COLUMNS
Looking Outward - February 2010
a column by Angela Derrick
Looking Outward: Television Behind Bars
An Interview with my Husband Jason Derrick
On August 29, 2005, Fox Broadcasting premiered Prison Break, a drama with a storyline centered around two brothers, one of whom was wrongfully convicted for a murder he did not commit and his brother who devised an elaborate scheme to bust him out.
When the show hit the airwaves, The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC), blocked the signal each Monday evening from 7:58 p.m. until the following morning when the signal was manually reset. This was to prevent any inmates from getting ideas. It was not until after the main characters had escaped in the second season that FDOC stopped blocking the signal. This is the only show that has ever been blocked.
Life on Death Row is quite different than that in Population. Men are housed in solitary nine-by-six-ft. cells. The only opportunity for interaction with other inmates occurs during twice-weekly, two-hour outside recreation. They eat, sleep, and bathe alone. For the most part, it is a solitary existence. They are allowed a television set and a walkman radio. It is the television that is, in large part, their connection to the outside world.
In the prison “area” called “Population,” inmates don’t have their own television sets. There is one set per about ninety inmates and it is in a common room. One of the most common causes of fights is over channels. On the weekends the viewing schedule is dictated by sports. Viewing hours are 3:30-11:00 p.m.
The televisions, like all electrical items inmates are allowed to have, are made from completely clear plastic so that all of the wires and components are visible. They have no speakers so it is necessary to wear headphones. The inmates don’t have access to premium cable channels, but with the recent country-wide switch from analog to digital transmission, the capability to receive a much larger number of channels has occurred.
On Death Row there are no restrictions on viewing hours.
Many of the men have loved ones on the outside willing to purchase a TV for them. These sets must be purchased through a vender that has a contract with the FDOC and they don’t come cheap. For inmates who are not blessed to have a loved one able and willing to help them, FDOC loans them TVs; but if inmates get any money in their accounts, they have to buy one. When the switch to digital occurred, inmates who didn’t have funds in their accounts for six months were given a converter box that was donated by FDRAG (Florida Death Row Advocacy Group).
The FDOC recognizes that television sets are a way to keep the men occupied and calm. This is a necessity because on Death Row the men are not allowed to work, nor are they allowed to purchase hobby craft items from the prison canteen. There is always the possibility of having your television taken away for disciplinary infractions.
Jason has been on Death Row for almost twenty-two years, more than half of his life. Television is the main source of entertainment and distraction and a means of staying connected to current events. He places a significant value on his TV. We recently talked about television.
“Television is a resource to stay up on sociological issues like racism, youth, sports, politics, science, medicine and pop culture,” says Jason. “It also means having something to do when I don’t feel like writing or reading. It’s a distraction when I don’t feel like dealing with the realities of Death Row.”
Reality shows are Jason’s favorite. His number one pick is Survivor because the players have to depend upon one another. “Sometimes they have to go against what they believe in. I like the drama of it and the whole team concept. Most of the drama is between the women. I’ve noticed that the women on the show don’t like women who are prettier than them. With the men, some of them are really lazy (like delta males) and the alpha males tend to hang out together. Generally, they pick off the weakest of the bunch. Some of the strongest players,“ muses Jason, “have been women. They have a tendency to use their sexuality to play.
“I think reality television is so popular,” he says, “because people like to root for each other, for the underdog. I think that people, in general, like drama. Some people do it for the potential of fame and to see if they can meet the challenge of surviving. And some do it for the fame.”
When our conversation turned to fame, I asked Jason his thoughts on the recent Balloon Boy Saga news story that took place in Colorado. “I think it was retarded because all the resources that were used may have taken away from real emergency situations. They should have to reimburse all the people involved-rescue workers, media, etc. And I think they should be sued for undue emotional stress.”
In the last twenty-two years, one of the main changes he has seen in television is how sex has become a major focal point. “It’s all about sex on the shows and in the commercials; sex to sell everything from yogurt to athletic shoes to ads for local gun shows. Sex, sex, sex. The problem with it is that a lot of it is glamorized. People copy what they see on TV, especially kids. Our society is in denial about what’s going on with our children.”
“So, do you think there should be more control over content?” I ask him.
“Ever since the Super Bowl incident with Janet Jackson,” he says, “the FCC has been monitoring everything with a fine-tooth-comb and it has gone overboard. The reality is that people have sex. Parents should talk to their kids instead of letting television and the FCC decide what our kids should and shouldn’t know.”
“Do you think TV adequately represents minorities?”
“No. Absolutely not. There are hardly any black leading actors and actresses. There is always a disparity between blacks and whites. As a white man, I find this very disturbing. There aren’t any black sitcoms on network TV. It’s as if black suburban families don’t exist. Why don’t black families have Nielsen rating boxes in their homes? Why are white families doing all of the voting?
“The one thing that really concerns me about television is the racial disparity. When you see men on TV, the man is always white. When you see interracial couples, it’s always a white man with a black woman. You never see a black man with a white woman. It’s complete and total racism. The only thing I don’t care for on TV is the segregation.”
“Can you be more specific?” I ask him.
“Television has made roles for blacks and whites. They are typecast; there is no in-between. When the news is reported, like crime, they always seem to put black people in a bad light.”
“If you could bring back a show that was cancelled, what would it be and why?’
“In Living Color, before the Republicans took over Fox. Fox made the cast do more white, suburban, politically-correct skits.”
“Do you think athletes’ racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds shift how the sports and celebrity media depict them?”
“There are black sports and white sports. If there is a black guy and a white guy trying out for a hockey team for the same spot, the white guy would probably get the job because there’s a stereotype that white men play hockey better. In comparison, a black man is more likely to get a basketball spot because of the stereotype that black men are better basketball players. The media reinforces these stereotypes through their reporting.”
“The Visiting Park will close in ten minutes.” This was the voice we ultimately heard that concluded our meeting. With that our visit was over.
Angela Derrick