Life In Prison With Lauryn Hill Written by Jamila T. Davis

Life In Prison With Lauryn Hill 
Written by Jamila T. Davis 

On July 8, 2013 my existence as I have known it for the past 5 years in prison instantly changed. I had been so drained, physically, emotionally and spiritually that I had no idea how oppressed my spiritual being really was. In the midst of my own internal chaos a beautiful, chocolate face with a warm smile and bright spirit spoke life back into my dry bones.  Lauryn Hill has sparked a worldwind of knowledge, faith and courage into my broken spirit. It was a tremendous boost, at a time and place where I least expected it. Through her purity and candidness, she has encouraged me to be myself, with no cut on it, despite the barriers that divide me from the free world.

At first sight I admired Lauryn's courage, which I quickly found out was contagious. Lauryn Hill reminds me of Angela Davis or Assatta Shakur because of her knowledge and strength. Like a soldier who was trained for war, she jumped right into the prison routine and hasn't missed a beat. Surprisingly, she didn't shed a tear or complain. Instead, she opened up her spirit for God to use her. Almost immediately, she reached out to listen and comfort the many hurting souls at the Danbury Federal Prison Camp. I am one of them.

I had the pleasure to spend many hours on end just talking to Lauryn about life and her experiences. In such a short period of time I learned so much! I had no clue how intelligent she truly is. I only saw her as a singer, but the truth is she has vast knowledge on so many different levels that it is almost scary. It was shocking to see that we share many things in common, including hardships. In just a few days she became like the sister I had from the same father, but a different mother who I had never met. After 5 years of what seemed like endless pain and disappointments, through Lauryn's company I experienced intense joy, which is a rare experience in prison.

Some may have mistaken her as eccentric, but the truth is she is POWERFUL!  She possesses spiritual skill sets that few have, so her conversations are life changing. She is definitely a living inspiration. Like many woman in prison, she is a survivor!  People may view her imprisonment as her death, but it is her resurrection.

Lauryn Hill doesn't just "talk-the-talk."   She "walks-the walk!"  Don't sleep on her! She knows her mission and assignment from God, and she is on it! In a few days her mere presence has changed our weary environment and has given many women hope. To us she is a modern day Harriet Tubman. In my heart, I know she came to set us captives free!

Lauryn Hill, the Grammy Award-winning, former Fugees singer reported to the Danbury Federal Prison Camp in Connecticut on July 8, 2013 to serve a three-month sentence, after pleading guilty to three counts of tax evasion for failing to file returns on earnings from 2005 to 2007 — totaling $1.8 million.  Follow Lauryn on Tumblr to read her side of the story and messages to her fans: http://mslaurynhill.tumblr.com


About the Author
Jamila T. Davis, author of the Voices of Consequences Enrichment Series is a self-help expert, motivational speaker and a women's prison reform activist, who is currently a federal inmate. At age 25, she was a multimillionaire, high-flying real estate investor with ties to the hip-hop world. At age 31, she was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in federal prison for her role in a multimillion-dollar bank fraud scheme. While imprisoned, Davis has helped to change the lives of many through her inspirational books and cautionary tales based on her real-life experiences.  For more information on Jamila T. Davis, her books, projects  and to check out her latest memoir 
The High Price I Had To Pay  visit www.voicesbooks.com   or  www.facebook.com/authorJamilaTDavis