1 00:00:05,533 --> 00:00:11,133 WHEN HER COUSIN WAS RELEASED 2 00:00:07,066 --> 00:00:13,100 FROM PRISON AT THE AGE OF 26, 3 00:00:09,866 --> 00:00:14,600 AUTHOR DANIELLE ALLEN TRIED TO 4 00:00:11,133 --> 00:00:16,433 HELP HIM REENTER A WORLD HE LEFT 5 00:00:13,100 --> 00:00:18,100 AS A TEENAGER. 6 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:19,633 DESPITE HER EFFORTS AND 7 00:00:16,433 --> 00:00:21,766 RESOURCES, THE THEN DEAN AT THE 8 00:00:18,100 --> 00:00:23,200 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO COULD ONLY 9 00:00:19,633 --> 00:00:25,066 DO SO MUCH TO HELP THE YOUNG MAN 10 00:00:21,766 --> 00:00:26,733 STRUGGLING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF 11 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:28,066 A SECOND CHANCE. 12 00:00:25,066 --> 00:00:29,900 IN THE NEW BOOK, "CUZ: THE LIFE 13 00:00:26,733 --> 00:00:32,200 AND TIMES OF MICHAEL A" ALLEN 14 00:00:28,066 --> 00:00:33,233 TRACES HER COUSIN'S LIFE STORY 15 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:35,166 AND PLACES IT WITHIN THE CONTEXT 16 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:37,000 OF YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEN 17 00:00:33,233 --> 00:00:39,800 DURING THE HEIGHT OF 18 00:00:35,166 --> 00:00:41,966 CALIFORNIA'S CRIME CRACKDOWN AND 19 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:44,400 THE SO-CALLED WAR ON DRUGS. 20 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:46,366 AND DANIELLE ALLEN JOINS US NOW. 21 00:00:41,966 --> 00:00:48,133 A PROFESSOR AT HARVARD AND 22 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:50,133 PREVIOUSLY SPENT 10 YEARS ON THE 23 00:00:46,366 --> 00:00:53,000 UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO FACULTY 24 00:00:48,133 --> 00:00:55,266 WAS IN TOWN THIS PAST WEEKEND 25 00:00:50,133 --> 00:00:55,600 FOR THE CHICAGO HUMANITIES 26 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:58,133 FESTIVAL AND WELCOME BACK TO 27 00:00:55,266 --> 00:01:00,100 CHICAGO. 28 00:00:55,600 --> 00:01:00,466 YOU AND YOUR COUSIN WERE CLOSE 29 00:00:58,133 --> 00:01:02,133 GROWING UP BUT YOUR LIVES 30 00:01:00,100 --> 00:01:02,833 DIVERGED. 31 00:01:00,466 --> 00:01:05,433 HOW DID MICHAEL START TO GET 32 00:01:02,133 --> 00:01:07,300 INTO TROUBLE? 33 00:01:02,833 --> 00:01:08,633 >> WE WERE PART OF A BIG 34 00:01:05,433 --> 00:01:10,600 EXTENDED FAMILY AND COUSINS 35 00:01:07,300 --> 00:01:12,600 WITHIN THAT EXTENDED FAMILY. 36 00:01:08,633 --> 00:01:14,033 WHEN MICHAEL WAS 10 HIS MOTHER 37 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:15,166 MARRIED A MAN WHO WAS ABUSIVE 38 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:17,166 AND THE FAMILY EXPLODED IN THE 39 00:01:14,033 --> 00:01:19,566 WAKE OF THAT MARRIAGE. 40 00:01:15,166 --> 00:01:20,000 THEY MOVED FROM CALIFORNIA TO 41 00:01:17,166 --> 00:01:22,433 MISSISSIPPI, TO GEORGIA, BACK TO 42 00:01:19,566 --> 00:01:23,833 CALIFORNIA. 