By Ava Pariente, Year 11
Dear Mr Reams,
I’m sorry. That’s the first thing that comes to my mind when I think of you. When I think of your story, your family and your life. I wish I could give you true comfort, but hopefully this letter brings you a little of it.
Your story is clearly a whirlwind of emotions, injustice, and pain. In life my goal is to be a lawyer, public or private, and help people like you. I want to fight the unjust system, and I want everyone to have a voice. We see more and more cases where racism is a major factor in imprisonment and you are one of them. Your courageous efforts stand out to me immensely. Your determination to maintain the innocence that you have in this case is so deeply admirable. Between your willpower to fight for yourself, and your ways of expressing yourself through your artwork, I think it is safe to say that you are an extraordinary man.
Your artwork brings me chills and makes me rethink everything. Discovering hidden meanings behind each and every piece rattles me, as a simple painting/drawing can mean so much more than what we see at first glance. One that will forever stick in my mind is ‘The Boy’, due to its power. Even though we don’t see this physically, this is what the justice system in America makes people feel like. The immense amount of detail strikes you, for example how skinny the boy is, and his crooked teeth. So much is expressed in a drawing, and it gives you a slap, as if saying ‘wake up and look what’s happening!’. This artwork contains so many messages, and yet not one word. It stuns you.
Kenneth, you have fought against racism, white domination, and an unjust system of justice since day one. That is no easy feat, and it is something no one else could have done in the same way as you have. As you fight on and on I wish you luck on your journey, and I hope you know that even as a 15-year-old, your case and your bravery has touched me in a way that is inexplicable. I will never forget this case and you.
Wishing you luck,
Ava
