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.

Review of my book, Streets of Rage, by Isa Rock

Posted on April 6, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Easy Waters’ Streets of Rage is a must read, especially for anyone who enjoys reading a good and well written coming-of-age tale. The majority of the story takes place in 1970’s Brooklyn, in the projects and surrounding area. It’s a … Continue reading →

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Some thoughts on my novel, “Streets of Rage”

Posted on February 28, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Growing up in the early ’70s, the Black Power Movement, informed by Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, and its offshoot the Five Percent Nation, informed the thinking of the best minds of my generation — including mine, if … Continue reading →

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From my novel “Streets of Rage”

Posted on February 26, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

PROLOGUE The little black guy was in the living room, kneeling on the floor as if in prayer. Papers were on the floor before him. A Bible was before him, too. He was intent upon what he was doing. “Peace, god!” the … Continue reading →

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About my novel, “Streets of Rage,” soon to be released….

Posted on January 28, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Streets of Rage is a coming of age story, but it is much more. It is a book about urban legends, about the mythology of the inner cities, right in the underbelly of New York City during a time when … Continue reading →

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“The Justice Imperative” — The Key to Criminal Justice Reform

Posted on January 24, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream, is a book about the criminal justice and corrections system in Connecticut, but it is also a book about the criminal justice and corrections systems in the country, by the … Continue reading →

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THERE ARE NO SECRETS IN THIS PLACE

Posted on January 24, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Officer Kirsch, or Officer K, as he was called, had once told Norman that there were no secrets in the maximum security prison. That was putting the matter nicely, Norman had thought. There were rats in every crevice in the … Continue reading →

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Letter from Charles Grodin to Supreme Court Justice Kennedy on the Felony Murder Rule

Posted on January 3, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Originally posted on Change the Felony Murder Rule in Florida:
February 16, 2010 Honorable Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Supreme Court of the United States One First Street Washington, DC N.E.  20543 Dear Honorable Associate Justice Kennedy, I was heartened…

Posted in Criminal Justice & Punishment | Leave a comment

Mario the Magician

Posted on January 2, 2015 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Mario Cuomo, former three-term governor of New York, dead at 82. Mario Cuomo was an eloquent spokesperson for not only liberal democrats but also for social justice. Nonetheless, he was a good, not a great, governor. Greatness did not elude … Continue reading →

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In the Line of Duty (From my book, “Sometimes Blue Knights Wear Black Hats”)

Posted on December 21, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

The heroes are dead and nothing else matters Under a gray sky the women are dressed in black At the grave site hearing homilies paying homage to heroics Their sobs background music to pontificating politicians Under a gray sky the … Continue reading →

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Leigh Anne Tuohy, Racism, and the White Saviour Complex

Posted on December 17, 2014 by William Eric Waters, aka Easy Waters

Originally posted on The Belle Jar:
Leigh Anne “That Nice Woman Sandra Bullock Played In The Blind Side” Tuohy recently posted the following picture and caption on her Facebook and Instagram accounts: “We see what we want! It’s the gospel…

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