43 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:25,866 MICHAEL HAD FIVE MID-YEAR SCHOOL 44 00:01:22,433 --> 00:01:28,966 TRANSITIONS AND THE LAST MOVE 45 00:01:23,833 --> 00:01:31,266 SAW HIM LANDING IN SOUTH CENTRAL 46 00:01:25,866 --> 00:01:33,133 LOS ANGELES IN THE EARLY 90s, 47 00:01:28,966 --> 00:01:34,700 A WORLD RIFE WITH GANGS AND 48 00:01:31,266 --> 00:01:37,900 VIOLENCE AND HARD FOR A KID TO 49 00:01:33,133 --> 00:01:39,000 LAND IN A WORLD LIKE THAT. 50 00:01:34,700 --> 00:01:41,500 THE SHORT OF IS KIDS FIND 51 00:01:37,900 --> 00:01:43,000 THEMSELVES NEEDING PROTECTION 52 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:44,266 AND GANGS OFFER PROTECTION AND 53 00:01:41,500 --> 00:01:45,166 MICHAEL STARTED FLIRTING WITH 54 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:47,500 GANGS AND THAT IS WHERE THE 55 00:01:44,266 --> 00:01:48,666 TROUBLE CAME FROM. 56 00:01:45,166 --> 00:01:50,600 >> BEFORE HE GOT TO LA HE 57 00:01:47,500 --> 00:01:53,033 COMMITTED PETTY THEFTS BUT HE 58 00:01:48,666 --> 00:01:55,033 WAS TREATED -- 59 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:57,333 LA WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. 60 00:01:53,033 --> 00:01:59,433 WAS WAS MICHAEL SENT TO PRISON? 61 00:01:55,033 --> 00:01:59,833 >> WHEN HE WAS 15 IN 1995 HE WAS 62 00:01:57,333 --> 00:02:01,333 ARRESTED FOR AN ATTEMPTED 63 00:01:59,433 --> 00:02:03,833 CARJACKING. 64 00:01:59,833 --> 00:02:05,900 A SUNDAY MORNING FOGGY MORNING 65 00:02:01,333 --> 00:02:07,000 AND HE TRIED TO HOLD SOMEBODY UP 66 00:02:03,833 --> 00:02:10,300 WITH A GUN TO TAKE THE MAN'S 67 00:02:05,900 --> 00:02:11,833 CADILLAC. 68 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:13,600 AND THE VICTIM WRESTLED AWAY THE 69 00:02:10,300 --> 00:02:14,900 GUN AND SHOT MICHAEL THROUGH THE 70 00:02:11,833 --> 00:02:16,100 NECK AND IN THE HOSPITAL IN THE 71 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,900 AMBULANCE ON THE WAY TO THE 72 00:02:14,900 --> 00:02:18,666 HOSPITAL MICHAEL CONFESSED THAT 73 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:20,600 HE ROBBED THREE PEOPLE THE 74 00:02:17,900 --> 00:02:21,733 PREVIOUS DAY. 75 00:02:18,666 --> 00:02:22,600 SO IT WAS A CRIME SPREE BUT IT 76 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:25,400 CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. 77 00:02:21,733 --> 00:02:26,100 YOU ARE RIGHT. 78 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:28,333 HE HAD STOLEN 10 FROM A 79 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:31,600 NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE. 80 00:02:26,100 --> 00:02:33,433 HE HAD STOLEN A RADIO BUT THIS 81 00:02:28,333 --> 00:02:35,000 WAS THE EXPONENTIAL INCREASE IN 82 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:36,466 THE LEVEL OF HIS ACTIVITY AND WE 83 00:02:33,433 --> 00:02:37,400 WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE. 84 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:40,633 WE WERE TRYING TO RESPOND TO THE 85 00:02:36,466 --> 00:02:41,700 PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AND IT WAS 86 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:43,066 THAT HE HAD GOTTEN ENTANGLED 87 00:02:40,633 --> 00:02:45,566 WITH GANGS. 88 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:48,266 AND THE LITERATURE SUGGESTS 89 00:02:43,066 --> 00:02:50,500 THERE IS A RHYTHM WHERE KIDS 90 00:02:45,566 --> 00:02:52,366 START FLIRTING WITH GANGS 11-13 91 00:02:48,266 --> 00:02:54,833 AND 18 MONTHS THEY THEIR FIRST 92 00:02:50,500 --> 00:02:55,166 ARREST AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE 93 00:02:52,366 --> 00:02:58,100 PATTERN THAT MICHAEL WENT 94 00:02:54,833 --> 00:02:59,333 THROUGH. 