November 16, 2024 • 20 mins
What if the emotional turmoil of incarceration didn't just end with the individual behind bars? In my latest episode, we bring you the gripping stories of Taj Mahon-Haft, a sociologist turned advocate, and Christa Roseboro, a mother navigating the heartache of having a son in prison. Taj's transformative journey from his own unexpected incarceration to co-founding the Humanization Project is nothing short of inspiring. Together with Christa, they offer a powerful perspective on the need to humanize those affected by the justice system. From dismantling stereotypes to emphasizing personal stories as catalysts for legislative change, their insights are a call to action for empathy and understanding in prison reform.
Join us as we unpack initiatives like the Calls from Home radio program, which strengthens connections between incarcerated individuals and their families. Taj passionately discusses the overlooked challenges faced by women in prison and the importance of advocating for their support. Meanwhile, Christa shares the emotional ripple effects of her son Devon's incarceration, shedding light on the broader impact on families and communities. This heartfelt exchange serves as a reminder of the importance of open dialogue and unwavering support for loved ones during their darkest moments. Prepare to be moved and motivated to recognize the personhood of incarcerated individuals in your own advocacy efforts.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
chuck (00:10):
Hey, welcome back to another episode of let's Just
Talk About it podcast.
I'm your host, chuck, and ifyou're here for the first time,
this platform was created togive genuine people just like
you an opportunity to share aportion of your life's journey.
So, with that being said, todayon this episode, I have Taj
Mahon-Haft and returning guestChrista Roseboro here to talk
about the ongoing fight ofprison reform.
(00:32):
So if you know anyone who'sincarcerated, this is valuable
information to understand theimportance of advocating for
valuable human beings who arestill incarcerated.
As a matter of fact, do me afavor Go and grab your husband,
your wife, your children, oreven call a friend and gather
around to listen to thisconversation with Krista and Taj
on let's Just Talk About itpodcast.
(00:54):
Hey, let's jump right in.
Today.
I have Mr Taj Mahon-Haft onwith us today and returning
guest Ms Christa Roseboro onwith us today just to talk about
advocacy for prison reform.
So thank you, guys for being apart of this episode.
Christa Roseboro (01:15):
Thanks for the invite.
chuck (01:17):
Absolutely, and thank you for having me Chuck.
Absolutely, absolutely.
I love to jump right in to myinterviews to have those genuine
conversations with genuinepeople like yourselves.
And, as I stated before, taj,you are an advocate for prison
reform.
So how did you get to thatplace?
Taj Mahon-Haft (01:36):
I got here because I can't stand to see
people suffer, and the justicesystem in America, and
particularly in Virginia, isfull of human suffering that is
unnecessary.
But it's been a long path to getthere to this particular point.
I was a sociologist.
(01:57):
I am a sociologist by trainingand I was teaching and educating
on this subject and suddenlyfound myself incarcerated
unexpectedly, and in the endthat led to the opportunity to
form our organization, theHumanization Project, co-founded
with my now wife, theincredible Jen Carter, while I
(02:17):
was still inside and she was outhere, and in doing so we've
been really blessed to beinvited to be part of the reform
community in Virginia and bepart of a lot of events,
educational, research andlegislative efforts and in the
process got to know just so manyincredible people who just do
not fit stereotypes andassumptions when it comes to
(02:40):
somebody with a conviction oranything like that, and so
that's that's really how I cameto be.
The advocate I am today isbecause not only did I care
about it in principle before,but so many people, some of the
very best people I've ever metin my life the smartest, the
most driven, the most ethical,the most moral people are people
who are still in prison and 30years ago have had a conviction
(03:03):
for something that sounds reallyterrible but does not represent
who they are today as a person,and I can agree with what
you're talking about because memyself, I have done, you know,
prison time before.
chuck (03:17):
I did seven years and eight months in the Virginia
system.
And you're absolutely right.
There's some amazing people inthe system today and if they had
another chance right now youwould never, ever see them again
.
But they just can't get out toprove who they really are.
You know what I'm saying, so Iunderstand.
Yep, ms Krista, we had aninterview together.
(03:37):
You have a son who'sincarcerated right now and you
understand the feelings that goalong with being incarcerated,
because you, you know it's justlike you, you there with your
son, correct?
Christa Roseboro (03:50):
every day.
You know Devon Hall, hopefullypeople remember the interview um
, he is still incarcerated.
He at this point is now in thesingle digits, at least thank
god for that, and we're tryingstill to see what we can do to
work on getting him home.
chuck (04:06):
Got you.
Wow, shout out to Devon.
Good guy, good guy, good guy.
Taj.
