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Mumia gives a glimpse at some lesser known stories of American law, from an insider’s perspective. Eloquent and revealing, simultaneously a breath of fresh air and a whiff of dank injustice. Highly recommended for anyone interested in our criminal justice system and those affected by it.
Rating: 5 / 5

Mumia presents an excellent case for going pro se to anyone caught-up in the dysfunctional and blind U.S. criminal justice system. Having been in such a position in the early part of an organized crime case, I recall that my prevailing thought at the time was “better me than no one” when ridiculed by the judge and prosecutors. Ironically, I came close to a return to the pro se position just prior to trial as prosecutors relentlessly attacked my attorney. As Mumia asserts, no one is exempt from a malicious prosecution or legal attack.

I have a friend with a twenty-two year federal sentence that took that same Blackstone paralegal course shortly after being incarcerated back in 1998. He worked relentlessly to help other inmates get cases overturned, and paid with frequent and lengthy trips to SHU. Sadly his last trip to SHU lasted for close to a year, discouraging further legal work. One can only tolerate so much injustice. He is enjoying reading and writing for now and I mailed him this book today.

In that I am all too aware of drug war prosecutions, I especially appreciated Mumia’s term “the informal drug industry”. Really – pharmaceutical drugs are often far worse than the stuff on the streets today and the big pharmaceutical drug companies make the drug lords look weak. It would make a great title for a book written by an imprisoned drug trafficker.

It was enlightening to learn more about U.S. Army Reserve Corporal Charles Graner before his infamous Abu Ghraib exposure. I admit that I had no clue that he had such a past, but should have suspected as much.

I didn’t live in the U.S. during the era of COINTELPRO, but rest assured, it is still alive and well and had a reawakening following September 11th. I have the utmost respect for the Black Panther Party agenda of equality, justice, and freedom. As a student of Cold War era history I am well aware of the change induced by the party.

“Jailhouse Lawyers” is an extremely well-written book by a man that is clearly a legal scholar, historian, and advocate for the poor. I would recommend this title to anyone interested in social change, criminal justice, or the death penalty. Mumia Abu Jamal is representative of why there should not be a death penalty in the United States of America. I, of course, am aware of Mumia’s case, though I know little of the real details involved and do intend to conduct diligent research in the near future.

Rating: 5 / 5