I think that cultural work is integral to movement-building. A lot of hip hop culture is devoted to reflecting on the prison industrial complex. Some artists and cultural producers do a better job at creating impactful messages and artifacts than others.

I first saw Pat’s Justice on Season 5 of Def Poetry Jam. Yes, I know that this is a “Russell Simmons” production… No comments please. Anyway I heard Pat’s Justice perform a spoken word piece called “Innocent Criminal.” I thought that he had a unique voice and something powerful to say. Here is that performance:

I thought that the juxtaposition of the terms “innocent” with “criminal” was brilliant at the time. I still do. He is talking about the fact that as a young black man in America his identity is already marked as “criminal.” He proclaims his “innocence” from that charge.

Last year, Pat’s Justice produced a music video based on his spoken word performance called “Innocent Criminal Anthem.” The video is both problematic and powerful. It makes you think and begs for its own popular education workshop. Watch and discuss with your friends.