Little B, set him free

by Ashley Adams/PoorNewsNetwork

"I been raised on dem corners that you scream about constantly. The hood we callin home where the father's never known to be- but still I fought the struggle kept my head up on my hustle- I had to sho a little muscle that promised me struggle"

Those are the lyrics of Little B aka Michael Lewis who has won talent shows and other contests behind prison walls. He is a name to know. He is a story to know, one that represents many.

Little B- Michael Lewis is a human being first and foremost in addition to being a prisoner of Georgia State Prison. He has been in prison for over 9 years. Now 23, he is serving a life sentence for the murder of a man named Darrell Woods; a murder in which clear evidence exists to prove Michael's innocence.

Michael was raised in Atlanta's impoverished neighborhood called The Bluff. This is a neighborhood where over twenty liquor stores litter a five mile east to west stretch of Simpson Street. The Bluff is a place where the existing markets are not selling fresh fruits or vegetables. There are no offices, bookstores, bank branches, doctors, not even ice cream stores or movie theaters can be found in the Bluff. The main form of commerce in the Bluff involves addicts, dealers, and police. By the age of 11, Michael was living on the streets of the Bluff having to fend for himself.

" I been a street nigga my whole life- while y'all niggaz ran school halls I ran the streets til midnight- I seen my moms and pops embrace the crack pipes with mo love for the blow then the kids they gave life- so the streets raised me- hood enslaved me"

At the age of 14, Michael was tried as an adult for the murder of Darrell Woods under Georgia's Senate Bill 440 which allows children ages 13-17 to be prosecuted and sentenced as adults for offenses known as the 'seven deadly sins'. The mandatory sentencing is 10 years in adult prison for the youth caught up in this bill. Not so coincidentally, 94% of the children tried and convicted under this law have been black.

Michael's court case lasted only three days; Three days of underrepresentation by his defense team who, from what I've seen, had more than enough evidence to prove his innocence. Three days of inconsistent testimonials from drug dealing and/or crack addicted witnesses. Three days of lazy defense cross examination and suppressed evidence. Three days of a charade that took away whatever freedoms Michael once had.

Unnerved and highly perturbed are probably the best words to describe my state after reading the details culminating obvious negligence in the case of Little B and the justice system as a whole. The Injustice system.
The injustice of Michael's story is beyond words I know; it's a feeling similar to tight stomach muscles, a clenched fist, a scream into a pillow, a shortness of breath. Even though I have not met Michael or spoken with him directly, what amazes me most is the positivity that beams thru his letters that were shared with me to tell his story. I have learned about hope and the power of optimism thru his writings. When reading them I would imagine the place from where the letters were written; the color of the walls, the lighting of the cell, the smell, and the echoing sounds of long hallways lined by human beings locked in cages.

As I write this from the comfort of my home- warm, cozy, sweet smelling, with cat at side- I try to understand what it would feel like to have lived 9 years in a cell that is 6 x 8 feet for a crime I did not commit. I once sat in a cell for several hours that felt like days, but they were only hours.
Exerts from Michael's letters read:

"A typical day for me is being locked in a cell for 23 hours a day, but sometimes 24 hours for weeks at a time because they (the officers) run yard call whenever they feel like it…

I only leave this cell for a shower or visitation and even then I'm cuffed until I reach the destination."
Elaine Brown former chairperson of the Black Panther Party, musician, mother, and author of several books, got involved with Little B when she was living in Atlanta during the time of his arrest. She was attentive to and outraged by the media's portrayal of Little B as a cold hard thug killer. He was a 13 year old boy. This was happening at a time when there was a lot of media rhetoric about 'urban' (meaning mostly Black or Hispanic) youth becoming America's new "superpredators".

Elaine is founder and Executive Director of the Michael Lewis Legal Defense Committee. She has written a book called 'The Condemnation of Little B' which goes into the details of the night Darrell Woods was murdered, the lack of representation for Michael, the suppressed evidence in support of Michael's innocence, the deals behind close doors between the State and the drug dealers present at the scene of the crime whose unrelated drug dealing charges were conveniently dropped after Michael's conviction, and how all of the pieces fit into the current picture of New Age Racism in America.

The bigger picture that Michael's story represents is indeed multifaceted. Upon reading much of Elaine's book, I began to grasp the zoom out. Racism seems to actually support the needs of the economic system we dysfunction in known as capitalism. More prisoners equates to more labor… cheap labor, even free labor. Georgia is one of three states that do not pay prisoners for labor. Many large corporations with household names rely on prison labor for production of their goods. This system we are living in is a complicated tangled web of apparent deceit- money hungry people at all levels- prison slave labor- racism- and injustice. When crime rates drop in urban areas, new bills are passed to ensure incarceration of targeted populations such as those with melanin in their skin. Basically, the rabbit hole is deep. Hopeful people and freedom fighters are needed in every nook and cranny.

"I try to be optimistic about everything in my life because I know this place will destroy me mentally if I'm not careful, so having to be optimistic is much needed."

The truth is hard for me to digest at times. In my heart, Faith is highly complimentary to Truth. I need faith to see the truth, as I truly believe that in sharing all the stories of injustice and supporting one another in the process we collectively progress towards a healthier world in which restorative justice and healing come first before prison. In the world I visualize and idealize prisons do not exist. People are held and supported by community which embraces all skin colors, all religions, all economic backgrounds; a community where that which divides us is so much smaller and unimportant than that which connects us to one another. For this to be possible, first we are gonna have to heal thru sharing stories and listening whole heartedly to one another. I have hope and strong faith, if I did not, the truth would drive me to an early grave. It is of this hope and faith that I pray of one day, not too far in the future, that I will go see Little B tear it up on stage at San Francisco's historical Fillmore, as a free man.

An Appeal for Michael's case was filed and denied in 2005. The attorneys were incompetent. They did not want to base the case on the missing evidence and ineffective council These same self deluded 'savior' attorneys never met Michael nor did they visit him or speak to him in any way. What I cannot seem to figure out is why people (such as defense attorneys) put themselves into positions where they can REALLY help people in difficult situations who need their help and not step up. It baffles me and that's another article in and of its self.

…current situation…

Michael still has a chance at freedom and it's up to anyone reading this article or hearing this story elsewhere to put him in your prayers, spread the word, and help out in any way you can. A Writ of Habeas Corpus, a writ requiring a person to be brought before a judge or court for investigation, was recently filed at the State level. A court date is scheduled for February and funds are much needed for an investigator and attorney to bring fourth potential witnesses and to surface the many neglected facts about this case. Currently, a two woman team of Elaine Brown assisted by Melody Russell, is working diligently with fiery dedication towards Little B's freedom. If this story moves you in any way or rattles your bones like it has mine, this is a time to step up. You can contribute financially by sending check to: THE MICHAEL LEWIS LEGAL DEFENSE FUND, 4060 Peachtree Road, D324, Atlanta, Georgia 30319. You can check out www.myspace.com/freelittleb to find out other ways in which you can help or to learn the details of his innocence. I highly recommend reading Elaine Brown's book, The Condemnation of Little B for his case and the societal implications raised by his persecution. For more information on Elaine and her work go to: www.elainebrown.com.

To all people everywhere: Keep fighting for your Spirit and your Mind.