Chris Hedges on America’s Prison System

For nearly a decade, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges has taught college courses in drama, literature, philosophy, and history within New Jersey’s prison system. In his latest book Our Class, Hedges reflects on his experience teaching a course at East Jersey State Prison, where his students began writing a now-published play about the human toll of cyclical and systemic incarceration and poverty. At CHF, Hedges discusses the injustices of America’s prison industrial complex that his student’s stories lay bare. He is joined in conversation by human and civil rights lawyer G. Flint Taylor.
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[@cleo325]

I wish Chris would run for office. Need people more like him. A knowledgable and respectful human being, teaching us all.

[@intimacycafe]

He will never do that because he believes that only the corrupt can survive and thrive in politics. He says the corruption in the political system is so pervasive and over powering it eliminates those who show up trying to do good. In order to stick around you must become complicit in the corruption. That is how people survive in politics.

[@carpediem44]

NO ONE should leave prison in debt. If you served your time, you served your damn time. How ironic that both STUDENTS and PRISONERS both end their time in debt.

[@terilee3662]

It’s even worse than that. My son served 15 years combined prison time /jail for an act he committed in a bad mental health state due to a divorce. Since released he has done mounds of free community service, paid hundreds of probation fees and expenses monthly, attended state mandated classes weekly at the tune of $200 a month, paid for polygraphs and gps monitoring fees in addition to the $10000 fines the courts imposed. He has 2 officers who “harass”him constantly and flaunt their power while wearing their bullet- proof vests and guns. We live in constant state of angst. There is no room for error, mis-understandings, sickness, loss of employment without a threat of violation to him. Even today he has been called into Mesa AZ probation for missing one class and a polygraph due to illness and not being able to secure employment for 16 weeks due to business close downs during the holiday, illness and his felony charge. This is not the America I grew up in! It is more like nazi Germany during the Holocaust.

[@rodniegsm1575]

That's becouse it's a bisnis. That's wy !! Capitalism is killing your society. Its killing family's, its killing children and you know it. But you don't care. If you did you would have change things long time ago

[@charlescasaburi5333]

Some of the things said on this site are so silly that it’s hard to believe that they are seriously meant. So all you have do to get filthy rich is pile up a mountain of debt & then go rob stores until you get caught. Unfortunately there is a flaw in your plan . In the dumbocrat places you live in the chances of even getting arrested let alone convicted are minuscule. Your more likely to get shot by a store owner or killed by another criminal before you reach your goal. There are only so many dumb people in the world especially with money once taxpayers figure out they are on the hook for every dead beat they will flee to red states or hide their money. This is already happening. What about the people who honestly pay do they get a chump sign to wear?

[@aoeu256]

@@terilee3662 Why not move to Canada or Malaysia...

[@olivertaylor8788]

All are slaves.

[@justmyopinion9883]

Chris Hedges has a loving heart and a brilliant mind. We are very fortunate to have him.

[@solidaritytime3650]

Chris is a force that gives us meaning

[@RobertWGreaves]

Absolutely!

[@rec9264]

Aye.

[@solidaritytime3650]

@@douglascarlson9006 lol so who IS on your list of progressive journalists, and why do you think someone without any social media should have commented publicly by now about something that happened earlier this week?

[@douglascarlson9006]

@@solidaritytime3650 LOL! ... No social media? ... he's on Twitter my friend .. check it out!

[@douglascarlson9006]

@@solidaritytime3650 And my short-list is at the bottom of my comment ... right under your nose! You did not fare well here, did you?

[@ac7205]

Standing ovation 👏👏👏 Encore 👍

[@carlitodebrooklyn4078]

This conversation is absolutely necessary. Thank you for sharing. And thank you, Mr. Hedges, who continues to act as a shining light under this dark, crippling empire of ours. God Bless.

[@noelwhitman1788]

Chris Hedges and Cornell West are two of the greatest men of our times.

[@ungratefulninja4535]

What you said! Also. Abby Martin & Angela Davis are two of the greatest women of our times.

[@GalacticNovaOverlord]

Michael Parenti too

[@dasssjam7413]

Mr Chris, thanks for the revealation, you are the axample what humankind shoot be none violence, good too hear you speaking on KZbin, stay safe MR CHRIS

[@reprogrammingmind]

Hedges is a gift, thank you for having him.

[@glynncampbell3930]

Hedges is the greatest radical writer alive. He afflicts the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. May God bless you Chris.

[@GalacticNovaOverlord]

I would say Michael Parenti is better But Chris is the greatest active radical writer

[@robertbartlett1958]

well said

[@sumayyabhorat790]

Mr. Hedges is a remarkable human being... May God Protect and Guide him, ALWAYS ♥️

[@nunyabizness8246]

Thank you Mr. Hedges. I just wrote Steve donziger...he is in fci danbury.

