- Kemba Smith
- went from student to inmate #26370-083
- Was the only child
- Narrator
- first-time, non-violent drug offender serving 24 and 1/2 years
- Became 'poster child' for harsh mandatory minimum sentencing
- boyfriend sold drugs
- she got caught up
- President Clinton freed her
- had minor roles in a crack conspiracy
- got out of prison at 29
- graduate from Virginia University with honors
- had her baby while incarcerated
- had first child at age 23 locked up
- she pleaded guilty
- Blanche , her nurse was so nice
- Naturally petite
- youthful face
- Turned herself on September 1, 1994
- Darnell her boyfriend before Khalif
- Started to turn against her parents because of Khalif
- Katiya, Kemba's friend who had sex with her boyfriend
- she understood the drug dealer lifestyle
- she dated hustlers
- she loved him
- Khalif
- drug dealer
- Kemba's boyfriend
- cheated on her with her bestfriend
- abused Kemba
- a fugitive
- wanted for a lot of crimes
- Spoiled Kemba
- "I didn't want to hurt you. I just had teach you a lesson"(Smith)
- Born in Jamaica
- Controlling, has rules for Kemba Smith
- Someone broke into his home
- Shayne Khalif's brother
- Her mom and dad (Mr and Mrs. Smith)
- her mom was grateful to be able to see her deliver
- her dad's name is Gus wants the best for her
- always provided the best for Kemba
- Lieutenant Lewis
- Tall
- Brown-skinned man
- Early Forties
- He was humorous
- nice to Kemba
- He cared about her safety and what she wanted and needed
- Kemda's first lawyer
- Didn't know what he was doing
- let her down
- he told her to pleaded guilty
- made her so many false promises
- "war on drugs"
- Poster child
- mandatory minimum sentencing
- Crack
- shackles
- prisons
Identify words or phrases that have a special meaning.
- poster child
- "girlfriend cases"
- Freedom
Discuss how the characters respond to their communities and/or change in their environment. What is the main character's flaw?
- Kemba smith responded to her community, in a way that got her into trouble. Her flaw was falling in love with a man that was no good for her, he beat her and abused her. Her flaw was not using her brain as well as not understanding that you are a criminal through association.
Identify the setting - country, tribe, city, state, time period.
- Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, Virginia
- Richmond, Virginia
- 1993-1994+
Bring a question.
- Why did Kemba Smith get in trouble for not really doing anything? Is the system set up to let Blacks fail?
My notes: In chapters 1-7, Kemba was drawn into the wrong crowd. Her lawyer didn't really help her in fact he may have hurt her. I read this for my paper although, I didn't use it though but I learned more about mandatory minimum sentencing and the power that a man can have over you if you give it to them.
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