Talk about some of the programsthat people can I know you
mentioned it, but talk aboutwhat do you do in terms of those
programs.
How do you go about advocatingthe?
Taj Mahon-Haft (04:24):
ultimate answer to that question, chuck, is
humanization.
The thing is, if everybody knewDevon and Antoine and Mike and
Kelly the way that I know, devonand Antoine and Mike and Kelly,
then everybody would wantjustice reform the way I do,
because they would see thatnobody is the worst moment of
(04:45):
their life forever.
Nobody should ever be definedthat way and also all of us are
human beings beyond whateverthat worst moment was.
So it's real easy to hate theword felon or convict or
murderer or rapist or robber,but those are just terms that
are inherently negative.
Nobody is just that big.
Everybody is also a mother, afather, a sister, a brother, a
(05:06):
friend, a partner, a parent, Allthese other things, an artist,
a writer, a scholar, whateverthe case may be, a leader, a
teacher, a pastor.
And so when we focus and I sayhumanization because when we
focus on that, and that's whatwe do at Advocacy we bring our
voices, our human experiences,our human selves in three
dimensions to the conversations,because it's closest to the
(05:28):
problem, closest to the solution.
Those of us who live theexperience of being impacted by
the justice system, bothincarcerated ourselves, formally
, and our loved ones, weunderstand what this is really
about in human terms, about inhuman terms.
And if we can get that to bethe way we talk about this on
human terms, then we'll get pastall the politics and all the BS
(05:48):
and we'll get to humanepolicies.
And so that's what we do.
We bring our voices, ourexperiences to every opportunity
we can so that people hear that.
From that perspective, Right.
chuck (05:58):
Do you see any progress or is it a struggle sometimes to
get things done or get billspassed?
Taj Mahon-Haft (06:04):
Is it a struggle sometimes to get things done or
get bills passed?
Both, both is the answer tothat.
We had great moments ofprogress and I'm going to give a
shout out to Krista and herwhole entire family, essie and
Devon and everybody.
They showed up for an event wehad in Roanoke.
Well, devon didn't show up, hewas there in spirit and we all
shouted him out.
(06:25):
But anyway, they showed up foran event we had at Roanoke and
we spoke.
We had legislators there, wehad the chief of police there,
we had elected officials,nonprofit leaders, all sorts of
community members all there,hearing the voices of people who
are impacted, our humanity andour staying connected and all of
(06:48):
these issues.
And everybody had a differentway of thinking about it
afterwards.
And so we see progress there.
We also see progress.
Uh, earned sentence credit hasaka good time has been expanded
and finally, the final versionof expansion happened this
summer and virginia's prisonpopulation went down 3.7 percent
in one day and is going tocontinue to do so.
Uh, move downwards, uh, and sowe we're actually leading the
(07:09):
nation in decarceration invirginia right now, like that's
unheard of in the former capitalof the confederacy so we see
progress right, but it also werun headfirst into, you know,
when we try to go even furtherand and give you know, more
opportunities for people whohave even longer sentences, even
more severe sentences thatdon't represent their character.
(07:30):
Um, we ran into people justdehumanizing, talking about
people as if they were animalsand talking about people as if
they only existed in this worstmoment of their life, and and
that was done from from otherleadership positions I will, uh,
you know, there is I don't wantto get into who said what?
It's not the point here, but sothere are still people in that
(07:51):
kind of old fashioned lock themup, throw away the key.
They're all terrible, racist,you know, dog whistling mindset
of the 90s, whereas there's alsoa lot of people and I would say
the majority now are startingto get this hey, we're human
beings.
So it's kind of a mixed bagyeah.
chuck (08:08):
So, miss Christy, you want to talk about like your
part that you play.
I know he mentioned it, but youknow your heart and have an
advocacy for people who areincarcerated being that I'm
personally impacted as far as mysons which means that my family
, we're all impacted.
Christa Roseboro (08:25):
we write, we advocate and I'm no ways on the
level of Taj.
He's amazing.
I went to a program that he had, which is why I'm glad that
you're having him on and Ipromise you, as they spoke, I
watched the film.
They had me in tears the wholetime.
I internalized that wholeprogram.
It's that powerful, thatemotional.
chuck (08:45):
What was on that film that had you emotional?
Christa Roseboro (08:49):
So it spoke on , for example, and this lady she
happened to be there that dayas well, speaking, and she was
saying that she married agentleman that was in prison
they went forth, they were doingeverything to try to get him
home when he was told, I guess,that he was given life, he was
not coming home.
She still supports him, shestill advocates for him.
