Why I chose this book:
I have been a part of Prsion Professors for some time now, as well, I have participated in and helped facilitate “Preparing For Success After Prison” a wonderful program. I have also used MIchael Santos as an example of success to others over the years. I am embarrassed to say that even aside from all the above, this last lockdown was the first time I have read the book Earning Freedom, even though it has sat on my shelf for a long time.
My takes from the book:
I want to be clear, I take nothing away from Michael’s accomplishments, I only question his tactics and motivations. After reading his book I feel Michael, like so many others, misssed the most vital aspect of incarceration…the opportunity to transform. To move out of our old habits, conditioning, and thought processes that caused harm to ourselves and others. Michael continually put his family, friends, and newly wed wife and step daughter at risk for profit. Going to the SHU and being transferred numerous times caused financial and emotional hardships, all becaus Michael did not want to start from the bottom and work his way up after release. It reminds me of a guy I knew in my hobby craft room that said he was not going to take a job for less than $200,000.00 a year, even though he barely got a GED while in prison. I doubt he ever found employment.
IN the beginning Michael Santos shows accountability and accepts responsibility for his actions and the consequences that accompanied those actions. HE even detests others who “whine” about their time and refuses to take responsibility. Mr. Santos is determined to create a list of extraordinary and compelling reasons of why he should be released early,and hey, aren’t allof us serving draconian sentences? Yet when I was incarcerated my main focus was to understand and correct the behaviors and thinking patterns that led to my incarceration. And has remained so to this day. In Earning Freedom, we discover a Michael Santos who’s only focus is getting out early. Model behavior and extraordinary accomplishments are part of Michael’s methods, but once it becomes clear that earlyreleaseisnot going to happen, we see the same Michael Santos pop up that is on page 17 who didnot want to work his way up in his parents’ company by doing “field work,” so as MIchael put it, “I exploited their confidence in my abilities,” and Michael continued to utilize this method post-arrest to everyone in his life. Wardens, mentors, friends, family, professors, and women.
At this point Michael shifts focus from “Earning Freedom” to stacking up cash for when he gets out. Michael makes friendships over the years, but only with wealthy and influential people who can further his agenda. We see a Michael Santos who still wants the good life he had as a drug dealer, and still willing to break the rules to get there. We all would love a rich easy life. But rules are in place for a reason, whether we agree with them or not and we must work within the confines of those rules. When Michael’s mentor Bruce questions Michael’s methods, A dialogue takes place that is shocking. Michael states to Bruce, “that’s what I couldn’t be so clear about in the letters I wrote you, I have to be careful of what the guards read.” Bruce goes on to tell Michael how he had worked all this time to build a record as a model prisoner, and how he is now talking about breaking the rules and exposing himself to disciplinary actions. Michael Santos replies by telling Bruce how he is right, he has worked hard to be a model prisoner, but what has it gotten him? Michael makes clear he has no desire to be a model prisoner, his intention, ONLY intention is succeeding upon release. I think Michael wants something good, to be successful upon release, and has a four step process which is great: Define success; create a plan; set priorities; and execute the plan. I just feel Michael needs to reevaluate steps one -three, especially one and three. On page 13 Michael is afraid to seem Weak and “impotent.” And still is 26 years later. Carol finally begs Michael to stop. She cannot go through another transfer, and he agrees. So when Carol and he talk about a website, Michael is excited and states, “I could really use a project like this one, one that takes my mind away from here.” Here is where we need to be, facing and conquering our demons. There is a story about a man that owned an caterpillar that had gone into it’s cocoon. It would emerge an Emperor moth, one of the most beautiful and largest of them. As the man watch the creature trying for hours to get out of it’s cocoon and struggling, he decided to help it a little by snipping a hole so it could emerge. When the moth emerged it had shriveled wings and legs. It spent it’s short life unable to fly. The process of the struggle with the moth to emerge is necessary. It pumps blood to it’s parts allowing them to grow. When the man cut the moth’s struggle short (even though his intentions were good) he deprived the moth of this necessary event, damaging it instead. The same holds true for us in here. By avoiding the struggle of change and increasing self-awareness, we deprive ourselves of the growth necessary to be truly successful upon release. I caution those who are incarcerated and reading this to not focus on the monetary success of Michael, he had that as a drug dealer. Focus on the messages of accepting responsibility for your actions. Focus on educating yourself. But more than a higher education, educate yourselves on the addictions you face, the need to take shortcuts in life at any cost, the anger issues, or any other behaviors that has led to this downfall. To be truly successful upon release, you must become the best version of yourself possible. Otherwise you are just the same old you in a nicer house and car.
