How could a young Black man from Compton, California make a living putting Black people in prison? Although rarely verbalized, this was the question that ran through most people’s minds once they became aware that I was a prosecutor. Not surprisingly, it was the first question that crossed my mind 16 years ago when I was interviewed for the job. Could I make a living that would require me to become intimately involved with putting thousands of Black people in prison?

I tried not to over-dramatize it. I thought to myself, “well, everyone won’t be Black.” Although I wish it weren’t so, it turns out that the vast majority were. I’m reminded of an excerpt from one of Richard Pryor’s albums, where Pryor says “I went to prison looking for Justice and that’s just what I found. “Just Us.”