I can remember the sound of the teakettle coming from my
grandmother’s kitchen. You could hear
that whistle blowing from anywhere in the house. The kettle’s high frequency indicated the
temperature of the water was sufficed.
If your preference was tea or coffee, the hot water was ready for the
transition. It was time to make the next
move.
Living on North Carolina’s death row for 18 years has felt
like a ‘stand still’ of an existence. A
lot like holding that tea/coffee cup and never hearing the high pitch of the
anticipated transition. It is only
natural to wonder if your next breath has any relevance; if there is anything
in your cup worth savoring?
Chess master, Eugene Brown is bringing the heat to an
environment where living beyond a dismal circumstance is nothing more than a
spark of some far-fetched fantasy. Long
before he entered the halls of North Carolina’s ‘death house,’ Mr. Brown was
using the game of chess as a megaphone to communicate life to children in
desperate need of a positive transition.
At a time where our juvenile justice system has tagged some
children as future criminals rather than reach out to them as future citizens,
Mr. Brown has given them a reason to think before they make their next
move. His vision on both sides of the
concrete walls transcends into a blue flame igniting ambition through the
understanding of 64 squares.
The men of North Carolina’s death row have words that
counter their propelled deployment as societal throwaways. And, we champion this Chess master of men for
the position of,
National Prison Chess Ambassador.
John D. McNeil
said:
“He is a pioneer as to transcending prison life to conscious
chess moves.”
Nathaniel Fair
said:
“He is well versed in chess, and his prison background makes
him a great spokesperson on behalf of prisoners.”
Warren Gregory
said:
“It’s long overdue considering his experiences and
accomplishments. I feel he is more than
qualified.”
Being condemned to die could never be a smooth
transition. It was a painful experience
for me, on the brink of turning 29.
There is a deeper hurt for my comrades who have endured reproof as mere
teenagers. Are we now living in a
society that allows principals and parents to only deal with one set of kids,
and call the police on another set of kids?
William C. Gregory
said:
“He knows prison life.
Who else better to represent us?
Mr. Brown is sincere about chess.
I have learned that my choices have repercussions, now that I understand
life through the 64 squares.”
Darrell W. Maness
said:
“The first time I heard Mr. Brown speak, I knew he was a
special individual with tons of knowledge – not only for prisoners, but free
people as well. He is one of those
people that come along every so often that wants to make a difference for the
benefit of the ‘underdogs.’ Mr. Brown would be an excellent choice for the
underrated post that brings relevance to the lives of death row prisoners. He is a genuine voice for the voiceless.”
Living on death row is a torturous journey that seems
endless. We are men pushing through
life’s end game.
Jamie L. Smith
said:
“You can’t begin to understand this struggle unless you’ve
walked a mile in out shoes. Mr. Brown
has walked more than a mile, which makes him more than qualified for this
position. The game of chess is a
challenging universal meeting of the minds.
Knowledge is always a work in progress.”
J. Dushame Murrell
said:
“To be diplomatic anytime you consider the delicacies that
incriminate prison, it is necessary to understand the environment before
judging an institution that plays a corrective role accepted by society. To ‘Think b4 U Move’ is a motto that
empathizes and resonates with any culture or class of people. Mr. Eugene Brown personifies a discipline we
all need to experience. It is never too
late to reason. Even the face of
incarceration needs a role model.”
The temperature continues to rise, and our cups are filled
with purpose.
Your Move,
MannofStat
Copyright © 2015 by Leroy Elwood Mann
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