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From the inside out, not the outside in
Tryna stop this revolving door but where do I begin
Ask yourselves, what happened to each one teach one
Is it really that impossible for us to reach one

What happened to get a job and get educated
Our culture doesn’t glorify that
We glorify the gunsmoke and weed that makes you choke
And the people in expensive clothes who manage to stay broke

So please get it together before you’re behind these steel doors

Where for eight cents an hour, you’ll sweep and mop these floors
So homies I need a favor, help me turn this all around
And push for good jobs an education through each an every town

When school is cool and putting in work means working nine to five
We turn from a culture of destruction to a culture that learned to thrive
No more handcuffs, green suites, removals, riots, and fades
But instead on the beach with your loved ones drinking Goose and Kool-Aid

So this goes out to all the youth, believe me this aint what it is
Success love and happiness is how we should all strive to live
So jam that revolving door in hopes our culture may start to win
This is from the inside out so the outside stop coming in

Disclaimer: The views in this article are those of the author. Prison Journalism Project has verified the writer’s identity and basic facts such as the names of institutions mentioned.

Drasticc is a writer and poet incarcerated in California.