Chris Hedges presents Our Class in conversation with Boris Franklin

From the author of War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning and America: The Farewell Tour comes a haunting and powerfully moving book that gives voice to the poorest among us and lays bare the cruelty of a penal system that too often defines their lives. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges has taught courses in drama, literature, philosophy, and history since 2013 in the college degree program offered by Rutgers University at East Jersey State Prison and other New Jersey prisons. In his first class at East Jersey State Prison, where students read and discussed plays by Amiri Baraka and August Wilson, among others, his class set out to write a play of their own. In writing the play, Caged, which would run for a month in 2018 to sold-out audiences at The Passage Theatre in Trenton, New Jersey, and later be published, students gave words to the grief and suffering they and their families have endured, as well as to their hopes and dreams. The class’s artistic and personal discovery, as well as transformation, is chronicled in heartbreaking detail in Our Class: Trauma and Transformation in an American Prison (Simon & Schuster). Hedges’s new book gives a human face and a voice to those our society too often demonizes and abandons. It exposes the terrible crucible and injustice of America’s penal system and the struggle by those trapped within its embrace to live lives of dignity, meaning, and purpose. Hedges was joined in conversation by Boris Franklin, community organizer with The Industrial Areas Foundation and one of the principle authors of the play, Caged.
Order Our Class: www.powells.co...

[@IgnominiousRex]

Of the many reasons Chris Hedges deserves props, I feel his dedication to the most disadvantaged among us stands alone at the top. And to Boris, may I simply say, good on you, brother. Really, really good on you.

[@jrshield7793]

He's not 'alone at the top' as you say..but you make a great comment. And people who are called to do what Chris does are rare indeed.

[@IgnominiousRex]

@@jrshield7793 I probably could have stated it better, but what I was trying to say was that of all Chris' attributes, I think his personal engagement with the prisoners is the most significant 'tell' of a person who walks the walk.

[@clifover]

Chris Hedges is a phenomenon. His book and lectures, "America: The Farewell Tour" is enough to hold him in high esteem, add to that his educational contributions in the prison system and you begin to see a picture of a true Christian, which is extremely rare these days.

[@freovegan]

I cried hearing Boris speak about his son. Now with a 2 year old son, my heart goes out to him ❤️

[@jaysphilosophy1951]

Having been formerly incarcerated in my early life. I'm glad to see the formerly incarcerated get a chance to speak. This is a great story. There is hope.

[@nash984954]

I followed Mumia Jamal's maladies, and Chris Hedges attempts to portray reality of a racist prison system of incarceration and dscovered the jericho movement to write letters to political prisoners and Mumia's prison radio and I have tried to get the word out, and donate when I could. I worked with former prisoners, ex-cons and as friendships grew they were open and had me in tears some of the narratives of how they were not really criminals, any evil notions folks would have especially the white racists who could never lower their shield to feel what they, the hated criminal black people they used to see through of them, and that would have removed much of the fear that created their racist hatred. I was one of the few, no, the only white person who had no qualms working for the black contractor and making friends with black workers. Truly amazing, I was so fortunate to know directly folks similar to Chris's students, I was so happy he did what he did to reveal who they really were, Hidden inside those walls real human beings and imagine how I felt as my life while not in prison in foster care and orphanage life that also hides people, as they, we were neglected,abused mistreated and needed just one gesture from somone to even pretend we were worth caring about.

[@andrelaschet3957]

I have seen dozens of hours of videos of Hedges interviews and speeches - never have I seen him as light spirited as with the videos about this book! This is all so human!!!! Love you guys so much for the journey you went on and the hope and trust and courage you put into it. And thank you for sharing it with all of us!!!

[@harryd5893]

Great discovery - this talk on KZbin! It randomly showed up. Kudos to KZbin algorithm, it does good mistakes sometimes. Been an admirer of Chris Hedges, ever since I discovered him, around 2016 after Trump election - one of the good things that came out of 2016 I think is it sent many people like me who were just sleepwalking through politics running looking for explanations, and that's when I stumbled upon Chris.

[@2serve4Christ]

37:52 Former prisoner giving #dignity, seeing, and caring about prison guards. Again God #BlessYou men.

[@francishughes6313]

MASSIVE LOVE & RESPECT Chris . they say every cloud has a silver lining . 1 ) the first thing is knowing that is true 2 ) and the second I looking for the silver linings . I myself have spend many many years in prison it made me who I am , the silver lining for me is I now LOVE MYSELF . ps, I was an outlaw , I am now an outlaw , and I will remain an outlaw till the day I die because I love being an outlaw , that is my choice so FUCK THE LAW H.M.P DO YOUR WORST .

[@2serve4Christ]

18:10 #beautiful joyful men. God #BlessYou men ❤️😁✝️

[@geoffreynhill2833]

See also "Politics & Prose" with Chris H and Boris Franklin. Wonderful.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Catch Timmy's story circa 11:00. Required viewing for the proudly un-criminal classes.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Correction: LAWRENCE's story. Apologies.

[@geoffreynhill2833]

Sent to hell for being born in hell.