95 00:02:55,166 --> 00:03:00,366 >> AND THE OTHER THING WAS A 96 00:02:58,100 --> 00:03:01,966 PROFOUND EVENT WAS THE LENGTH OF 97 00:02:59,333 --> 00:03:03,233 THE PRISON SENTENCE. 98 00:03:00,366 --> 00:03:04,766 TALK ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IT 99 00:03:01,966 --> 00:03:06,166 MEANT RELATIVE TO HOW LONG HE 100 00:03:03,233 --> 00:03:06,533 HAD BEEN ALIVE? 101 00:03:04,766 --> 00:03:08,933 >> TO MICHAEL WAS 15 WHEN 102 00:03:06,166 --> 00:03:10,733 ARRESTED. 103 00:03:06,533 --> 00:03:13,233 AND HE WAS ARRESTED 18 MONTHS 104 00:03:08,933 --> 00:03:15,366 AFTER CALIFORNIA PASSED THE 105 00:03:10,733 --> 00:03:16,600 THREE STRIKES YOU ARE OUTLAW AND 106 00:03:13,233 --> 00:03:17,833 IT MEANT IF YOU COMMITTED THREE 107 00:03:15,366 --> 00:03:19,833 FELONIES YOUR SENTENCE WOULD BE 108 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,100 25 YEARS TO LIFE. 109 00:03:17,833 --> 00:03:23,066 AND ALTHOUGH THIS WAS MICHAEL'S 110 00:03:19,833 --> 00:03:24,966 FIRST ARREST BECAUSE HE 111 00:03:21,100 --> 00:03:25,333 CONFESSED TO THE OTHER ROBBERIES 112 00:03:23,066 --> 00:03:27,133 HE WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR 113 00:03:24,966 --> 00:03:29,866 FELONIES. 114 00:03:25,333 --> 00:03:32,300 AND THE JUMP TOLD HIM THAT A 115 00:03:27,133 --> 00:03:34,000 CONVICTION AT A JURY TRIAL WOULD 116 00:03:29,866 --> 00:03:35,933 YIELD 25 YEARS TO LIFE SO A 117 00:03:32,300 --> 00:03:38,166 JUDGE ENCOURAGED HIM TO PLEAD 118 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:40,333 GUILTY AND HE HE DID. 119 00:03:35,933 --> 00:03:41,766 HE COULD NOT MAKEUP HIS MIND HIS 120 00:03:38,166 --> 00:03:43,433 MOTHER DECIDED FOR HIM THAT HE 121 00:03:40,333 --> 00:03:44,033 SHOULD PLEAD GUILTY AND GOT A 122 00:03:41,766 --> 00:03:45,533 SENTENCE OF 12 YEARS AND 8 123 00:03:43,433 --> 00:03:46,533 MONTHS. 124 00:03:44,033 --> 00:03:48,800 >> WHY SUCH A TOUGH SENTENCE? 125 00:03:45,533 --> 00:03:50,066 >> IT WAS CALIFORNIA. 126 00:03:46,533 --> 00:03:52,166 IT WAS GOING THROUGH A MAJOR 127 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:53,933 CRIME WAVE. 128 00:03:50,066 --> 00:03:55,566 AND CARJACKING IN PARTICULAR WAS 129 00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:57,600 SORT OF THE CRIME THAT STRUCK 130 00:03:53,933 --> 00:03:58,900 FEAR IN EVERYBODY REASONABLY. 131 00:03:55,566 --> 00:04:02,333 IT IS A TERRIBLE THING NOBODY 132 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:05,200 WANTS TO GO THROUGH THAT 133 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:06,400 EXPERIENCE AND CALIFORNIA WAS 134 00:04:02,333 --> 00:04:08,333 RATCHETING UP THE SEVERITY OF 135 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,566 THE PENAL SYSTEM. 136 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:11,066 THEY HAD BEEN LOWERING THE AGE 137 00:04:08,333 --> 00:04:13,200 AT WHICH JUVENILES COULD BE 138 00:04:09,566 --> 00:04:15,533 TRIED AS ADULTS. 139 00:04:11,066 --> 00:04:16,233 THE AGE HAD GONE DOWN TO 14 140 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,933 MONTHS BEFORE MICHAEL'S CRIME. 