They Called Me 299-359: Poetry by the Incarcerated Youth of Free Minds

They Called Me 299-359 is an anthology of poetry and essays written edited and compiled by incarcerated youth who are Free Minds Book Club members held both at the DC Jail and in adult federal facilities across the country. Through moving personal testimony these young writers explore the challenges and pain of incarceration as well as family forgiveness redemption and dreams. Their book is used as a tool for violence prevention and healing in the Free Minds initiative On the Same Page and is also taught as part of college curricula at several universities. This 10th anniversary edition includes updated forewords from Free Minds poet ambassadors as well as from award-winning formerly incarcerated poet Reginald Dwayne Betts.