Khalid Shabazz 1157998
VA DOC River North Correctional Center
329 Dell Brook Lane
Independence, VA, 24348

My name is Khalid Shabazz, and I have been incarcerated in the belly of the beast since I was 19 years old. I am now 51 years old. This question I keep asking myself to this point, how did I arrive here in the belly of the beast. The answer is always the same. There is no one else to blame. I participated in things; some didn’t have anything to do with survival. This is the cause to this point of my arrival of the belly of the beast.

Let me tell you, we are responsible for our success or our failure. If we continue to waddle in filth, destroy ourselves, we will. With or without us life goes on. That’s how it has been since we were born? At what point do we truly grow up? No doubt we have seen many of our friends and homeboys take the back way out of this world.
Because of the foolish ideas put in their heads, do we give up the wickedness, or do we continue until we are dead.

We certainly were not born this way, all we want to do is play.

Malcolm x said: To have once been a criminal there is no disc race, to remain a criminal is a disc race.

I say this is a new day? It is about exploring new ways. To repeat our past would be an error. Your past, you cannot change it.

It is about right now, your character, your attitude, your future and how you arrange it.
Now, I am not here to preach or tell other people how to live their life. What I will tell you is to reach your heaven is on you, so is your toll and strife.
Well, my brothers and sisters be kind to people and don’t bring hurt and disrespectful to other people