[@nickjohnson3619]

Hey, I was at this talk!

[@boricintron1]

Every Democratic Party supporter needs to hear this. So do Republicans.

[@monatinnell4570]

Chris you words are so deep. I’m always amazed at how you continue to touch our hearts our souls our thoughts. You teach me how to think differently. How to become a better individual. Our world is so unpredictable and is not slowing down. But when I find your passages I know I’ve found my peace my center. Your book is enlightening for a country that is imploded in darkness

[@user-qn6yt3zx3w]

The story of Lawrence Bell was harrowing. I made sure my 14 year old daughter listened to it. Land of the free. Greatest democracy in the world. A beacon for the globe.

[@carolwagnersudol7835]

Chris Hedges is a great man.

[@douglascarlson9006]

No he's not! ... HOW CHRIS HEDGES FAILED US He's no longer a truly committed activist, not since the lock-downs ... Many times he has urged us to resist tyranny, even when things look bleak ... but now that tyranny is in our face, he's MIA ... Let us review a few of his more revealing quotes: "I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and the mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... (we can't vax ourselves out of this pandemic - AND HE KNOWS IT!) BTW, he has refused to comment or stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional vax mandates and passports ************** "Let us stand up and resist so future generations will at least say ‘they tried.’ We cannot do this alone ... together we have a chance" ... BTW, he has refused to comment on THE GREAT RESET, The World Economic Forum and the book THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ************** In a 2020 interview, he said he told indigenous pipeline protesters to "park your cars in their path, remove the engines and walk away" ... BTW, he did not even mention the Canadian trucker convoy until a March 2022 interview with Jimmy Dore - one month after the protests actually ended ... ************** In his AMERICAN SADISM speech, he revealed his disdain for those of us who now openly question the motives and tactics of our elected officials ... He said the loss of mainstream media credibility "has given rise to spontaneous groups, as well as the lunatic fringe that embraces conspiracy theories" ... ************** From his book WAGES OF REBELLION, he said: “I do not fight fascists because I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists” ... BTW, he will now only consent to occasional "hands-off" interviews with persons who will NOT ask him why he now refuses to confront the larger issues of tyranny ... - Amy Goodman - Katie Halper - Briahna Joy-Gray - RJ Eskow - Krystal Ball - Kyle Kulinski ************** After a 2014 speech, he was asked to comment on 9/11 and insulted our collective intelligence by saying "Bush was probably just asleep at the wheel" ... ************** But he knows he can maintain his place in the independent media food chain by: 1) ripping on AOC & CIA 2) talking about Assange 3) talking about Snowden 4) talking about Donzinger 5) talking about Ukraine I miss the pre-pandemic Chris Hedges ... many times these past 10 years I went to bed with his words ringing in my ears ... He's said many awesome and memorable things that helped me understand and accept our current predicament ... And although his work with prison inmates is laudable, it is not nearly significant enough to offset the effects of his selective silence on these devastating working class issues ...

[@MrJBK99]

Excellent conversation, thank you.

[@dragonheart9344]

Chris on point as always been following him for years,a pure soul truly

[@LustStarrr]

Same. His recent convo with Lee Camp from Redacted Tonight was particularly good, too.

[@elleh3495]

I cried so many times during this video...😪Chris is so elegant in his delivery of what he's seen and learned.

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Two of the best human beings alive

[@danielofthepeople3632]

This is Chris Hedges’ most powerful and profound talk I have ever heard. One of my favorite quotes: 12:30 “you have to find your song….you have to know your own history because the dominant culture will never tell you your history. Especially if you are oppressed. They will seek to erase, deny and fabricate the history”

[@Tocqueville69]

That quotation is inspired by Orientalism[Edward Said]...Which is a work that has inspired Hedges writings as well. I can't wait to read this new one.

[@enaid54]

It should be made public the profiteers of the private prison system! Who are the plantation owners?

[@l.w.paradis2108]

Flint Taylor's book is magnificent as well.

[@whowhat9]

More of this, please.... the exposure of the loving of the human spirit...🙏✌️

[@theotherview1716]

Men have been paying the price too long for this. Justice now!

[@pohakumana4288]

Skip to 5:35 to get past the interviewer's long winded intro.

[@zmscott2507]

It's an outrage how our government is such a tremendous failure. There's so so many talented, intellegent, well read, and wonderful people out there, none of them are in our government though.

[@domingodeanda6113]

Hola Chris, muchas gracias.

