The following parable is reprinted from Black Voices

The following parable is reprinted from Black Voices in Prison (see p. 120)—the remarkable collection of writing, autobiographical testaments, and other forms of expression by inmates of Indiana State Prison, compiled by the black poet Etheridge Knight. The only biographical information available about Joe Martinez is the fact that he is a Black prisoner at Indiana State Prison.

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 Rehabilitation and Treatment  

 The convict strolled into the prison administration building to get assistance and counseling for his personal problems. Just inside the main door were several other doors, proclaiming: Parole, Counselor, Chaplain, Doctor, Teacher, Correction, and Therapist.

The convict chose the door marked Correction, inside of which were two other doors: Custody and Treatment. He chose Treatment, and was confronted with two more doors, Juvenile and Adult. He chose the proper door and again was faced with two doors: Previous Offender and First Offender. Once more he walked through the proper door, and, again, two doors: Democrat and Republican. He was a Democrat; and so he hurried through the appropriate door and ran smack into two more doors; Black and White. He was black; and so he walked through that door—and fell nine stories to the street.