Author Archives: Danielle Alberti

Hi Amy. I just saw your Brent Brents story on Paula Zahn. I get it. I am a teacher at a Texas state prison (20 years) I appreciate your research, bravery in sharing, and dedication to the -real- problem… the destruction of potentially socially valuable human beings. …and they all ARE human beings. I realize, as the forensic psych on the show pointed out (that is too often pointed out without eye for a remedy) that many people are horribly as children but do not become sociopaths. But many do.

And of those, many are bright, have an ability to engage (use it to induce victims) and have other valuable qualities that make me wonder what they -could- have contributed. Truman Capote said of Perry Smith that it’s as if the two of them grew up in the same house, and he went out the front door, and Perry went out the back door. Hopefully, the cycle can be stopped, but when the trauma does occur, how do we get them out the front door? So few can see beyond the horrific deed, or get the opportunity. I am so glad you realized the knowledge that could be gained by insight into the person of Brent Brents, and how he evolved, the courage and heart to do so and to continue in the face of criticism, and for sharing your experience. I completely understand the viewpoints of the victims, but even more reason to look at prevention. Your point was well made. Thanks again. MUCH respect….
Cindy Campbell.

My classrooms are 3 hours long, with 14 to 25 inmates, 5 days a week, and many guys are in my class for years. The curriculum is basically whatever a teacher -chooses- to teach, so the basic academics are covered, but I allow much time for general discussion and group and one-on-one conversation. I have been fairly successful, and have found that academic success comes fairly naturally when the student/inmate/man/boy realizes he is heard and valued. Many for the first time in their lives. I’ve taught guys of all ages, but last October I was given a new position: Each class (still 3 hrs long) consists of 10 to 14 young men (boys, to me) that age from 16 to 21 years old. Many have been locked up their entire lives, like Brents. This has been a new challenge for me… I have wracked my mind and heart on what I can tell them, what I can share with them, how to help them see their self-worth, know they are worthy and capable of a fulfulling life, to help them learn to -feel-, that they are not and don’t have to be who they have been led to believe they are. These are salvageable men! There is a wasteland of smart, intuitive, valuable souls out in our world wasting away in a world of pain and hurting others as a side-effect. Your website and the words of Brents will be an invaluable resource for me. I was only able to glance, but will be studying it (website) thoroughly.

I DO want Brent Brents to know that his self-search, discovery, and SHARING will certainly have a very positive impact on many of them. I believe he will be saving lives.

I also serously thought about quitting the prison system this summer, but this story alone, yours and his has renewed and verified my feeling of purpose.

Thanks again, and please thank Brents on behalf of the young men who will benefit.
Cindy Campbell

This is a post from Ellen, whose story is featured in the book. She lost a daughter, and in her grief and despair, turned to her religion for comfort. In doing so, she promised God that she would pray for someone, and that someone ended up being Brent. They began to write. To this day, they still do, and this is Ellen explaining that dynamic.

Who we are is not just a reflection of our past, but who we have become.  I would like to show the Brent that I know.  Brent has been a true friend and like a brother to me.  He honestly has been there for me since day one.  He could see that I was hurting and not dealing with life, when I wouldn’t even acknowledge that there was a problem.  He helped me see that I needed to grieve and that it was alright to do so – and he did this at a time when he at the lowest point of life emotionally himself. People have said he is incapable of compassion, but I find that statement to be incorrect.  He has always been compassionate, patient and caring toward me. He has never once tried to use me in any way, which honestly, I truly thought he would when I first decided to correspond with him.  Being there for me probably was not easy for him considering that most people abandoned him in life.  Trust in people is very hard for him, and understandably so.  So for Brent to try to be a friend to me was actually a great risk on his part, but he did do it.  The Brent I know puts his faith in God, reads the Bible daily, has deep regret for the pain he has caused others and lives for God and to help others.

God did not create anything “bad” or “evil”.  Evil happens when we walk away from God, because then we are walking away from love and goodness.  Evil is simply an absence of God.  Once God is put back into one’s life, goodness and love also will come back into a person’s life. How do I see Brent?  When I first knew him, he was simply someone that I felt needed help. Now, I see Brent as a child of God, a friend and like a brother to myself, someone who has helped me tremendously, has stood by my side even when I’ve been wrong (and wasn’t afraid to tell me so) and someone that I’ve seen God works through time and time again.

Ellen

I love NPR. And one of the 217 reasons why started airing this week, a series about prostitution in Nashville. Once again, it exposes the links between rape, sexual abuse and prostitution. Read on:

Ms. BECCA STEVENS (Founder, Magdalene): I have never met a woman in 20 years coming off the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, who has not been raped. I have never met a woman coming off the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, that, you know, chose prostitution as their preferred career at the age of six, seven, eight and nine. Never met a woman coming off the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, who had a penny to her name. And I never met a woman coming off the streets of Nashville, Tennessee, who hadn’t seen the inside of prison walls, the short side of all the justice we have to offer and the underside of bridges.

And those are girls that started out, you know, a lot of them, you know, maybe it’s a strip club, maybe it’s going as an escort with a doctor. But, you know, the circumstances and some of the choices have led to a really dangerous and hellish lifestyle.

A rape survivor wrote a blog entry on the excellent website “Feministing,” marking with painful irony the anniversary of her assault. And she succinctly summed up the ongoing injustice regarding rape in this country:

While there are some amazing organizations out there aimed at various issues involving rape culture, there is a massively gaping hole in which the majority of society’s disinterest falls into. There is a blurry line between being apathetic and being a bystander to injustices.