[@alvinfrazier4152]

Chris Hedges is a real American, a true citizen of liberty , humanity, and love for his fellow man.

[@livefreedom1776]

When you treat someone like an animal that is how they act.

[@jasondelvaux3036]

5:45 - Chris begins to speak.

[@davidantonsavage6207]

And on the subject of "finding your song" there is the West African tradition of the griot to appreciate.

[@irish9372]

The few downvotes on this video have to be from the prison warden an a few private prison lobbyists

[@danieldykstra4100]

Last time I saw someone this intelligent utterly humble, in our society....hmmm nope

[@biometronome7010]

It's an amazing book with stories of great people whose lives have been systematically ruined by capitalism.

[@herbntou]

I love Chris hedges

[@nicholasrecord6502]

Speak out about floors that have the ability to shock people's feet. Copper is being taken from mines right now to make that happen in homes just like it happens in jails and prisons. Stand against whoever supports cruelty and violence without touching people. That isn't skin in the game that's cowardly shit.

[@thisperfectworld]

@Chicago Humanities, what date did this take place?

[@oldindianchief9403]

Religion is morally ambiguous. Let's consider solving these issues without indoctrinating individuals into religious thinking.

[@malenedietl3369]

Wow, this is incredible, so much we never really hear about in detail. I am from Denmark, so my society is a bit different from the american. But now what I write or ask I hope ppl wont kill me: how can Chris Hedges be allowed to put so much knowledge and awareness into his students in prison? Is it because the prison administration knows that it is a lost case allready, inmates will never be able to make use of it, or what? Chris Hedges is not a little man with no say. A man like Chris has made a difference in peoples life. Do you understand my question? America never fails to surprice and I don't understand the system.... I keep scrolling back in this video to listen again and again, wow...

[@willyriley8619]

Everything he has said has happened to me I have over 45 felonies 20 some years in prisons ad jails .because of the adjustments in sentencing all of them are now mistameaners. Charges I describe as getting high without a permit.starving without permission. As such! I had officers apologize that I did too much time for what I did and they were sorry that I was left in those little rooms by myself.

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

Capitalism should have ended back in 1929. Now it's just a playground for the already rich and connected.

[@pohakumana4288]

Chris, why would you not know prisoners have LOTS of time to learn and practice writing, what else can you do to keep sanity? It's a natural human reaction. I'm writing my memoirs now.

[@clifover]

Why would you not know that he DOES know it?

[@pohakumana4288]

@@clifover because he was not a prisoner

[@kimeldiin1930]

And the us thinks itself having the moral high ground in relation to the various dictatorships.... ( us consciously being in low case)

[@mocatree]

You will never hear an American politician speak like this. How sad.

[@MindRebelion]

organize and unionize now!

[@rhandthevoidoids]

Chris!

[@olivertaylor8788]

Very traveled man.means well.chris is correct on seeing what's going on,but I have yet to hear his fix for the problems America is facing today.Everyone can see the why we are here,but nobody knows the way home.Lost isn't the word for this.For there is no fix.lost sheep on a sea of greed and corruption..All will drown for no land of home is left...

[@hsingpeikao]

For-profit private prisons? Some business tycoons make money when human beings are put into jails? How extreme a capitalistic nation can be?

[@ernieoliver5640]

Does Chris get started at some point?

[@buddinganarchist]

He will say such good things but then say awful things. Mumia a total mind wasted in our prison hell.

[@15clank]

He used the book as a coaster anyone else notice that

[@vfigueroa3042]

As Black persons, it's easy to be discouraged. Politicians from both major parties have made our lives tough. And his comments that prisons are cash machines (privatized) are Eye-opening. Come on Americans, we can do better.

[@vfigueroa3042]

Plus, from 370,000 to 2,300,000 in less than 50 years? Sad.

[@lawrencebolt3540]

I've never understood why white supremacy so desperately needs other people to do its own work for it. Then turns around and calls those people who do the work, "lazy". Then sing songs and tell folktales about how brave and pure it is. It's quite a head job. 🤷

[@cullenreynolds745]

