Author Archives: William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

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About William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

William Eric Waters is an award-winning poet, fiction writer, essayist, educator, criminal-justice scholar, and nonprofit executive. Writing as William E. Waters, he is the author of the epic poem Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass and three poetry collections: Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats, The Black Feminine Mystique, and The Black Blood of Poetry. Under the pen name Easy Waters, he is the author of the novel Streets of Rage and the short-story collection Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice. His work explores Black history, race, law, punishment, institutional power, accountability, redemption, and resilience.

A Constantly Evolving Lifespan: A Review of “This Life” by Quntos KunQuest

Posted on February 8, 2023 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

A life sentence in prison is life, that is, there is living to do in prison, even under a life sentence.  Quntos KunQuest, in his novel, This Life, demonstrates that life goes on inside of prison.  Since 1996, KunQuest has … Continue reading →

Posted in Education & Teaching, Justice Chronicles, Literature & Cultural Criticism | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Shadows and Through the White Looking Glass: Remembrance of Things Past and Present

Posted on February 2, 2023 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

This Black History Month, read by award-winning book. It’s available on Amazon.

Posted in Education & Teaching | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Treatment Not Jail – “Fostering Benevolence”

Posted on January 19, 2023 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In October of last year, I had the honor of appearing on a Podcast, Treatment Not Jail, to talk about this issue as well as others connected to the criminal legal system. Please check it out!

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Conundrums of Law: Insights from Jailhouse Lawyer Stories

Posted on October 10, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In light of the December release of my collection of short stories, Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice, I retooled my review of one of James Patterson books. Continue reading →

Posted in Justice Chronicles, Literature & Cultural Criticism | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Time to Live

Posted on September 29, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Today our baby brother, Whitney, NOT Houston, turns 55 in Paradise.  Although Whitney is no longer with us on this physical plane, he lives on in our hearts and minds. If you know my brother, then you know he’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Books & Writing Projects, Streets of Rage | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Emmett Till, August 28, 1955: The Black Blood of Poetry and the Memory of Racial Terror

Posted on August 28, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

…Emmett till was kidnapped and murdered. In my latest collection of poetry, “The Black Blood of Poetry,” which I am shopping around, the title poem begins with the murder of Emmett Till. For those not familiar with poetic forms, “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics & Public Affairs | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Nineteen Sixties

Posted on June 7, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I have written elsewhere about the “Decisive Decade,” a phrase coined by Samuel Yette, about the 1960s.  I found this poem, “SOS,” by Imamu Amiri Baraka, in The Black Poets, edited by Dudley Randall, in the section about poetry of … Continue reading →

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My Friend Kathy Boudin

Posted on May 3, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

News of Kathy Boudin’s demise quickly spread, as quickly as news spreads through the prison grapevine, and I had hoped that it was greatly exaggerated!  When I Googled “death of Kathy Boudin,” many articles popped up on my screen, far … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Research & Lived Expertise | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

National Superhero Day

Posted on April 28, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Today is National Superhero Day. Over the years I’ve written a series of poems about “heroes.” In my last collection, “The Black Blood of Poetry,” which I am shopping around, is this poem: In Search of a Black Hero Coming … Continue reading →

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The King is Dead — Long Live the King!

Posted on April 4, 2022 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I can’t let this day pass without saying something about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr! In the Decisive Decade (the 1960s), Black leader after Black leader was assassinated, but this is the assassination that made it into my … Continue reading →

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