(09:09):
I can't tell you her name, I'msure Taj can, gotcha but she is
full-blown going for him becauseshe understands that, as he
says, he is a person he made amistake.
Give him a chance.
I saw this throughout that filmfilm they talked to the actual
prisoners where they were sayinghow they were waiting for
(09:30):
visitors and all of a suddenvisitors were told no, the
different things going on thatwere.
That was really just painful tohear how they're actually
suffering from the inside.
When you think of it like toddgives it to you that they are
people, not animals absolutelyright.
When you realize that you aredealing with humans and family
members, then you might thinkabout it different.
(09:51):
Just don't think that this isjust a number.
They're not numbers, they'repeople, and so that to me I
don't give the advocacy like Ishould, and I promise you, when
Devon comes home I'm still goingto try to get more involved.
That's why I decided to comefrom North Carolina, go to
Virginia, listen to Taj'sprogram and I'm glad I did in
hope that he gets it out toeverybody because it's that
(10:13):
impactful.
chuck (10:14):
You are advocating, you know you have a son.
You are doing a job.
Christa Roseboro (10:18):
You might not be on a big stage.
chuck (10:21):
but you are Correct, Taj, she is doing it.
Taj Mahon-Haft (10:30):
Not only is she doing it, her voice and man, her
mom spoke at that event, yeah,and her mom's voice and Devon's
voice.
But I will say, like, thismovement doesn't happen without
the voices of the mothers,people.
So all I, the only thing I do,is organize some people and have
some conversations with somepeople.
It's it's her voice, it's herfamily's voice, it's the voices
of so many families and andincredible people behind bars.
(10:50):
That's what gives this, themovement, strength.
chuck (10:53):
Like they're that all we're doing is being a conduit
yeah, those parents and so forthare there standing for their
children.
So how can people reach out toyou, man, to get involved with
what you're doing?
How can they help?
Taj Mahon-Haft (11:07):
So we always need we always need more voices
of people who want to speak onthese issues.
It doesn't have to be all thetime.
Just, you know, this is aparticular aspect of it that I'm
particularly passionate aboutor that I experienced my loved
one.
Experience, so you can reachout to us the humanization
project, the humanizationproject on Facebook.
(11:27):
And experience, so you canreach out to us.
Uh, the humanization project,the humanization project on
Facebook and Instagram.
We'll always catch up with youthat way or info at the
humanization projectorg, um, andwe will be happy to be in touch
or even just email me directly.
Taj T-A-J.
At the humanization projectorg,we got a great team of people.
We're really trying to get ourvoices out there.
chuck (11:48):
Right, right, I was about to ask you about your team.
You know, do you have a team oryou just do it by yourself, but
you have a team that helps youwith the workload of it.
Man, it has to be a lot to do,man.
You have to be in certainplaces and you know to push for
advocacy man, we would love thatuh we actually right now uh,
(12:15):
yeah, so until december 4th wehave a triple match.
Taj Mahon-Haft (12:19):
Uh, somebody has been so generous and their
company is matching them tomatch whatever we get for the
next couple weeks, so that wouldbe incredibly helpful.
We operate on a shoestringbudget.
I drive my uh, 13 year oldhonda fit with 100 well over 100
000 miles all over the statewith good gas mileage, trying to
eat in subway because and I'mbeing human here because I'm a
(12:41):
returning citizen myself wedon't have any resources.
What we have is passion and ourvoices and so every dollar goes
a long way, but we got to getthere.
We got to be able to be in theroom to have these conversations
and bring our voices to people.
So, yeah, I mean anythinganybody can contribute would not
only be matched the next coupleof weeks, it would be greatly
appreciated and helped.
chuck (13:00):
Wow, so you say you drive all over the state doing yeah,
that's deep man, you got to haveheart to do it.
And that's the thing I alwayssay when you are incarcerated
and you come out.
There's a different passionthat people have.
You know what I mean.
They got to drive and they wantto do better.
We want to do better.
So, yeah, that heart.
(13:21):
So I appreciate the work thatyou do, man.
It takes a lot.
Taj Mahon-Haft (13:25):
Yeah, likewise I'll say like it's about loving
somebody.
Same way, Christa loves Devonand that's what drives her to be
an advocate.
Having spent 10 years in there,I love.
I made real friends.
I have people I love behindbars.
I can't not fight for them.
Christa Roseboro (13:44):
Devon says that as well, that he sees
himself being an advocate forpeople on the inside because he
sees what happens, what they gothrough.
When you heard the young man,it was two young men he had on
the panel and a lady that does ashout-out program for the
gentlemen that are in prison.
Todd, if you want to give herinformation, possibly, so
somebody might be able to reachout and just say hello so they
(14:05):
can hear voices from the outside.
