Deshaun Carter

All letters have been transcribed twice. The first transcription transcription has been edited to be read with a screen reader. For instance, ampersands have been replaced with "and." Superscript or subscript text has been placed in parentheses. The second transcription seeks to preserve unique grammar and spelling whenever possible. Personal information, such as inmate numbers, have been removed to protect the privacy of the authors.

Deshaun Carter

First I want to say is thank my Broken Together brother because we was one piece of a chain. But we come together to make a whole link and heal together, we voice the Dark and Bright side of the story of our life. But today I’m here to give you mine my name is Deshaun Carter and I was born on the Southside of Chicago rise by a single parent that burst every single bone in her body to provide for one girl and three boy[s]. Every day was a struggle. But she made it work as best as she could so being vulnerable and showing empathy is something that don’t come easy. But being in this group, around people that share the same struggle as me help a little. As man we was taught to be strong and never show your weakness. Turn your fear into anger and hurt those who try to hurt you. As I read Toxic People: 12 Things They Do and How to Deal With Them number two hit home because I was manipulated to believe feel and act a certain way at an early age. To survive poverty not something that we was born into but something that we was born into but something that we was enslave into. I can’t forget about the man who try to shape me into a man of substance. He was a man of few words but the love and heart that he had for me was strong. [page 2]

That one of the loss’s that hit my heart the hardest I never got the chance to really set down and cry for my father that wanted to give me everything. But one thing that I will never forget that he taught me was when you talk to a person always look them in the eyes never put your head down because nobody slave. Going through the thing that I been through [made] me self-aware of traits that I want to build with friends, family and my children: Empathy, Appreciation, Effective Communication, Honesty, and Balance. My children I want them to have that self-confidence to know that they can do anything if they work hard and dedicate they mind and body to the task. Everybody that set in the group with integrity and vulnerability opening up about they life showing that we are no longer Broken, dependency but heal in commitment, Independence in mind and goals that we set for ourselves.