Prison, Inc.: A Convict Exposes Life Inside a Private Prison

9. Gang Related

Gang Related Retaliate? I thought you weren’t Aryan? —Dore, GD It’s a conspiracy against the White man. —Hammer, Aryan “Hey, Dore wants to hollar at you,” a young cat named Jade said. I looked up from my letter on the dayroom table. Most everyone left for rec and the unit was quiet. “Dore? Who the hell is Dore?” “He’s my cellie in 201!” I never considered the fact that he sent Jade to me. “I don’t know him.” “Look man, ain’t nothin’ gonna happen. He just wants you to come up to our cell and hollar.” I had been told that this dude was one of the lookouts. I was also told Dore was sitting on the tier steps while I was being assaulted. I wasn’t really trying to talk to those cats. Yet, I wasn’t trying to start waves either. “What does he want?” “I don’t totally know, probably about that shit that happened to you the other day.” “Man, I ain’t trying to hollar,” I said calmly. “Man, I said ain’t nothin gonna happen!” Jade persisted. I blew out some air. “Okay . . . Let me throw this shit into my house.” As I came out of my cell, I saw Jade standing in their door jam looking my way. I approached cautiously, very cautiously. “Dore,” he said as I stood back to look in. “Hey,” Dore said calmly. “You Inmate?” I nodded, double-checking that he was the only one in the cell. He signaled for me to come in. 9 105 “He’s giving you an audience,” Jade replied as he stepped out to stand with one foot on the tier’s railing. I didn’t enter the cell. I knew they were GD—looking over the cell one could see all the blue and black coloring. In the state system they wouldn ’t have allowed the gang colors to be displayed so obviously. Blue and black yarn blanket. Blue and black dream catcher. Blue and black covering draped over a television set. “I understand you may be a little apprehensive but I only want to kick it.” “It’s not a matter of being apprehensive, I don’t know you nor do I want an audience with you.” Dore looked somewhat stirred that I spoke to him in such a manner. “You’re friends with Steel?” “And?” His question reminded me of Mr. Moss’s questions. “Look, motherfucker, I just want to kick it!” He fired back. “Okay . . . okay, I know Steel . . .” Don’t stir the pot, I said to myself. “And you hang out with the Aryans sometimes?” “I don’t get the point.” “He is the leader of the Aryans.” “Who I talk to is my business. I’m talking to you. Does that make me GD?” He was pissing me off by ignoring my point. “I know Steel pretty well, too. Sometimes we do business together.” “He’s an okay dude.” “How you feeling after these Vice Lords decide to run in on you?” “Vice Lords?” “Yeah, I know them.” “You a Lord?” “No, GD.” “Jade too?” “Yep, we don’t do that shit.” Dore was clearly spinning me. “So you’re all right?” “I’m straight.” “What’d they get? Maybe I can get it back.” Maybe you don’t exactly know what your guys stole, I thought. They must be spinning you. “Nothing of importance that can’t be replaced.” “I was told you owed them money for weed.” “Yeah . . .” “Yep. If that’s the case, I can’t get back what they took.” “It’s not the case.” 106 | Gang Related “Then what did they take?” “Not much. Nothing important. Todd probably will be upset.” “Todd? The dude in the cell with you?” “No . . . no, Todd, Steel . . . I thought you knew him?” I was spinning him now. “Steel? What’s he got to do with this? I thought you weren’t Aryan!” “I’m not Aryan. It don’t matter anyways.” At that point, Dore decided it was time to step out on the tier since I wasn’t coming in. He wanted to know the Aryan connection. Jade moved back into the cell. “Steel was involved?” “It don’t matter. Don’t trip. I don’t want no help anyways.” “Retaliate?” he loudly said. “I thought you weren’t Aryan?” “Don’t care . . .” “You know most Black folks...