I left prison more than 20 years ago, but I’m still fighting for freedom. I carry with me not only my own story but also those of my justice-affected brothers and sisters. I share it all in the hope that I can touch people’s hearts and change their minds.
I served my time, but America’s promise of freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is not the lived reality for people like me. The collateral consequences experienced by formerly incarcerated individuals like me are not collateral at all; they are permanent punishments that bar us from fully participating in society.
I grew up in Chicago, and as a little girl, I navigated the realities of poverty, mental illness, a lack of resources and intergenerational trauma. I was looking for support and guidance wherever I could find it. Unfortunately, I found it in a gang that put me on a destructive path that ultimately led to prison. Looking back, I know that child needed prevention, intervention and support.
Unfortunately, for Black and brown communities, this is often how it works. Systemic inequities and overpolicing have created a disproportionate prison population. One of the largest injustices in our legal system is the sentencing disparity between crack and powdered cocaine.
At the peak of the so-called war on drugs, the sentencing disparity between crack and powdered cocaine was as high as 100 to 1, and it currently sits at 18 to 1. Here’s what that means: Possessing 1 gram of crack cocaine triggers the same mandatory minimum sentence that possessing 18 grams of powder cocaine does.
The vast majority of those serving time for crack offenses are Black. This disparity has led to some people essentially serving life sentences.
People who are incarcerated are separated from their families and miss out on opportunities to provide stability and support for the community. This is especially true for people who shouldn’t be in prison in the first place. There are too many fathers, uncles, brothers, mothers and sisters who have a good mind and a good heart and people who have worked hard to improve themselves and expand their capacity to care for their families and their communities — but they’re locked up because of this discriminatory law. And what’s worse is that we know this is happening, and it’s been happening for decades.
In 2018, we advocates took the first step toward righting these wrongs with the First Step Act. Spearheaded by Dream.org, a nonprofit focused on mass incarceration, and formerly incarcerated advocates like me, the First Step Act focuses on fair sentencing and opportunities for people to improve themselves while incarcerated. Five years later, we have data that shows laws like the First Step Act not only reduce sentencing disparities, but they also improve public safety. According to the latest First Step Act report, people released under the First Step Act were three times less likely to return to prison than others released from federal prison.
The implementation of the First Step Act was a critical moment, and now it’s time to take the next step on our path to justice. The proposed Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act would eliminate the sentencing differences between crack and powdered cocaine offenses and establish a 1-to-1 ratio. With passage of the EQUAL Act, we could start bringing people home to their communities and putting broken families back together. Punishment alone will never pave the way for progress or provide the necessary tools for individuals to rebuild their lives. The key lies in addressing root causes, investing in education and offering support to those who have been harmed.
As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin has the power to usher the EQUAL Act through his committee and do what’s right by our community and the city of Chicago. Passing this legislation isn’t just the right thing to do; it also has the potential to enhance public safety in Chicago.
As his constituent, I watched Durbin work alongside President Barack Obama’s administration to pass the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. I ask him to continue building on that legacy and act with the necessary urgency.
Lawmakers must resist the temptation to dismiss incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals and instead listen to their stories of pain, struggle and triumph that are so prevalent in marginalized communities. Each and every one of us has the opportunity to be successful when we’re given the chance. I’m living proof of that.
No matter how hard this fight seems, we can’t give up hope. Each of us has unique talents that can benefit society. We are all worthy of saving. Let us challenge the ingrained prejudices and stereotypes that hinder progress.
Only by joining forces and taking meaningful steps in the right direction can we bring about true change, ensuring equality, healing and a better future for all.
Celia Colón is a formerly incarcerated Chicagoan. She is an Emmy-nominated producer, Dream.org Empathy Network leader and the founder and CEO of Giving Others Dreams, a nonprofit led by justice-affected women.
Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.
