Pen Pal
“Tiyo Attallah Salah-El's exemplary life (without parole) is testament to the human spirit and the cause of abolition... Inspiring.”
—David Gilbert, Black Agenda Report“Between the lines, these letters attest to the transcendence of inner freedom; the poignance of love amidst despair; and the triumph of atonement.”
—Connie Rice“Remarkable.”
—Harry Belafonte“A knockout.”
—Paul Laverty“One hell of an entertaining read.”
—Dave Zirinabout the book
Tiyo Attallah Salah-El died in 2018 on "Slow Death Row" while serving a life sentence in a Pennsylvania prison. He was a man with a dizzying array of talents and vocations: author, scholar, teacher, musician, and activist: he was the founder of the Coalition for the Abolition of Prisons. He was also, as is apparent from the letters written over a decade and half to his friend Paul Alan Smith that make up this book, an extraordinarily eloquent correspondent.
Tiyo's missives present a vivid picture of the tribulations faced by those incarcerated, especially the nearly 60% who are non-white: habitual racism, arbitrary lockdowns, brutal beatings and hospitalizations, stifling heat and bitter cold. Here too are descriptions of Tiyo's individual struggles with cancer, aging, and the sirens of personal demons.
Tiyo's refusal to succumb to such hardships is evident in dispatches that are generous, philosophical and often laugh-out-loud funny. Through them we learn of his many friendships, including those with the historian Howard Zinn, a range of activist/advocate supporters on the outside, and two fellow people in prison who were leaders of the Black liberation group MOVE.
At a time when the appalling racial bias of America's police and criminal justice system is under the spotlight as never before, Pen Pal is both a vital intervention and moving portrait of someone whose physical confinement could never extinguish an extraordinary free spirit.
"Shocking and poignant". - Nomi Prins
About The Author / Editor
Read An Excerpt
Feb. 25th, 2004
Dear Mr. Paul Alan Smith,
Thank you for your letter and special thanks to you for being a good friend of Howard Zinn. Howard and I have been close friends beginning in 1982. He helped me complete my Master's degree in Poli Sci. He is one of the most amazing men I've met during my 72 years on this good earth. He came to visit me at this prison and also wrote about me in one of his many books, viz. You Can't be Neutral on a Moving Train. I love him muchly. He takes excellent care of me. I shall contact him and inform him regarding your interesting, informative and delightful letter!
I thought it best to send some materials to help with introducing myself. Should you have questions or the need for specific personal information I'll be happy to respond.
At present, I am inundated with legal actions in both State and Federal courts, Re: prisoners being forced to give blood to be stored in a DNA bank for future checks/investigations. I'm also trying to SAVE some men and women on death row. I am housed on what is called "slow death row", e.g. "life sentence". Two brothers of the MOVE Organization are here with me, along with 72 other black, white, and Latino men. *There are over 2,000 men at this prison. I'm also trying to help "lifers" in the state of PA (in PA "life" means just that, LIFE!) In the meantime, I try to relax by listening to, writing and playing music.
My friends such as Howard Zinn, Monty Neill, Bev & Wally Williams, Mecke Nagel, (see enclosed materials Re: these good people), send books, money for typing paper, pens, typewriter, radio, sax, keyboard, etc., but most of all, they send incessant strong love and inspiration. Without such support I would have been completely lost or dead. I invite you to contact each of the above mentioned people.
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Pen Pal
“Tiyo Attallah Salah-El's exemplary life (without parole) is testament to the human spirit and the cause of abolition... Inspiring.”
—David Gilbert, Black Agenda Report“Between the lines, these letters attest to the transcendence of inner freedom; the poignance of love amidst despair; and the triumph of atonement.”
—Connie Rice“Remarkable.”
—Harry Belafonte“A knockout.”
—Paul Laverty“One hell of an entertaining read.”
—Dave Zirinabout the book
Tiyo Attallah Salah-El died in 2018 on "Slow Death Row" while serving a life sentence in a Pennsylvania prison. He was a man with a dizzying array of talents and vocations: author, scholar, teacher, musician, and activist: he was the founder of the Coalition for the Abolition of Prisons. He was also, as is apparent from the letters written over a decade and half to his friend Paul Alan Smith that make up this book, an extraordinarily eloquent correspondent.
Tiyo's missives present a vivid picture of the tribulations faced by those incarcerated, especially the nearly 60% who are non-white: habitual racism, arbitrary lockdowns, brutal beatings and hospitalizations, stifling heat and bitter cold. Here too are descriptions of Tiyo's individual struggles with cancer, aging, and the sirens of personal demons.
Tiyo's refusal to succumb to such hardships is evident in dispatches that are generous, philosophical and often laugh-out-loud funny. Through them we learn of his many friendships, including those with the historian Howard Zinn, a range of activist/advocate supporters on the outside, and two fellow people in prison who were leaders of the Black liberation group MOVE.
At a time when the appalling racial bias of America's police and criminal justice system is under the spotlight as never before, Pen Pal is both a vital intervention and moving portrait of someone whose physical confinement could never extinguish an extraordinary free spirit.
"Shocking and poignant". - Nomi Prins
About The Author / Editor
Read An Excerpt
Feb. 25th, 2004
Dear Mr. Paul Alan Smith,
Thank you for your letter and special thanks to you for being a good friend of Howard Zinn. Howard and I have been close friends beginning in 1982. He helped me complete my Master's degree in Poli Sci. He is one of the most amazing men I've met during my 72 years on this good earth. He came to visit me at this prison and also wrote about me in one of his many books, viz. You Can't be Neutral on a Moving Train. I love him muchly. He takes excellent care of me. I shall contact him and inform him regarding your interesting, informative and delightful letter!
I thought it best to send some materials to help with introducing myself. Should you have questions or the need for specific personal information I'll be happy to respond.
At present, I am inundated with legal actions in both State and Federal courts, Re: prisoners being forced to give blood to be stored in a DNA bank for future checks/investigations. I'm also trying to SAVE some men and women on death row. I am housed on what is called "slow death row", e.g. "life sentence". Two brothers of the MOVE Organization are here with me, along with 72 other black, white, and Latino men. *There are over 2,000 men at this prison. I'm also trying to help "lifers" in the state of PA (in PA "life" means just that, LIFE!) In the meantime, I try to relax by listening to, writing and playing music.
My friends such as Howard Zinn, Monty Neill, Bev & Wally Williams, Mecke Nagel, (see enclosed materials Re: these good people), send books, money for typing paper, pens, typewriter, radio, sax, keyboard, etc., but most of all, they send incessant strong love and inspiration. Without such support I would have been completely lost or dead. I invite you to contact each of the above mentioned people.