A review by rodions_hatchet
Death Blossoms: Reflections from a Prisoner of Conscience, Expanded Edition by Mumia Abu-Jamal

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

To begin with Mumia Abu-Jamal did not recieve anything near a fair and just trial, and the concluding report by Amnesty Internationa  raises so many glaring concerns it's almost unbelievable this case wasn't thrown out. Almost unbelievable but unfortunately true. One hopes the racism, corruption, opportunism, and politicking that represents some of the worst tendencies of the state would be left out or at least toned-down when a man's life is on the line. Not at all. The death penalty is cruel and unusual punishment and its speaks volumes about how backwards and bloodthirsty the USA is, the country with the most people in prisonn per capita, the country who exploits those prisoner's labors for abysmally low wages in terrible working conditions, the country whose white supremacist roots remain as strong as ever, just hidden more effectively.

Abu-Jamal is an incredible and engaging writer, reading his prose inspired me to write more. His attitude and philosophy/outlook are beautiful and heroic especially given his circumstances, a dedicated and principled revolutionary. Mumia is still with us, despite the racist police and guards,  the physical, emotional, and mental suffering imposed on him, an unjust Judicial system, and the oxymoronic "correctional" prison-industrial complex Mumia is still with us. 

Free Mumia Abu-Jamal! Long Live Mumia Abu-Jamal! Your strength and resilience are inspiring, you are one of the brightest star the US government cannot extinguish. I hope to see the day when you are released, until then, stay strong friend.