Dear Visitor,

        As the curators of this archival collection, we believe it is our responsibility to notify  you of the difficult subjects that some narrators touch on in the archive. The stories of the formerly incarcerated visionaries featured in this archive discuss experiences with different forms of violence, including physical and sexual violence, racial violence, child abuse, intimate partner violence, and police violence. Though each recollection of harm is significant, these experiences are by no means exceptional. Rather, they demonstrate the brutal situations millions of people face daily——in prison and out. Thus, we ask you to do the challenging work of interpreting these violent encounters as distinct human experiences (with real, lasting consequences for every individual) and representations of an organized system of state-controlled or enabled violence. 

        While you should be prepared to encounter instances of violence in the archive, we urge you not to let them overshadow the stories of transformation, solidarity, joy, and organized movement building that accompany them. As you will see, the conditions of confinement did not prevent the people in this archive from creating expansive, powerful lives. Rather, these experiences of carceral violence informed the creation of life-affirming political projects grounded in shared struggles, sharpened political analyses, and enduring commitments to supporting community. These acts of resistance must be considered alongside the systemic forces that necessitated them, or we risk replicating the very violence we seek to dismantle. 

        We recognize that you may leave this archive caught between feelings of grief, rage, inspiration, and uncertainty. To bear witness to these stories is by no means a comfortable task. Though we aim to minimize harm, we recognize the political importance of witnessing and discomfort as catalysts for change. 

With gratitude,
The Movements Against Mass Incarceration Lab