The most Authentically Righteous and Valuable American public figure for Truth & Justice !? You'll get no argument from me. I could summarize what Chris Hedges means to me As... "My Religion... being as I am, & have been here, raised in the united states consumed as I am with Truth, after having discovered my own about myself first , in spite of the influences on me from my own American experience, & that done onto those for whom I am witness, .... by its agents, status quo realities, & of it's self-declared 'men of God'. I hear God coming from the heart & mind of his experience from his articulated insight & shared witnessing. Through all the religious schools, churches, and encounters with "men of God" in my life I've not ever heard, felt or seen that to any degree much beyond platitudes, & CERTAINLY not one which presented such depth of Truth of fact & reality to which Godliness demands itself attend to , over the vague sentiments & soliloquies of the safely distanced stage. I have however seen & experienced horrors of evil & hell from enough of them to have believed in the devil, Speaking metaphorically Long before any ability to believe in any God/Higher Power. Chris Hedges speaks to everything that is ungodly in our society.... And thus he speaks Godly, for Truth and Justice as from a righteous God & of the Godliness Within me,... (again which I was forced to cultivate & develop Within me in spite of my Soo American experience & of its 'men of God') That yearning for & Cultivation of Godliness Within me ........ which has always put me at odds with this American society, from which everything I've experienced as such = has been a validation felt like a crucifixion during which Chris's voice is heard as from the sky, but felt in the Soul such that the cross can be beared with a literal sense of Gods comfort, support, & Calling out to me that am on His Path, if not in God-like perfection Nonetheless in righteous pursuit of Godliness Within myself the Eternal value of which is worthy of suffering through anything.

[@douglascarlson9006]

Oh really? ... THE CHRIS HEDGES PLAYBOOK ... Let us first review a few of his more revealing quotes: "I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and the mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... BTW, he has refused to comment on or stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional vax mandates and passports ************** "Let us stand up and resist so future generations will at least say ‘they tried.’ We cannot do this alone ... together we have a chance" ... BTW, he has refused to comment on THE GREAT RESET, The World Economic Forum and the book THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION ************** In a 2020 interview, he said he told indigenous pipeline protesters to "park your cars in their path, remove the engines and walk away" BTW, he did not even mention the the U.S. and Canadian trucker convoys until a March 2022 interview with Jimmy Dore ************** After 2014 speech, he was asked to comment on 9/11 and insulted our collective intelligence by saying "Bush was probably just asleep at the wheel" ************** He knows he can maintain his place in the "independent media" food chain by: 1) attacking AOC 2) talking about Assange 3) talking about Snowden 4) talking about Ukraine That's all he has to do, that's it! His work with prison inmates is laudable, but not nearly significant enough to offset the effects of his selective silence on these issues ...

[@justanotherfella4585]

He touches on my bafflement of the the American description of a left wing in their political system.

[@mikemestas9835]

conformity is the fashion----bob dylan

[@AndrewStergiou]

Left wing celebrities like Chris Hedges only know other Left wing celebrities like himself. He is constantly promoting himself and his books writing (good and well enough). But it is amazing I am impressed that he seems not to know any regular people and lives his life as he does: Sorry I am not a fan his life like many "left-wing" celebrities today seem all self-serving as much as any conservative except the pay differs.

[@ledaswan5990]

You don’t consider the prisoners his friends? The people he calls his friends.

[@homey1212212121]

@@ledaswan5990 I’m

[@manatee2500]

Only a few left wing celebrities have been Russian agents.

[@ryanharvey9800]

This will get 100k views at most so he's speaking to the deaf

[@l.w.paradis2108]

If some of those who do go on to teach in prisons and halfway houses, those few will matter.

[@tomjohn8733]

When Chris Hedges speaks, a wise man listens, until one eliminate the injustices of poverty and lack of education and opportunities, society can not hope to curb the violence, but the ruling class is so removed from reality that there only solution is mass incarceration and authoritarian rules….sadly

[@sandralima3235]

Chris, I often listen to you, and I agree with most of your views. However, whenever you speak about this cruel prison system and our laws, you must acknowledge the percent of prisoners that have ruined lives and committed atrocities and must be put away for the benefit of most of us. If you generalize the prison population as benign and passive victims, you will fail to make your message 100% credible.

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

This guy is just depressing as hell. He exists to demoralize the working class.

[@joecalta3679]

He is speaking truth. What he does to help these prisoners is bringing light into darkness. As far as demoralizing working class, many are already demoralized but the first thing one has to do to fix it is to identify whether the tyranny is self imposed or from external forces or some combination of the two. Do you believe we should just delude ourselves?

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

@@joecalta3679 Once you realize that trade deficits are profitable dollar exports for banks, and our government sanctions it, you understand everything you need to know. I don't need this Debbie Downer to remind me of how bad it will get for the working class.

[@johnlock572]

You know that's his thing right? Saying Chris Hedge is depressing is like complaining about Russian novels being long and broody. If you like cheerful optimism, you'd better go elsewhere

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

@@johnlock572 With all the air time he gets. it's obvious someone's paying him to keep the working class dejected and hopeless.

[@DUCKSAREEVILLLLLLLL]

@Alice Amell OK, what has he motivated you to do to stop the consolidation to the parasitic financial sector?