141 00:04:15,533 --> 00:04:20,466 AND -- 142 00:04:16,233 --> 00:04:20,900 >> HORRIBLE TIMING ON HIS PART 143 00:04:17,933 --> 00:04:21,966 IN TERMS OF WHAT HE SAID AND THE 144 00:04:20,466 --> 00:04:23,633 CONSEQUENCES. 145 00:04:20,900 --> 00:04:25,100 >> IT WAS JUST ABOUT THE WORST 146 00:04:21,966 --> 00:04:27,100 POINT OF THE SEVERITY OF THE 147 00:04:23,633 --> 00:04:30,000 CALIFORNIA SYSTEM AND ALSO 148 00:04:25,100 --> 00:04:31,433 THINGS WERE NEW ENOUGH THAT WE 149 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:32,833 AS HIS FAMILY DID NOT UNDERSTAND 150 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:34,433 ALTOGETHER WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN 151 00:04:31,433 --> 00:04:36,566 THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM. 152 00:04:32,833 --> 00:04:38,200 WE WERE TAKEN BY SURPRISE WHEN 153 00:04:34,433 --> 00:04:39,866 THEY DECIDED TO TRY HIM AS AN 154 00:04:36,566 --> 00:04:41,800 ADULT NOT A JUVENILE. 155 00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:43,333 AND WE HAD NEVER IMAGINED THAT 156 00:04:39,866 --> 00:04:44,300 THREE STRIKES LAW WOULD APPLY TO 157 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:46,600 SOMEBODY ON THEIR FIRST ARREST 158 00:04:43,333 --> 00:04:48,666 AND SO FORTH. 159 00:04:44,300 --> 00:04:49,966 SO I THINK AS A FAMILY WE WERE 160 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:52,566 UNPREPARED IN SUPPORTING HIM AND 161 00:04:48,666 --> 00:04:54,466 WORKING THROUGH THIS SITUATION. 162 00:04:49,966 --> 00:04:56,000 >> YOU HELPED HIM AFTERWARDS. 163 00:04:52,566 --> 00:04:57,566 HE GETS OUT OF PRISON AND HELPED 164 00:04:54,466 --> 00:04:59,400 HIM GET A LIBRARY CARD A 165 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,733 DRIVER'S LICENSE AND A JOB AND 166 00:04:57,566 --> 00:05:00,866 SIGN HIM UP FOR COMMUNITY 167 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,733 COLLEGE. 168 00:04:59,733 --> 00:05:04,566 IT DID NOT WORK. 169 00:05:00,866 --> 00:05:06,233 WHY DID IT NOT WORK? 170 00:05:02,733 --> 00:05:07,800 >> WELL, THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE 171 00:05:04,566 --> 00:05:09,166 MATTER IS UP WITH OF THE HARDEST 172 00:05:06,233 --> 00:05:10,900 PARTS OF LEAVING PRISON IS TO 173 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,266 LEAVE THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT 174 00:05:09,166 --> 00:05:14,600 YOU'VE HAD IN PRISON. 175 00:05:10,900 --> 00:05:16,400 AND MICHAEL WAS IN PRISON FROM 176 00:05:12,266 --> 00:05:17,766 AGE OF 15 TO 26. 177 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:19,200 AND WE ALL HAVE TO THINK WHAT 178 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,133 IT'S LIKE TO BE A 15-YEAR-OLD 179 00:05:17,766 --> 00:05:23,000 YOU ARE DISCOVERING YOURSELF AS 180 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:24,166 A SEXUAL BEING AND INDEPENDENT 181 00:05:21,133 --> 00:05:26,966 PERSON AND MICHAEL FELL IN LOVE 182 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:28,733 IN PRISON. 183 00:05:24,166 --> 00:05:29,600 HE FELL IN LOVE WITH A 184 00:05:26,966 --> 00:05:31,933 TRANSGENDER WOMAN IN THE MEN'S 185 00:05:28,733 --> 00:05:32,500 PRISON AT THE TIME. 186 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,900 >> SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF 187 00:05:31,933 --> 00:05:34,333 TRANSITIONING. 