Themes

There are several common threads throughout Jomo’s story that mark important themes in his life and work. These topics are crucial not only to understanding Jomo’s personal history, but are also significant to the events and tenor of the times. The issues of developing political consciousnesses, the influence of education, changing ideas and definitions of criminality, and strategies of organizing were central to the work of Jomo and his contemporaries. The features of prison culture and its link to the outside were (and continue to be) of great reciprocal influence as well– a complex relationship, both individual and societal, that the experiences of Jomo and others can help to decipher.

For more on the role of…

Political Consciousness & Influence

“Trying to recruit them into some kind of political consciousness,
where they would have some pride in themselves, vote,
believe that they could have an impact on changing things.”
(Elizabeth Gaynes)

Organizing & Education

“With education people grow and have the power, the ability to shape their own world.
But without it, when you incarcerate these juveniles, these young people, and you don’t provide
them with that content, education, resources, what have you condemned them to?” (Michael Tigar)

Prison Culture

“Most people don’t realize that when you in prison, you’re not confined
and shut off from everything that’s going on. Matter of fact, you get the
opportunity to actually see how the country operates.” (Jomo Davis)