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.

On this day in history – March 2, 1807

Posted on March 2, 2018 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Congress bans importation of slaves, effective January 1, 1808, but establishes no remedy for Africans illegally smuggled into the country after enactment of the ban. From the Equal Justice Initiative’s A History of Racial Injustice – 2018 Calendar. “The Equal … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, History & American Society | Leave a comment

On this day in history – March 1, 1921

Posted on March 1, 2018 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Idaho bans marriage between black and white people even though the state’s population is less than .02% African American. From the Equal Justice Initiative’s A History of Racial Injustice – 2018 Calendar. “The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is proud to … Continue reading →

Posted in Race, History & American Society | Leave a comment

He Looks Good in Death?

Posted on February 21, 2018 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Today, I look at a friend, A colleague, Hopefully resting in peace, Waiting, To be taken To his final resting place.   We are taught Not to speak ill of the dead. I have no “ill words” for my friend, … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment | Leave a comment

Willie Lynch, On Language

Posted on December 28, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

I am a self-styled language cop, especially as it relates to criminal justice language, how it has been used not only to dehumanize and stigmatize people with criminal justice involvement, but also to control the narrative, how such people with … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment, Education & Teaching, Justice Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An Open Letter to Our Friends on the Question of Language, by Eddie Ellis, President, NuLeadership on Urban Solutions

Posted on December 17, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Dear Friends: The Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions is a human justice policy, advocacy and training center founded, directed and staffed by academics and activists who were formerly incarcerated.  It is the first and only one of its kind … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Research & Lived Expertise, Justice Chronicles | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Words Matter: Another Look at the Question of Language, by Eddie Ellis, President, Center for NuLeadership on Urban Solutions

Posted on December 17, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

We need to be constantly reminded about this language: Words matter.  They shape perceptions and understanding, both of past and present events and of future possibilities and, therefore, future events.  Semantic and public acceptance of terms like “formerly incarcerated” or … Continue reading →

Posted in Advocacy, Research & Lived Expertise, Education & Teaching, Justice Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Zarafa

Posted on November 9, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On my early morning ride on the #4 train the other morning, a young woman in Muslim garb, including a hijab covering her head, enters the train at Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn and stands by the door. She’s holding a … Continue reading →

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Remembering 9/11/

Posted on September 11, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Almost everyone has a 9/11 memory.  On that fateful day, I was on an uptown #4 train, heading to work.  When the first plane struck the first tower at 8:46 AM, I was still underground, in a tunnel, riding the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Memory & Personal Essays | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bill Cosby v. Jeronimo Yanez

Posted on June 23, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

On its face, there doesn’t appear to be any connection between the bill Cosby sexual assault case and that of former Minnesota police officer Jeronimo Yanez, who shot and killed Philando Castile on July 6, 2016; but if we look … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment, Justice Chronicles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Timeless Enemies, Timeless “little” White Lies

Posted on June 2, 2017 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

In my penultimate blog, I wrote about the TV series, “Timeless.”  At the end, I mentioned Puerto Rican nationalist-revolutionary Oscar Lopez Rivera, and how the opposition to honoring him in the 2017 Puerto Rican Day Parade is connected to “Timeless,” … Continue reading →

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