VOX Press Launches New Book Featuring New Stories from Parchman Farm Inmates

On Tuesday night, May 24, numerous people visited the Southside Gallery to buy Unit 30: New Writing from Parchman Farm and participate in an auction for artwork by an inmate.

This book, Unit 30: New Writing from Parchman Farm, is the second from VOX Press’ Mississippi Prison Writes Initiative that recently received the Mississippi Educator Award for its efforts in teaching Mississippi State Penitentiary (Parchman Farm) inmates creative writing and Southern literature.

Louis Bourgeious poses with the second book from VOX Press’ Prison Writes Initiative.

The new book features personal stories written by inmates in Unit 30 which is the education and drug treatment facility at Mississippi State Penitentiary.

“This volume is an extension of the first one featuring more writings from Parchman Prison,” said Louis Bourgeois, who is the executive direct of VOX Press and the educator in Prison Writes initiative.

At the book launch, international singer Effie Burt read from Unit 30: New Writing from Parchman Farm. Then she quickly began reading again from the book but with a flourish of true blues singing.

Bourgeois said, “We published the best writing from the program over the past two semesters. Most of the writing is memory-based prose works.”

The book has received critical acclaim from writers Jerry Mitchell of The Clarion-Ledger and Drew Leder, author of The Soul Knows No Bars.

Mitchell wrote in his review: “The writing that prisoners share from Unit 30 jar us and move us. They bleed and moan, love and lose, remember and forget just like we do. Thank God for their stories.”

Simone Bourgeois over looks the table where people bought the new books and donated $5 or more to VOX Press.

Malcolm White with Mississippi Development Authority also gave a review of the book: This collection of poems, essays and personal accounts presents readers with an honesty that is brutal and beautiful. The men who have offered their words on these pages do so with great bravery, bearing the burden of love lost, resentment, bitterness and spiritual strife.

When asked what he hopes the readers will take away from the book, Bourgeois said, “That we are all human. We all suffer together and kindness is greater than hate.”

Now Bourgeious will expand that kindness from writing to creating artwork as he auctioned striking artwork from inmate Michael Orrell who is serving 40 years for aggravated assault. Orrell donated his paintings for the auction from which the proceeds will go to starting a painting class at Mississippi State Penitentiary.

Some of Orrell’s artworks sold from $50 to $200.

Bourgeious said that the prisoners found great joy in writing and creating artwork.

“That for once in their lives someone wanted to hear about themselves,” Bourgeois said. “It gives them a real sense of self-worth to write about themselves.”

VOX Press’ Prison Initiative is working with BridgeCorp to provide the Prison-to-College Scholarship to help the inmates prepare to re-enter society with education. BridgeCorp is a post-incarceration scholarship program offering academic and employment support for recently released graduates of the Mississippi Prison Writes Initiative.

Orrell’s artworks appear as a kaleidoscope-like imprints.

The BridgeCorp Scholarship Initiative will provide funding and practical goal-oriented support for three inmates per year so they can pursue an Associate Degree in Humanities or Liberal Arts at Mississippi community colleges.

To support the Mississippi Prison Writes Initiative, donate to VOX Press and keep an eye out for the Unit 30: New Writing from Parchman Farm on Amazon.com.

Callie Daniels Bryant is the senior managing editor at HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at callie.daniels@hottytoddy.com.