188 00:05:32,500 --> 00:05:36,466 >> YES. 189 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:37,333 BUT SHE WAS IN THE MEN'S PRISON 190 00:05:34,333 --> 00:05:39,133 AND WHEN HE LEFT AND WAS 191 00:05:36,466 --> 00:05:40,866 DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO TAKE 192 00:05:37,333 --> 00:05:43,733 AN APARTMENT THAT WAS CLOSE TO 193 00:05:39,133 --> 00:05:45,433 THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE HE 194 00:05:40,866 --> 00:05:46,633 ENROLLED, HE SPENT 24 HOURS OF 195 00:05:43,733 --> 00:05:47,800 INDECISION TRYING TO DECIDE 196 00:05:45,433 --> 00:05:49,366 WHETHER TO TAKE IT AND DECIDED 197 00:05:46,633 --> 00:05:50,900 NO THE TO. 198 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:53,100 AND GROUNDS FOR NOT TAKING IT 199 00:05:49,366 --> 00:05:54,100 WERE THAT HE COULD NOT IMAGINE 200 00:05:50,900 --> 00:05:55,166 WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE IF HIS 201 00:05:53,100 --> 00:05:56,566 ASSOCIATES CAME BY THERE. 202 00:05:54,100 --> 00:05:56,866 AND AT THE TIME I DID NOT 203 00:05:55,166 --> 00:05:59,033 UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS TALKING 204 00:05:56,566 --> 00:06:01,566 ABOUT. 205 00:05:56,866 --> 00:06:03,566 AND MONTHS LATER WHEN HE MOVED 206 00:05:59,033 --> 00:06:05,300 IN WITH BRIE, THAT IS HE WANTED 207 00:06:01,566 --> 00:06:06,600 TO RECONNECT WITH BRIE AND 208 00:06:03,566 --> 00:06:08,166 REKINDLE THE RELATIONSHIP ON 209 00:06:05,300 --> 00:06:10,100 THAT MOMENT WHERE HE IS CHOOSING 210 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:11,500 WHETHER TO TAKE THAT APARTMENT 211 00:06:08,166 --> 00:06:13,166 OR NOT HE WAS MAKING A JUDGMENT 212 00:06:10,100 --> 00:06:14,533 ABOUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE LOVE 213 00:06:11,500 --> 00:06:15,600 OF HIS LIFE A RELATIONSHIP HE 214 00:06:13,166 --> 00:06:17,066 FORMED IN PRISON WAS IT A 215 00:06:14,533 --> 00:06:18,466 RELATIONSHIP HE WAS GOING TO 216 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:19,633 TAKE WITH HIM OR NOT? 217 00:06:17,066 --> 00:06:21,333 AND HE CHOSE TO TAKE THAT 218 00:06:18,466 --> 00:06:23,233 RELATIONSHIP AND IN THE END SHE 219 00:06:19,633 --> 00:06:23,533 WAS THE PERSON WHO KILLED HIM. 220 00:06:21,333 --> 00:06:26,566 HE DIED THREE YEARS AFTER HE GOT 221 00:06:23,233 --> 00:06:28,066 OUT. 222 00:06:23,533 --> 00:06:29,500 SO I THINK THAT FOR ME AS 223 00:06:26,566 --> 00:06:30,300 SOMEBODY TRYING TO HELP HIM I 224 00:06:28,066 --> 00:06:32,033 KNEW HOW TO THINK ABOUT COLLEGE 225 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:33,000 AND JOBS. 226 00:06:30,300 --> 00:06:34,466 I DID NOT HAVE ANY IDEA HOW TO 227 00:06:32,033 --> 00:06:36,833 THINK ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIPS 228 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:38,500 THAT PEOPLE FORM IN PRISON. 229 00:06:34,466 --> 00:06:39,966 AND HOW THEY NEED TO DEAL WITH 230 00:06:36,833 --> 00:06:41,333 THEM RESOLVE THEM, THINK THEIR 231 00:06:38,500 --> 00:06:42,500 WAY THROUGH THEM AFTER THEY GET 232 00:06:39,966 --> 00:06:43,866 OUT OF PRISON. 