Taj Mahon-Haft (14:07):
Yeah, so that's Teddy Weimer.
She is the general manager andalso does the actual DJ work for
the Calls from Home radioprogram.
That's a little communitystation does?
(14:40):
It's amazing and Teddy'sincredible.
So it's Monday evenings.
You call them from seven tonine and you leave a recording
and they play it and the guysget to hear it.
That is mostly guys, but it's agood way to send a lifeline,
send a shout and or even justask them to play something that
somebody's going to hear,because dudes up in the
mountains like that, most ofthem I mean, let's be real, most
(15:00):
of them are not from themountains and they're not trying
to hear country music, which iswhat's on the radio right there
, um, and it's nothing wrongwith that.
But you know, a taste of home,a taste of of a shout out from
somebody you love and a songthat you recognize matters, and
so that's what that station'sdoing and they're just trying to
create more connection and so Idefinitely encourage everybody
to.
You know somebody up in thosemountains call calls from home,
(15:22):
give a shout out and send somelove.
chuck (15:25):
I like that.
So what about the women inprison?
Taj Mahon-Haft (15:28):
Yeah, that's a thing.
There is not actually a.
There's only a couple women'sprisons in Virginia, thank
goodness, but they are not inthat area so they can't hear
that radio station.
So in that case, I would justsay, step up and just send love,
be it on the phone, on an email, whatever it is If you have a
woman that you know that isbehind bars.
(15:49):
Because I'll tell you, this issomething that women don't get
enough attention in this space.
There is a growing portion ofwomen behind bars and I'm just
gonna be straight up guys do notdo a good job of sticking with
and supporting women in theirlives when they're behind bars,
the way that women do for themen who go away, and that is not
equal and that is not right,and I'm just gonna call out our
(16:10):
own people for that.
Uh, we gotta do better that.
So, if you know a woman behindbars, send her some love.
chuck (16:14):
Yeah, that's the fact In whatever form.
Let her know you care, we'reall human.
Yeah, any last remarks thatanybody wants to give Ms Krista,
you want to say anything inregards to what we're talking
about in terms of advocacybefore we go?
Christa Roseboro (16:28):
I just want to say shout out to you, shout out
, shout out to you, shout out toTaj and the other people that
are also having to deal withthis situation.
It takes strong people and yougot to really have a caring
heart to even care about otherpeople on the outside, so much
less people that you don't see,don't know.
Still think about them aspeople when you pray at night,
(16:49):
pray for them when you go andyou talk to your governors or et
cetera.
If you're part of that, makesure that you advocate and that
you let them know that yourperson is a person, not a number
.
And that's all I can say aboutit.
chuck (17:01):
Got you Any last things you want to say?
Taj Mahon-Haft (17:03):
Taj Thank you for having me on, chuck.
Thank you always, Christa, forjoining me and being part of
this movement and for invitingme here.
I just want to yeah, just givea real shout out to everybody
who has ever advocated even ifit's just supporting your loved
one while they're locked upbeing part of something being
considered being human.
As Christa pointed out, thatgoes a long way and I'll tell
(17:26):
you from my own experience had Inot had a strong social support
system during my incarceration,I would not have come out a
better person doing all thesegood things.
That means so much to know thatsomebody loves you and cares
about you and is going to bethere for you in some capacity,
that you don't have to give amillion dollars.
You don't got to do what youcan, just give them love, and
(17:47):
thank you for everybody who doesthat, because you are making
the world a better place becauseyou can go.
You know you could get wrappedup in all sorts of stupid stuff
inside if you don't havesomebody that cares about you
and you don't have your head onstraight.
Somebody who cares about youmatters more than anything.
Social support yeah, 100.
chuck (18:03):
Everybody has done that yeah, and you're absolutely
right.
It does mean a lot to havesomebody in your corner fighting
for you in terms of beinginside and, upon release, that
that's there for you, you know,because you easily get out here
and just because you're byyourself, nobody's encouraging
you and go back, you know.
So family is big, support isbig, yep, I agree.
(18:25):
So thank you both for being onlet's just talk about it podcast
.
I really appreciate what bothof you are doing you sticking by
your son, miss Krista, that's,that's.
That's major, because peoplegive up, because it becomes too
hard.
But I appreciate you for juststicking by Devon.
Yep, I appreciate that.
And Taj, thank you so much forthe work that you put in.
(18:46):
Man, it takes a lot to do whatyou do, man and um, yeah,
appreciate you and thank you andthank you Absolutely.
Thank you, Taj Yep.
Wow, what an amazingconversation.
