Blog Post 10

1/11/15                              Blog Post 10

Apache at this point is the one who looks like he’s about to figure it out. He is an extremely talented basketball player, and not only does practicing keep him off the street, but it also could provide for his entire college tuition cost. However, just by the luck the Bartlett family has been experiencing, the basketball coach on the Pine Ridge Reservation took advantage of Apache’s lack of parental support and persuaded him to agree to a hollow deal that he had false hopes in. After intentionally holding himself back for a year, Apache is in a worse position within the culture shock and empty promises of South Dakota. Elaine’s children seem to write quite frequently about how much they love and need her, which is so considerate in respect to the border-line neglect they are facing during her sentence.  Yvonne has done an incredible job for a single senior woman caring for so many children. However, it’s clear in the path Jamel has taken that Elaine’s presence is missed. The Bartlett family situation upsets me. At one point Yvonne complains that the children aren’t appreciative enough, but I beg to differ. Satara and Danae are doing much more house keeping work than they should be taking on. Apache is trying to get a scholarship to college and eventually starts coaching to make a living. And Jamel is only on Avenue D dealing because the family is so desperate for money. As heart breaking and biased as the system of clemency is, I’m glad Elaine is getting outside support. It seems like she is close to getting it. I also think it’s great that she has formed a genuine friendship with Lora Tucker, after Lora opened up about her AIDS. Lora Tucker is a woman who teaches courses to the inmates so that hopefully they can leave with one degree or another. I think thats an underplayed blessing for Elaine. 

As I mentioned in post 9, Yvonne’s health is starting to fail. I’m worried about the kids at home, because if Yvonne dies they have no except Apache who is still so young and vulnerable himself. Elaine said her mother was the only thing getting her through prison with high morale pep talks. Shortly later, Yvonne passes away and Elaine pushes harder for her clemency knowing (or hoping at least) that her case will be stronger now that her children have no competent guardian at home. It’s starting to get messy so hopefully she gets it.