233 00:06:41,333 --> 00:06:45,566 >> ONE ELEMENT THAT JUMPED OUT 234 00:06:42,500 --> 00:06:47,166 AT ME. 235 00:06:43,866 --> 00:06:50,366 BECAUSE AS YOU LOOK AT 236 00:06:45,566 --> 00:06:52,300 EVERYTHING HE WAS DEALING WITH, 237 00:06:47,166 --> 00:06:54,366 AND THE CHOICES HE WAS MAKING, 238 00:06:50,366 --> 00:06:56,900 CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYED A ROLE IN 239 00:06:52,300 --> 00:06:58,566 HIS LIFE WHAT WAS THAT ROLE? 240 00:06:54,366 --> 00:07:00,400 >> WELL, MY DAD LOVED CLASSICAL 241 00:06:56,900 --> 00:07:02,300 MUSIC AND MICHAEL SPENT A LOT OF 242 00:06:58,566 --> 00:07:04,633 TIME IN OUR HOUSE WHEN WE WERE 243 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:06,866 KIDS AND MY DAD IS A PROFESSOR 244 00:07:02,300 --> 00:07:07,366 AND WORKED IN THE STUDY AND 245 00:07:04,633 --> 00:07:09,800 THERE WAS MUSIC OUT OF HIS STUDY 246 00:07:06,866 --> 00:07:11,800 ALL THE TIME. 247 00:07:07,366 --> 00:07:13,533 TO BE IN OUR HOUSE WAS TO BE IN 248 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:16,466 THE MIDST OF CLASSICAL MUSIC AND 249 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:18,166 ONE VISIT I HAD WITH MICHAEL 250 00:07:13,533 --> 00:07:19,733 THAT HE REMARKED HE WAS GRATEFUL 251 00:07:16,466 --> 00:07:21,533 TO UNCLE WILLIAM FOR HAVING 252 00:07:18,166 --> 00:07:27,100 PLAYED THE MUSIC BECAUSE THAT IS 253 00:07:19,733 --> 00:07:30,466 WHAT HE WAS LISTENING TO IN 254 00:07:21,533 --> 00:07:31,866 PRISON AND A WAY HE COULD PULL 255 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:34,233 HIMSELF AWAY AND TURN TIME IN 256 00:07:30,466 --> 00:07:35,500 PRISON TO SOMETHING OF BEAUTY 257 00:07:31,866 --> 00:07:36,366 AND IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE TO 258 00:07:34,233 --> 00:07:38,500 FIND THAT THE MUSIC WAS DOING 259 00:07:35,500 --> 00:07:40,466 THAT FOR HIM. 260 00:07:36,366 --> 00:07:41,500 BUT IT WAS AMONG THAT THINGS 261 00:07:38,500 --> 00:07:43,333 THAT LIFTED HIM UP DURING THE 262 00:07:40,466 --> 00:07:44,600 PERIOD OF TRIAL. 263 00:07:41,500 --> 00:07:45,966 >> WHAT DO YOU HOPE READERS TAKE 264 00:07:43,333 --> 00:07:47,833 AWAY FROM THE BOOK? 265 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:48,933 >> A LOT OF THINGS. 266 00:07:45,966 --> 00:07:50,300 ONE IT MATTERS TO ME THAT 267 00:07:47,833 --> 00:07:50,600 MICHAEL'S WRITINGS ARE IN THE 268 00:07:48,933 --> 00:07:52,833 BOOK AND HIS VOICE IS IN THE 269 00:07:50,300 --> 00:07:54,500 BOOK. 270 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:56,066 HE WAS INCREDIBLY TALENTED 271 00:07:52,833 --> 00:07:58,366 WRITER AND WE HOPED HE WOULD 272 00:07:54,500 --> 00:08:00,666 TELL HIS OWN STORY. 273 00:07:56,066 --> 00:08:01,133 PART OF THE DEVASTATION WHEN HE 274 00:07:58,366 --> 00:08:03,533 DECIDE HE COULD NOT TELL HIS 275 00:08:00,666 --> 00:08:05,033 STORY. 276 00:08:01,133 --> 00:08:06,300 I'M GRATEFUL IF PEOPLE TAKE 277 00:08:03,533 --> 00:08:07,733 MICHAEL'S VOICE AWAY AND 278 00:08:05,033 --> 00:08:09,833 RECOGNIZE THIS TALENTED KID 279 00:08:06,300 --> 00:08:11,633 COULD HAVE BEEN SO MUCH MORE 280 00:08:07,733 --> 00:08:13,866 THAN HE ENDED UP BEING AND THERE 281 00:08:09,833 --> 00:08:15,866 IS A QUESTION WE ALL NEED TO 282 00:08:11,633 --> 00:08:17,600 ANSWER ABOUT WHY IT IS WE LOSE 283 00:08:13,866 --> 00:08:17,933 SO MANY TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE TO 284 00:08:15,866 --> 00:08:19,300 CRIME AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE 285 00:08:17,600 --> 00:08:22,233 SYSTEM. 