Shout out to Taj and Christafor having this dialogue with me
.
You know, having someone youlove incarcerated has a
trickle-down effect that affectseveryone, but standing by them
(19:07):
during their darkest moments isa part of advocating.
So thank you, taj and Christa,for the challenging work that
you put in, and I also want tothank everyone for always tuning
in to let's Just Talk About itpodcast, and if you have any
media needs, such as videographyor photography, you can reach
out to me and my partner LoMills at MandB Media on Facebook
.
So, as always, until next time,don't hold it in, but let's
(19:31):
just talk about it.
Talk to you soon, thank you.
Hey, welcome back to another episode of let's Just
Talk About it podcast.
I'm your host, chuck, and ifyou're here for the first time,
this platform was created togive genuine people just like
you an opportunity to share aportion of your life's journey.
So, with that being said, todayon this episode, I have Taj
Mahon-Haft and returning guestChrista Roseboro here to talk
about the ongoing fight ofprison reform.
(00:32):
So if you know anyone who'sincarcerated, this is valuable
information to understand theimportance of advocating for
valuable human beings who arestill incarcerated.
As a matter of fact, do me afavor Go and grab your husband,
your wife, your children, oreven call a friend and gather
around to listen to thisconversation with Krista and Taj
on let's Just Talk About itpodcast.
(00:54):
Hey, let's jump right in.
Today.
I have Mr Taj Mahon-Haft onwith us today and returning
guest Ms Christa Roseboro onwith us today just to talk about
advocacy for prison reform.
So thank you, guys for being apart of this episode.
Christa Roseboro (01:15):
Thanks for the invite.
chuck (01:17):
Absolutely, and thank you for having me Chuck.
Absolutely, absolutely.
I love to jump right in to myinterviews to have those genuine
conversations with genuinepeople like yourselves.
And, as I stated before, taj,you are an advocate for prison
reform.
So how did you get to thatplace?
Taj Mahon-Haft (01:36):
I got here because I can't stand to see
people suffer, and the justicesystem in America, and
particularly in Virginia, isfull of human suffering that is
unnecessary.
But it's been a long path to getthere to this particular point.
I was a sociologist.
(01:57):
I am a sociologist by trainingand I was teaching and educating
on this subject and suddenlyfound myself incarcerated
unexpectedly, and in the endthat led to the opportunity to
form our organization, theHumanization Project, co-founded
with my now wife, theincredible Jen Carter, while I
(02:17):
was still inside and she was outhere, and in doing so we've
been really blessed to beinvited to be part of the reform
community in Virginia and bepart of a lot of events,
educational, research andlegislative efforts and in the
process got to know just so manyincredible people who just do
not fit stereotypes andassumptions when it comes to
(02:40):
somebody with a conviction oranything like that, and so
that's that's really how I cameto be.
The advocate I am today isbecause not only did I care
about it in principle before,but so many people, some of the
very best people I've ever metin my life the smartest, the
most driven, the most ethical,the most moral people are people
who are still in prison and 30years ago have had a conviction
(03:03):
for something that sounds reallyterrible but does not represent
who they are today as a person,and I can agree with what
you're talking about because memyself, I have done, you know,
prison time before.
chuck (03:17):
I did seven years and eight months in the Virginia
system.
And you're absolutely right.
There's some amazing people inthe system today and if they had
another chance right now youwould never, ever see them again
.
But they just can't get out toprove who they really are.
You know what I'm saying, so Iunderstand.
Yep, ms Krista, we had aninterview together.
(03:37):
You have a son who'sincarcerated right now and you
understand the feelings that goalong with being incarcerated,
because you, you know it's justlike you, you there with your
son, correct?
Christa Roseboro (03:50):
every day.
You know Devon Hall, hopefullypeople remember the interview um
, he is still incarcerated.
He at this point is now in thesingle digits, at least thank
god for that, and we're tryingstill to see what we can do to
work on getting him home.
chuck (04:06):
Got you.
Wow, shout out to Devon.
Good guy, good guy, good guy.
Taj.
Talk about some of the programsthat people can I know you
mentioned it, but talk aboutwhat do you do in terms of those
programs.
How do you go about advocatingthe?
Taj Mahon-Haft (04:24):
ultimate answer to that question, chuck, is
humanization.
The thing is, if everybody knewDevon and Antoine and Mike and
Kelly the way that I know, devonand Antoine and Mike and Kelly,
then everybody would wantjustice reform the way I do,
because they would see thatnobody is the worst moment of
(04:45):
their life forever.
Nobody should ever be definedthat way and also all of us are
human beings beyond whateverthat worst moment was.
