#FREEDP
POLITICS - Politics are far from my favorite subject to talk about, to write about, or even to just think about. I have never had an urge to be involved with politics. Recently I attended a conference in Nashville, Tennessee for Sports Reporting and I was encouraged by Andrew Maraniss, writer of Strong Inside and Michael Wallace of the Memphis Grizzlies to try to write about something else other than sports. I thought about it, and the first thing that came to my mind was my uncle, Derrin Perkins.
On December 6th, 1993, my uncle was sentenced to life without parole on conspiracy charges for distribution of crack cocaine in our hometown, Washington, D.C. I wasn't born when my uncle was arrested, I have no relationship with him other than through a phone call, but I look up to him as a role model. I'd always mess with my mother and talk like him, sometimes I try to dress like him, I even grew out my beard to try to look like him. He has made mistakes in his life but since I was a kid he always taught me things a father would teach their sons and he always had encouraging words. He never let me feel like he was in any type of uncomfortable situation.
I was raised in the same neighborhood my uncle grew up in, Quincy Place. Its never a day where I can walk around the neighborhood and not hear a story about my uncle. Never have I ever heard any negative story. It either a story from a woman boasting on his looks or a man telling what he and my uncle would do when he was home, things I wont mention in my first blog post.
One question I'm asked time after time "when Derrin coming home?" Before, my answer to that question, with very little confidence would always be "he be home soon, man. We praying, you know, he be home soon." All my life all I knew was that my uncle would be in jail forever. I never thought for a second that there was any chance of him being released from prison, and blessed with a second chance. A few years ago when my mother told me that my uncle had filed for a clemency petition.
The clemency and/or pardon is a reduction of sentence that is being served. A presidential pardon is an official statement directly from the president of forgiveness of the conviction of a non-violent federal drug charge.
I was ecstatic when I heard the news, my uncle was a clear cut candidate for be granted a pardon from the president. I gained so much confidence after learning more about the clemency bill. Every time we had a conversation, towards the end of our laughing, conversations about sports, or a girl I just met, I would always say " Uncle Derrin, when them peoples letting you out, man?" He'll reply with his famous chuckle and say "its 'bout that time huh? We got one more phase to go, man." Shortly after his comments he'd change the topic and take the concentration off of him, he'd say something like "but yeah, man, Sandra tell me how good you doing, nephew, I be glad to hear that."
Time started to go by, every month Obama, who was the president at he time, would grant pardons for hundreds of people. I'd always scroll through the lists of names and say to myself in disappointment, "where the hell is my uncle?" Unfortunately I never saw his name, but I never lost confidence.
Time was beginning to wind down for Barack Obama's presidency, and Donald Trump was on his way into office. My mother called me one evening while I was at school and told me that PBS was coming to our house in DC to interview our family about my uncle potentially being released from prison. That alone sent my confidence through the roof, I thought if we could get on TV and talk about him, that would help the process speed up and he would be home in no time.
I was wrong. My uncle was denied a presidential pardon and it hurt. It was so much pain. We were so close to having him home, I have yet to talk to him about being denied, I know for a fact he's keeping his head high, chest out, and all ten toes down, so I have to do the same. I cant lie, my confidence has been effected but my faith will never fail. I know that "DP be home soon."
"I will continue to fight for my freedom." - Derrin A. Perkins