Customer Reviews

Live from Death Row

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Growing up in Philadelphia I formed my negative opinions of Mumia and his case without ever having researched his history myself. However, after the most recent Free Mumia march in Philly, I felt obligated to look into the case that riled people into such a frenzy. What I found was a case based on shaky ground at best, making it a jewel for human right activists. However, I still was not convinced either way of Mumia's innocence or his guilt. I picked up Live From Death Row hoping to develop a more informed opinion, one that was supported by my own experience with Mumia's writing. Surprisingly however, I found that the book did not deal with Mumia's case at all and instead focused on the social injustices that are acted out in our prisons every day. Mumia's anecdotes were insightful and intelligent, leading the reader to keep flipping page after page. At the very least, the book was an educational review of life in prison and deep look into the soul of a death row inmate. While I finished the book no more enlightened on the Mumia innocence/guilt question than when I started, I got a well written snap shot of life on death row. Mumia's writing will keep your interest and his intelligence and love for life shine through.

I cant express in words how much this book spoke to me. There isnt a single person who should not read this book. Most people say "it tells of the conditions of our prison system" well it does that, but He says so much more. "Live From Death Row" is a tesament to the flaws of modern society, and as participants of that society we should under stand it. This book invokes understanding, as well as rage. I pity all those who havnt taken the time to take his words whole heartedly.

The essays that Mumia writes here offer the reader an insight in the criminal justice system that you could only see if you are inside it. When reading this essays,the reader gets the feeling of depression, isolation, sadness and of despair that any person on death row might be feeling. To me, anytime that a reader can feel the emotion of a story, the writer has achieved a point. Now whether or not you agree with the death penalty, I think that you should read this book. It will force you to think about you position and see it justice is really being served. The irony now is that someone else has finally come forward and admitted to the murder that Mumia was convicted of, but Mumia is still in a life or death battle to be freed. I think that the reader will enjoy this book and be overwhelmed by the emotion

Having read the book, I'd like to point out to the prior reviewer that the only time Abu-Jamal mentions his ongoing case at all in the book is in the last few pages, and only then does he describe--in a deliberately surreal manner--not who shot who but his abusive treatment by the police immediately afterwards. It was never proven he was beaten (officials say he merely "hit a pole,"), but it seems likely. An old newspaper article even refers to Abu-Jamal's brother--also at the scene of Faulkner's death--and how a newstand he worked at was burnt down. An anonymous police source said it was likely Philadelphia police were the cause of it being destroyed. Think I'm lying? The article is on the Daniel Faulkner website!

Philadelphia's police have had a more troubled past than any of Faulkner's supporters care to admit. Sometimes it seems that Abu-Jamal is the last one to remember that.

Abu-Jamal does go to great lengths in his first book to describe the world around him as he resides in Pennsylvania Death Row. As far as I know, no one has refuted his stories about the treatment of fellow prisoners, which most can easily see as inhumane. If there have been facts that contradict his inside view of the prison system, please let us know.

I would recomend Live From Death Row not for information on Abu-Jamal's case, but for the compelling stories he has to tell. Race For Justice is a book by Abu-Jamal's attorney, Leonard Weinglass. It's far more appropriate, but be warned that it's a lengthy read through several legal documents. Whether or not Daniel Faulner supporters will produce a similar book of their own is another story. In the spirit of free speech, it's one I'd like to see but doubt will ever happen.

This book is masterfully written. It paints the grim picture of America's prison community, while still maintaining the humanity of the men and women inside of it, and does a wonderful job of pointing out the flaws to the American Judicial System. I highly recommend this book to anyone even vaguely interested in the subject!

This is an incredible story--even if you are only remotely curious about how often injustice occurs in the legal system is in this country--and how it could be corrected, but yet, so corrupt, especially in regards to this case, is still occurring. How come we still have this journalist in prison? Mr. Abu-Jamal is the only political prisoner on death row in the United States. He is an incredible man with an incredible mind. His voice just... is so powerful in his story telling of other persons, guilty or not, in how they are abused in the lawless places that are the departments of "corrections" across this great country. It is crazy how much power the Fraternal Order of Police has in promoting an injustice. You'd think they were to Protect and Serve, not To Cover-up and Deceive.