So it's real easy to hate theword felon or convict or
murderer or rapist or robber,but those are just terms that
are inherently negative.
Nobody is just that big.
Everybody is also a mother, afather, a sister, a brother, a
(05:06):
friend, a partner, a parent, Allthese other things, an artist,
a writer, a scholar, whateverthe case may be, a leader, a
teacher, a pastor.
And so when we focus and I sayhumanization because when we
focus on that, and that's whatwe do at Advocacy we bring our
voices, our human experiences,our human selves in three
dimensions to the conversations,because it's closest to the
(05:28):
problem, closest to the solution.
Those of us who live theexperience of being impacted by
the justice system, bothincarcerated ourselves, formally
, and our loved ones, weunderstand what this is really
about in human terms, about inhuman terms.
And if we can get that to bethe way we talk about this on
human terms, then we'll get pastall the politics and all the BS
(05:48):
and we'll get to humanepolicies.
And so that's what we do.
We bring our voices, ourexperiences to every opportunity
we can so that people hear that.
From that perspective, Right.
chuck (05:58):
Do you see any progress or is it a struggle sometimes to
get things done or get billspassed?
Taj Mahon-Haft (06:04):
Is it a struggle sometimes to get things done or
get bills passed?
Both, both is the answer tothat.
We had great moments ofprogress and I'm going to give a
shout out to Krista and herwhole entire family, essie and
Devon and everybody.
They showed up for an event wehad in Roanoke.
Well, devon didn't show up, hewas there in spirit and we all
shouted him out.
(06:25):
But anyway, they showed up foran event we had at Roanoke and
we spoke.
We had legislators there, wehad the chief of police there,
we had elected officials,nonprofit leaders, all sorts of
community members all there,hearing the voices of people who
are impacted, our humanity andour staying connected and all of
(06:48):
these issues.
And everybody had a differentway of thinking about it
afterwards.
And so we see progress there.
We also see progress.
Uh, earned sentence credit hasaka good time has been expanded
and finally, the final versionof expansion happened this
summer and virginia's prisonpopulation went down 3.7 percent
in one day and is going tocontinue to do so.
Uh, move downwards, uh, and sowe we're actually leading the
(07:09):
nation in decarceration invirginia right now, like that's
unheard of in the former capitalof the confederacy so we see
progress right, but it also werun headfirst into, you know,
when we try to go even furtherand and give you know, more
opportunities for people whohave even longer sentences, even
more severe sentences thatdon't represent their character.
(07:30):
Um, we ran into people justdehumanizing, talking about
people as if they were animalsand talking about people as if
they only existed in this worstmoment of their life, and and
that was done from from otherleadership positions I will, uh,
you know, there is I don't wantto get into who said what?
It's not the point here, but sothere are still people in that
(07:51):
kind of old fashioned lock themup, throw away the key.
They're all terrible, racist,you know, dog whistling mindset
of the 90s, whereas there's alsoa lot of people and I would say
the majority now are startingto get this hey, we're human
beings.
So it's kind of a mixed bagyeah.
chuck (08:08):
So, miss Christy, you want to talk about like your
part that you play.
I know he mentioned it, but youknow your heart and have an
advocacy for people who areincarcerated being that I'm
personally impacted as far as mysons which means that my family
, we're all impacted.
Christa Roseboro (08:25):
we write, we advocate and I'm no ways on the
level of Taj.
He's amazing.
I went to a program that he had, which is why I'm glad that
you're having him on and Ipromise you, as they spoke, I
watched the film.
They had me in tears the wholetime.
I internalized that wholeprogram.
It's that powerful, thatemotional.
chuck (08:45):
What was on that film that had you emotional?
Christa Roseboro (08:49):
So it spoke on , for example, and this lady she
happened to be there that dayas well, speaking, and she was
saying that she married agentleman that was in prison
they went forth, they were doingeverything to try to get him
home when he was told, I guess,that he was given life, he was
not coming home.
She still supports him, shestill advocates for him.
(09:09):
I can't tell you her name, I'msure Taj can, gotcha but she is
full-blown going for him becauseshe understands that, as he
says, he is a person he made amistake.
Give him a chance.
I saw this throughout that filmfilm they talked to the actual
prisoners where they were sayinghow they were waiting for
(09:30):
visitors and all of a suddenvisitors were told no, the
different things going on thatwere.
That was really just painful tohear how they're actually
suffering from the inside.
When you think of it like toddgives it to you that they are
people, not animals absolutelyright.
When you realize that you aredealing with humans and family
members, then you might thinkabout it different.
(09:51):
Just don't think that this isjust a number.