286 00:08:17,933 --> 00:08:24,833 THAT IS THE FIRST THING. 287 00:08:19,300 --> 00:08:26,666 THE SECOND THING IS THAT WE'VE 288 00:08:22,233 --> 00:08:27,600 GOT A WORLD WHERE KIDS FACE 289 00:08:24,833 --> 00:08:30,166 REALLY DIFFERENT DEGREES OF 290 00:08:26,666 --> 00:08:31,700 DIFFICULTY ESPECIALLY IF THEY 291 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:33,466 COME THROUGH ADOLESENCE. 292 00:08:30,166 --> 00:08:34,833 AND AS A SOCIETY WE ARE 293 00:08:31,700 --> 00:08:36,700 RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HUGE 294 00:08:33,466 --> 00:08:38,366 VARIATION AND THE DEGREE OF 295 00:08:34,833 --> 00:08:39,666 DIFFICULTY THAT KIDS FACE. 296 00:08:36,700 --> 00:08:40,866 MICHAEL MADE CHOICES BAD CHOICES 297 00:08:38,366 --> 00:08:43,100 THAT DEFINED HIS LIFE. 298 00:08:39,666 --> 00:08:44,366 BUT AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS 299 00:08:40,866 --> 00:08:45,466 MAKING THOSE CHOICES IN THE 300 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:47,100 CONTEXT OF DIFFICULT 301 00:08:44,366 --> 00:08:47,666 CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THE STAKES 302 00:08:45,466 --> 00:08:50,133 WERE HIGHER THAN THEY WERE FOR 303 00:08:47,100 --> 00:08:52,433 OTHER KIDS. 304 00:08:47,666 --> 00:08:54,133 SO I TELL THE STORY WHEN I WAS 305 00:08:50,133 --> 00:08:55,000 15 I SNEAKED A RIDE WITH A 306 00:08:52,433 --> 00:08:56,966 FRIEND TO GET TO ONE OF MY 307 00:08:54,133 --> 00:08:59,533 COLLEGE COURSES. 308 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:59,833 I WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO RIDE IN 309 00:08:56,966 --> 00:09:01,900 THE CAR AND I GOT GROUNDED FOR 310 00:08:59,533 --> 00:09:02,266 THAT. 311 00:08:59,833 --> 00:09:04,366 I HAD A DESIRE FOR BOUNDARY 312 00:09:01,900 --> 00:09:06,733 BREAKING. 313 00:09:02,266 --> 00:09:08,466 BUT THE CONSEQUENCES WERE LOW IN 314 00:09:04,366 --> 00:09:09,600 THE CONTEXT IN WHICH I GREW UP 315 00:09:06,733 --> 00:09:14,266 SUBURBAN, CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, 316 00:09:08,466 --> 00:09:16,266 A COLLEGE TOWN. 317 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:18,033 MICHAEL HAD A SIMILAR DESIRE AND 318 00:09:14,266 --> 00:09:19,933 IN HIS CASE IN SOUTH CENTRAL 319 00:09:16,266 --> 00:09:21,233 CONNECTED TO A WORLD OF GANGS IT 320 00:09:18,033 --> 00:09:22,966 LED TO AN ATTEMPTED CARJACKING 321 00:09:19,933 --> 00:09:25,233 AND A SENTENCE THAT DESTROYED 322 00:09:21,233 --> 00:09:26,966 HIS LIFE. 323 00:09:22,966 --> 00:09:29,200 AND IN THAT WE WERE KIDS WHO 324 00:09:25,233 --> 00:09:30,633 CAME UP TOGETHER AND SHARED A 325 00:09:26,966 --> 00:09:33,200 LOT OF BASIC INTERESTS 326 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:34,766 RESOURCES, ABILITIES LOVE FROM 327 00:09:30,633 --> 00:09:36,333 OUR FAMILY BUT FACED DIFFERENT 328 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,766 DEGREES OF DIFFICULTY THAT 329 00:09:34,766 --> 00:09:37,566 AFFECTED THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR 330 00:09:36,333 --> 00:09:38,933 DECISIONS. 331 00:09:36,766 --> 00:09:40,966 >> DANIELLE ALLEN THANK YOU FOR 332 00:09:37,566 --> 00:09:42,666 JOINING US WE APPRECIATE IT. 333 00:09:38,933 --> 00:09:44,166 >> THANK YOU.