How we treat all people, all beings, is a huge reflection of what our society is like.

A Case for Reasonable Doubt a DVD of the 60 Minutes show about Mumia's case. (A really good film!)

I've been getting most of my info from 2 organizations working to Free Mumia:

Refuse & Resist! and Partisan Defense Committee. My understanding of what Mumia really wants most is to get out of jail.

The organizations say the only way to accomplish this is by drawing International Media attention to the issues of his case.

I spoke to a woman this summer from Philadelphia who said; "They will never let Mumia out of jail!" My intention is not to convert anyone, insult ugly ignorance nor incite the worst case sceneio. My heart song is merely to connect like minded individuals, shedding some positive light and love, on the serious issues of racism, the death penalty and injustice; and hopefully getting media attention, highlighting the hundreds of millions of people around the world who care about Mumia's Freedom.

WHY IS THIS CASE SO IMPORTANT?
"The case of Mumia Abu-Jamal has become a battleground in society because it concentrates so many of the reactionary elements riding high in the US today - the criminalization of black men, the suppression of dissent, the expanded death penalty, the gutting of defendant's rights, and a whole political atmosphere of blame and punishment aimed at the most oppressed. This is a dangerous time for the people, and no time to think that the government will back off from killing Mumia because they are 'too busy' with other problems, their war on the world and the shredding of civil liberties. Mumia is one of their problems. His dissenting voice from Death Row is all the more precious to the people under the government's massive clampdown on dissent and opposition; when people are locked up secretly for having an Arabic name or coming from countries the US says are 'sponsoring terrorism'; when people are persecuted for refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag on command, or for protesting the war and occupation of Iraq."

WHAT IS NEEDED?
"To win justice for Mumia, and ultimately for all of us, we need a movement that is broad and diverse, because no one section of the people has the power to make this government back down. This requires the efforts of us all: Youth, black people, people of color and conscience, working people, celebrities, artists, the legal community, the movement against the death penalty, the anti-war movement and massive international pressure. When all these different forces come into action, determined to stop the execution, when Mumia's story and writings are in many different places, the tables become turned. This is what the government has to see and here, loud and clear." (Refuse & Resist!) Free Mumia!!!

I heard on NPR that all war is untimately about race. I feel just as passionate about ending racism as I do

Peace on Earth - I'm quite serious.

"For 22 years Mumia has lived, locked down, on death row in western Pennsylvania, under threat of death. He has never given up in despair or begged for a break. Mumia is a revolutionary journalist who has continued to write the truth from behind bars, inspiring a whole new generation of resistance - in this country and internationally. If Mumia is murdered by the state, he would be the first Black revolutionary legally executed for his political beliefs since the days of slavery. We cannot and must not let this happen."

Here are some websites where you can learn more:
[...]- You can hear Mumia's beautiful voice and radio show here!

....I enjoyed this book I read death blossoms previously...I enjoyed this book very much it made me so angry because I truly feel that he is in jail only for his political beliefs....but one thing I can say is that his spirit is not broken...and that is so beautiful....the main thing this book did was change my views on capital punishment at first I was all for it but those views changed I am now against it....free mumia!!!

This is a great book. I really made me think about the race relations between the races. I highly recomend this book. Also, people who gave this book one star do not know what they are talking about. They are people who know nothing about Mumia, and they probably never read the book.

As a vehement supporter of Mumia's freedom, I realize that perhaps I am not the best person to objectively review this book. But, from my standpoint, this is an extremely, extremely powerful work of literature. The vivid accounts or other prisoners' being violated are chilling and thought-provoking. And once he gets to himself, it only escalates in brilliance. This is a book to read at least once, supporter or not.