They're not numbers, they'repeople, and so that to me I
don't give the advocacy like Ishould, and I promise you, when
Devon comes home I'm still goingto try to get more involved.
That's why I decided to comefrom North Carolina, go to
Virginia, listen to Taj'sprogram and I'm glad I did in
hope that he gets it out toeverybody because it's that
(10:13):
impactful.
chuck (10:14):
You are advocating, you know you have a son.
You are doing a job.
Christa Roseboro (10:18):
You might not be on a big stage.
chuck (10:21):
but you are Correct, Taj, she is doing it.
Taj Mahon-Haft (10:30):
Not only is she doing it, her voice and man, her
mom spoke at that event, yeah,and her mom's voice and Devon's
voice.
But I will say, like, thismovement doesn't happen without
the voices of the mothers,people.
So all I, the only thing I do,is organize some people and have
some conversations with somepeople.
It's it's her voice, it's herfamily's voice, it's the voices
of so many families and andincredible people behind bars.
(10:50):
That's what gives this, themovement, strength.
chuck (10:53):
Like they're that all we're doing is being a conduit
yeah, those parents and so forthare there standing for their
children.
So how can people reach out toyou, man, to get involved with
what you're doing?
How can they help?
Taj Mahon-Haft (11:07):
So we always need we always need more voices
of people who want to speak onthese issues.
It doesn't have to be all thetime.
Just, you know, this is aparticular aspect of it that I'm
particularly passionate aboutor that I experienced my loved
one.
Experience, so you can reachout to us the humanization
project, the humanizationproject on Facebook.
(11:27):
And experience, so you canreach out to us.
Uh, the humanization project,the humanization project on
Facebook and Instagram.
We'll always catch up with youthat way or info at the
humanization projectorg, um, andwe will be happy to be in touch
or even just email me directly.
Taj T-A-J.
At the humanization projectorg,we got a great team of people.
We're really trying to get ourvoices out there.
chuck (11:48):
Right, right, I was about to ask you about your team.
You know, do you have a team oryou just do it by yourself, but
you have a team that helps youwith the workload of it.
Man, it has to be a lot to do,man.
You have to be in certainplaces and you know to push for
advocacy man, we would love thatuh we actually right now uh,
(12:15):
yeah, so until december 4th wehave a triple match.
Taj Mahon-Haft (12:19):
Uh, somebody has been so generous and their
company is matching them tomatch whatever we get for the
next couple weeks, so that wouldbe incredibly helpful.
We operate on a shoestringbudget.
I drive my uh, 13 year oldhonda fit with 100 well over 100
000 miles all over the statewith good gas mileage, trying to
eat in subway because and I'mbeing human here because I'm a
(12:41):
returning citizen myself wedon't have any resources.
What we have is passion and ourvoices and so every dollar goes
a long way, but we got to getthere.
We got to be able to be in theroom to have these conversations
and bring our voices to people.
So, yeah, I mean anythinganybody can contribute would not
only be matched the next coupleof weeks, it would be greatly
appreciated and helped.
chuck (13:00):
Wow, so you say you drive all over the state doing yeah,
that's deep man, you got to haveheart to do it.
And that's the thing I alwayssay when you are incarcerated
and you come out.
There's a different passionthat people have.
You know what I mean.
They got to drive and they wantto do better.
We want to do better.
So, yeah, that heart.
(13:21):
So I appreciate the work thatyou do, man.
It takes a lot.
Taj Mahon-Haft (13:25):
Yeah, likewise I'll say like it's about loving
somebody.
Same way, Christa loves Devonand that's what drives her to be
an advocate.
Having spent 10 years in there,I love.
I made real friends.
I have people I love behindbars.
I can't not fight for them.
Christa Roseboro (13:44):
Devon says that as well, that he sees
himself being an advocate forpeople on the inside because he
sees what happens, what they gothrough.
When you heard the young man,it was two young men he had on
the panel and a lady that does ashout-out program for the
gentlemen that are in prison.
Todd, if you want to give herinformation, possibly, so
somebody might be able to reachout and just say hello so they
(14:05):
can hear voices from the outside.
Taj Mahon-Haft (14:07):
Yeah, so that's Teddy Weimer.
She is the general manager andalso does the actual DJ work for
the Calls from Home radioprogram.
That's a little communitystation does?
(14:40):
It's amazing and Teddy'sincredible.
So it's Monday evenings.
You call them from seven tonine and you leave a recording
and they play it and the guysget to hear it.
