APPENDIX
EXAMPLE OF A STORY WITH AN ALTERNATIVE RESOLUTION from Stealer of Diamonds
“Toward the Unreasonable” in The End Of Chiraq: A Literary Mixtape (2018) Page May & Nate Marshall Page: I met J when he was in fourth grade. He was a joyous kid with a contagious smile. After a long conversation about identity, family, and Chicago, I asked him what he thought justice was. At first, he couldn’t imagine justice without involving the police. He acknowledged a need for “better cops” but still articulated justice through a dependency on police and prisons. I decided to personalize the question for him. I asked what he would do if I stole something of his – like his favorite toy. What if he knew it was me, but I refused to admit it? I asked him what he would need to happen to feel like “justice was served.” J paused, his smile breaking for the first time. He said he wouldn’t call the cops. He said he would pester me, over and over until I admitted what I’d done and apologized. He added that I’d need to replace his toy. I asked if that was enough, since the “crime” was solved and his stuff was returned. He laughed. He said it wouldn’t be enough to just have his stuff back because I’d done more than taken his toy, I’d also broken our friendship. He went on saying he’d go on vacation to turn up with his family and that while he was having a great time and enjoying himself, I’d have to stay back and watch all of his valuables for him. I’d have to do this, take care of the things he most treasured, every day. And that he’d do this over and over until he trusted me again. He said justice would be complete when he could trust me again.
AGAINST PUNISHMENT
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PROJECT NIA