Category Archives: Short Stories

Short Stories that Challenge the Legal System: A Review by Dr. Mark Chapman of “Conundrums: Stories of Law & Justice” by Easy Waters

Easy Waters’ collection “Conundrums” features humorous and insightful short stories that explore the absurdities of prison and the legal system. The engaging narratives, filled with wit and deep reflection on justice, showcase Waters’ masterful storytelling and his ability to humanize incarcerated individuals. A must-read for enthusiasts of poignant fiction. Continue reading

Posted in crime, ezwwaters, James Baldwin, Justice Chronicles, Life Sentences, Murder, Parole, parole board, Politics, race, raising black boys, remorse, Short Stories, Sonny's Blues, Streets of Rage, The Black Blood of Poetry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advancing Alice Walker — and Her Nonfiction

I have a love-hate relationship with the body of work of Alice Walker.  I love Walker’s nonfiction, and even some of her autobiographical sketches, where her prose, even when it is expressing anger, is righteous anger.  Her nonfiction is clear, … Continue reading

Posted in ezwwaters, Fatherhood, Fathers, race, raising black boys, Reentry, Relationships, Short Stories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Being Bruce Jenner

Just the other day Olympian Bruce Jenner said he identifies as a woman.  As a teenager interested in all things sports, the Summer of ’76 featured  the Olympics in Montreal, in which my namesake, William Bruce Jenner, even though he, … Continue reading

Posted in Family, Fathers, James Baldwin, Relationships, Short Stories, Sonny's Blues, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

THERE ARE NO SECRETS IN THIS PLACE

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

Posted in crime, Justice Chronicles, Short Stories, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

THERE ARE NO SECRETS IN THIS PLACE

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

Posted in Short Stories | Tagged , , | Leave a comment