Dear friends, brothers, sisters, comrades, supporters, and family – last but not least.
I have been reluctant to talk about my eye problems. The reasons may have eluded some, but I explain that, you know, in the context of being in prison any sign of weakness is to be avoided at all costs. These are, unlike many other institutions in society, heavily male, and therefore “gender conscious” in a way that society is not. Weakness brings predation.
So, I kept it quiet. And I kept it quiet simply because I wrongly believed that once I got examined and once it was clear that this was a real visual contextual problem that I would get a rather quick response. Boy, was I wrong! I was, as the saying goes, as wrong as two left feet. What I got was evaluation after evaluation after evaluation after evaluation – literally.
It was only when I went outside and those prior evaluations were repeated by a noted ophthalmologist that the ball began to roll. And even then the ball rolled exceedingly slowly.
I have been, for all intents and purposes, unable to read, unable to write, unable to see anything more than the masthead of a newspaper and not even its headlines; blurry television burst of color. The “television” is my radio now.
I have been in that state for the better part of eight months and counting. I would never have guessed this, but this is where we are. And so, it took those kinds of conditions and the analysis of the evaluation I told you about, to move us, when we should have been moving quicker, earlier. I apologize for my delay.
I thank you for your patience, but our patience is nearing an end. We are working, we are moving and we are trying to resolve the situation and hope, hope that it is not too late. Seven months, eight months of being in the shadows and in the darkness, is eight months too many. With love, not fear, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Prison Radio.
Source: https://www.prisonradio.org/commentary/mumia-vision-message-to-the-movements/