Growing up, I had a family member who was incarcerated.
He wrote to us often. Every year, I received a birthday card from him with a detailed drawing of a Disney character. And one of my parents often chatted with him over the phone and wired him money.
When he was diagnosed with Valley Fever (as a result of his incarceration), I followed up with his medical and legal cases. Despite his literal seclusion from us, I felt close to him.
Much later, my parent mentioned to me that they had been harmed by this family member and it had been unaddressed (in other words, he was incarcerated for a different issue).
I was confused. How could you provide such intentional support and care for someone who had harmed? But in doing so, my parent taught me a lesson that has stayed with me forever and is now ingrained in the fabric of my life.
Everyone deserves care, love, and support even and especially those who are seemingly undeserving of it.
Jamila Cervantes is a community lead with Buddy2Buddy Southeast Los Angeles, a public health practitioner, and prison abolitionist in training.
