It turns out that he wasn’t really expected to. Again, he was receiving pressure from other white detainees not to go into the yard while this (other race) gang was there, and the guards didn’t expect him to go out then, either (even though he could). You see, being allowed to go out and it being safe to go out were not the same thing — by going out, Peyton would be a sort of “guinea pig” for this integration experiment.
Peyton thought long and hard about what decision he would make. It was dangerous, but he was afraid if he didn’t go when he could, it might seem to others that he harbored racial prejudice or was lacking in faith. He did a lot of reading, studying, meditating, and praying on the matter. Peyton likened his situation to that of Daniel when it was demanded of that prophet that he stop praying — Peyton wanted to keep up his spiritual routine, even in the face of danger, as Daniel had (the time Peyton spent in the yard was when he would do the bulk of his witnessing to fellow detainees about his Bible-based hope in God’s Kingdom to solve all the problems plaguing the world).
Among other things, Peyton had been routinely reading Psalms 116 through 119 in his Bible, but on one occasion he happened to read further, and after reading the 121st Psalm, he became fully convinced that he would have God’s backing, and decided to go out into the yard at his next opportunity.
The reason why Peyton viewed that scripture, in particular, as an answer to his prayer for guidance and direction as to whether to go into the yard or not was: 1) He didn’t normally read that far, stopping after the 119th Psalm, and didn’t know why he did that day — he had just felt moved to do so, somehow, and 2) When he walked out the door to go into the yard, if he looked to his left, he saw a mountain range. This was significant to him because Psalm 121:1,2 reads, “I raise my eyes to the mountains. From where will my help come? My help comes from Jehovah, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
Although the entire 121st Psalm was encouraging to Peyton, besides the first two verses, verse 7 was also especially invigorating to him. There it says, “Jehovah will guard you against all harm. He will guard your life.”
When Peyton went out into the yard, the guards were surprised that he was really going to do it. On walking out, he was immediately confronted by first one, and then a total of four gang members, who surrounded him and demanded that he explain himself — what was he, a white guy and not a member of their gang, doing out there with them? Peyton replied that he was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and that he used his yard time to witness to people about the Bible’s message of peace.
The four listened to him and eventually agreed to leave him be, passing the word to the other gang members that Peyton was “cool” and to leave him alone.
While this was taking place, the guards were watching from the towers, ready to respond (if you know what I mean) if there was trouble.
After the initial interrogation by the gang leaders, several others came up to Peyton and wanted to shake his hand. The first gang member who confronted him told Peyton that he had a lot of “guts” to do what he did. Later, back inside the walls of the prison, other detainees of various races and gang affiliations responded similarly, and called over friends for them to meet Peyton, informing them that Peyton was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The captain (guard/Correctional Officer) of Peyton’s wing (or section of the prison) was off work that day, but told Peyton the next day that he had heard all about it at home in real time — as it was happening, he was being kept in the loop. It was considered quite a noteworthy event!
Recounting the experience later, Peyton reported having felt no qualms about going out into the yard that day. He was calm, and was sure he was doing the right thing and that Jehovah would be with him. It became something of a cause célèbre among both the detainees and the guards.
By the way, Peyton is in his sixties. He is not strong physically; his health is not the best; but mentally, emotionally, and especially spiritually, he is doing fine.