That is mostly guys, but it's agood way to send a lifeline,
send a shout and or even justask them to play something that
somebody's going to hear,because dudes up in the
mountains like that, most ofthem I mean, let's be real, most
(15:00):
of them are not from themountains and they're not trying
to hear country music, which iswhat's on the radio right there
, um, and it's nothing wrongwith that.
But you know, a taste of home,a taste of of a shout out from
somebody you love and a songthat you recognize matters, and
so that's what that station'sdoing and they're just trying to
create more connection and so Idefinitely encourage everybody
to.
You know somebody up in thosemountains call calls from home,
(15:22):
give a shout out and send somelove.
chuck (15:25):
I like that.
So what about the women inprison?
Taj Mahon-Haft (15:28):
Yeah, that's a thing.
There is not actually a.
There's only a couple women'sprisons in Virginia, thank
goodness, but they are not inthat area so they can't hear
that radio station.
So in that case, I would justsay, step up and just send love,
be it on the phone, on an email, whatever it is If you have a
woman that you know that isbehind bars.
(15:49):
Because I'll tell you, this issomething that women don't get
enough attention in this space.
There is a growing portion ofwomen behind bars and I'm just
gonna be straight up guys do notdo a good job of sticking with
and supporting women in theirlives when they're behind bars,
the way that women do for themen who go away, and that is not
equal and that is not right,and I'm just gonna call out our
(16:10):
own people for that.
Uh, we gotta do better that.
So, if you know a woman behindbars, send her some love.
chuck (16:14):
Yeah, that's the fact In whatever form.
Let her know you care, we'reall human.
Yeah, any last remarks thatanybody wants to give Ms Krista,
you want to say anything inregards to what we're talking
about in terms of advocacybefore we go?
Christa Roseboro (16:28):
I just want to say shout out to you, shout out
, shout out to you, shout out toTaj and the other people that
are also having to deal withthis situation.
It takes strong people and yougot to really have a caring
heart to even care about otherpeople on the outside, so much
less people that you don't see,don't know.
Still think about them aspeople when you pray at night,
(16:49):
pray for them when you go andyou talk to your governors or et
cetera.
If you're part of that, makesure that you advocate and that
you let them know that yourperson is a person, not a number
.
And that's all I can say aboutit.
chuck (17:01):
Got you Any last things you want to say?
Taj Mahon-Haft (17:03):
Taj Thank you for having me on, chuck.
Thank you always, Christa, forjoining me and being part of
this movement and for invitingme here.
I just want to yeah, just givea real shout out to everybody
who has ever advocated even ifit's just supporting your loved
one while they're locked upbeing part of something being
considered being human.
As Christa pointed out, thatgoes a long way and I'll tell
(17:26):
you from my own experience had Inot had a strong social support
system during my incarceration,I would not have come out a
better person doing all thesegood things.
That means so much to know thatsomebody loves you and cares
about you and is going to bethere for you in some capacity,
that you don't have to give amillion dollars.
You don't got to do what youcan, just give them love, and
(17:47):
thank you for everybody who doesthat, because you are making
the world a better place becauseyou can go.
You know you could get wrappedup in all sorts of stupid stuff
inside if you don't havesomebody that cares about you
and you don't have your head onstraight.
Somebody who cares about youmatters more than anything.
Social support yeah, 100.
chuck (18:03):
Everybody has done that yeah, and you're absolutely
right.
It does mean a lot to havesomebody in your corner fighting
for you in terms of beinginside and, upon release, that
that's there for you, you know,because you easily get out here
and just because you're byyourself, nobody's encouraging
you and go back, you know.
So family is big, support isbig, yep, I agree.
(18:25):
So thank you both for being onlet's just talk about it podcast
.
I really appreciate what bothof you are doing you sticking by
your son, miss Krista, that's,that's.
That's major, because peoplegive up, because it becomes too
hard.
But I appreciate you for juststicking by Devon.
Yep, I appreciate that.
And Taj, thank you so much forthe work that you put in.
(18:46):
Man, it takes a lot to do whatyou do, man and um, yeah,
appreciate you and thank you andthank you Absolutely.
Thank you, Taj Yep.
Wow, what an amazingconversation.
Shout out to Taj and Christafor having this dialogue with me
.
You know, having someone youlove incarcerated has a
trickle-down effect that affectseveryone, but standing by them
(19:07):
during their darkest moments isa part of advocating.
So thank you, taj and Christa,for the challenging work that
you put in, and I also want tothank everyone for always tuning
in to let's Just Talk About itpodcast, and if you have any
media needs, such as videographyor photography, you can reach
out to me and my partner LoMills at MandB Media on Facebook
.
So, as always, until next time,don't hold it in, but let's
(19:31):
just talk about it.
Talk to you soon, thank you.
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