"Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law" has been the basis for our legal/prison system in the United States. However in The Power of One, a person may go to prison just for being in the wrong part of town because of racism. Many of the prisoners in the Barberton Prison were in there because of the power of racism ruling South Africa at the time. I do not understand why people must hate because someone else is different? The prison guards will punch/beat a prisoner until they draw blood. Then make the prisoner take responsibilitiy for this action, and the prisoner would have to clean up the mess. This happens to many prisoners in the novel and Peekay takes note on this brutality that this influences him for the remainder of the novel. Also the violence that drives Lieutenant Borman to murder Geel Piet, causes Peekay to fight for what is right, and defeat the wrongdoing in the prison.
In today's media, we are told about violence in prisons, when it is caught. Such as the death of Frank Valdez, who attempted to free his friend from Death Row in Florida. Valdez killed a Prison Guard, in the attempt freeing of his friend, however fate took a turn, and Valdez died "under suspicious circumstances." Nine guards were suspended on administrative leave (with pay), and pending the outcome of the investigation. Also, California state has had "the shooting deaths of thirty-nine inmates, the wounding of two-hundred more over the last ten years in the state's thirty-three prisons." and yet no attorney has ever prosectued any corrupt guards for police brutality. There was also a report of a prisoner who reportedly raped 'problem' prisoners in exchange for extra food and other perks, all under the direction of prison staff.
I am appalled by the brutality shown in prisons, not only around the world, but in the United States. I thought that we are all treated equal and that we all must be treated with respect. It is clear that this does not exist except in a perfect/Utopia society. I am upset that someone may think that they hold power of those who did wrong, but they have no right to treat them in a barbaric manner. I hope that newsreports can shed some light on the subject and maybe society will change for the greater good. But as of now all we can do is hope and pray that this will improve over the years.
