Nathan McCall

Part I of Essay
When he was 20, shot a man who made an offensive comment about his girlfriend. He robbed a McDonald's. He sold drugs. He broke into homes, stole cars and gang-raped girls. He went to prison. There, he read Richard Wright's Native Son and became fascinated with words. He “g ....

Part II of Essay
.... is the reason why Black men commit so many crimes against each other--they internalize the hatred that others in society have for them. They end up hating themselves. "I learned to hate myself by the time I was 12 years old," he said. McCall said he and his friends did not believe they had a future. Self- destructive behavior was the result. He credits his 12 year prison sentence for changing his attitude. His fellow inmates told him "don't do what we've done," and encouraged him to change his lifestyle. He read books as part of the priso ....