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Steve Champion: an
analysis of an inmates writings
Excerpt from original
URL: http://www.pegasus.rutgers.edu/~gslong/steveie.html
Assignment:
Read a short story first
published after June 1999. Find at least two more short stories by
the same author. Analyze the most recent story using the insights
that you have gained about the writer by reading the other stories which
she or he has written.
Project:
Steve
Champion began writing short stories right after he discovered that he
was
to be put to death for
several crimes he had commited. This essay is being written
in the formatt of an
"interview," by the gLEAMChronicle, with Steve. I will ask
him questions, which
are what I believe to be Steve's purpose and meaning behind
his writings. Keep
in mind that we are in the dangerous surroundings of a prison
hall. So, anything can
happen!
The interview with Steve
G:
Good afternoon Steve.
S:
Hello
G:
What prison are we located in, here today?
S:
San Quentin prison, located in Los Angeles. I've been incarcerated
since the
age of 18.
G:
Today we would like to review a few of the short stories you have written.
S:
Sounds good to me.
G:
Hopefully we can learn the meaning behind some of your writings.
First,
let's talk about
The Faces I See.
S:
This story is about the real life of a Death Row yard.
G:
After I read this story, it seemed as though you wanted to mostly inform
the
outside people of
the harsh life they would encounter if they ever faced jail time.
S:
That was indeed one of my points to accomplish in this story.
G:
That wasn't the only point though. You also told the readers about
the harsh
images left on
inmates faces, as though they were terrified to be in the death yard.
From
these images, you
also established what a painful experience it was to look at these other
men's
faces.
S:
Thats true, an atmosphere full of bliss was not present at S.Q.
G:
Another story I'd like to discuss is When all is Said and Done.
S:
This story happens to be about a buddy of mine named Johnny Torres.
Johnny was a good
friend of mine on death row.
G:
From the story, we learn that you become close friends with Johnny.
S:
Yep.
G:
You eventually find out why he's in prison and how he also may be fighting
for his life.
S:
Yes, thats true.
G:
But, Johnny is being rushed through the system very quickly, which makes
you uneasy.
S:
Yeah, because Johnny got appointed a lawyer early, which usually doesn't
happen quickly.
So,
when I heard about this I began to teach Johnny how appeal his case.
G:
You were helping Johnny fend for his life?
S:
Yes I was.
G:
Were you maybe doing this to redeem some of the wrong things you have
done in life.
S:
I was helping Johnny to fix my regrets. I felt that I could fix,
in my mind,
some of the bad
bad things I had done by helping someone in a good way. You know,
correct a wrong with
a
right.
G:
So this story along with The Faces I see, are a little about your regrets,
and
how you attempt
to fix them.
S:
Yes they are.
G:
The last of your stories we would like to discuss is Execution Day.
S:
This happens to be one the first stories that I have written.
G:
This story is also about an inmate's life on death row. It too seems
as though
you wrote this
to warn people of the harsh life in prison.
S:
I'd like all people to know that prison life is hell. Hopefully my
writings will
change a few lives.
I'd sure hope to think that they would help keep a few lives away from
the
life of prison.
G:
Steve, thank you for answering the questions we asked you about you life
in
prison writings.
Your answers helped show what the meaning behind your short stories was.
S:
It was no problem at all. You have a good day and............Look
out behind you!!!
Excerpt from original
URL: http://www.pegasus.rutgers.edu/~gslong/steveie.html
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