Jaki, I think you did a great job. I was at the dentist today and while waiting in the lobby, the receptionist started talking about your interview and it started a very spirited conversation. The reaction that I got from another lady was also very good. I'm going to see if I can find her e-mail note and share it with you. I think your feature will be the start of a dialogue.

Ms. McCalvin, I just read your interview with Gary Johnson, Black Men In America.com and found it most interesting. I just had to write you a short note to tell you that I found the dialogue intriguing, insightful and commendable. You have it going on in a major way and much more so than sisters who think they do. I say this because of the mature way that you have handled adversity in your life and they way that you are handling your relationship with your man in prison. This is truly a testament to what a person can do when they believe in God and place their trust in HIm.  Keep on Keepin' on and know that you are applauded by me and I am sure othoers who will read your story.  Thank you so much for sharing. (Janice) 

  Here is the note I got from a woman in Philadelphia about your article.

Gary, The "Prisoner Wife" interview that you conducted is awesome.  I was literally sitting on the edge of my chair reading it. I can relate to a number of the statements she makes and issues that she explores as a direct result of the letters and articles that I receive from a number of incarcerated men who ask to receive a free copy of the Fatherhood journal and who ask to contribute articles and poetry to the journal. A number of letters from these gentlemen and a number of articles and poems that they send talk about their wives, girlfriends and mothers who have stood by them . . . and those that have not — and how painful that experience is to them -- and they talk about the effect that their incarceration has on their children. This is a great interview .... as usual you asked the hard questions, but you had to -- in order to get Jaki's message across and her message(s) came across loud and clear.  When a person reads this interview, they see and hear Jaki ~ her thoughts, her voice, her passion, her determination --they see a talented, compassionate and honorable woman.   Thanks Gary!  Keep doing what you're doing! You are phenomenal!  (Gary A. Johnson, publisher of blackmeninamerica)

Jaki, This is a good story that needs to be told.  I was just commenting on how well we know the people in our lives. . . We don't.  All of us carry baggage that no one else is aware of seems like.  Yet we ignore other's burdens because we might have to carry them ourselves.  (God forbid!)  I know I have lived in a horribly sheltered life for the most part.  On sure-baggage but nothing compared to what many carry with them every day.  (Example) Someone in prison is something on TV for me.  I know no one that has been convicted of anything more than misdemeanors (that I know of)

• I live in a little white house, with my little family, in perfect health and for the most part, harmony.
• I am 49 years old and have had only two deaths in my extended family.
• I don't really know anything about suffering, because I haven't experienced it.

 Of course I have no apologies to make for any of that.  It's the "American Dream" that we all read about.  I am intellectually aware of what the African-American community goes through, but I don't understand it, because I haven't been anywhere close to living it in my sheltered little existence.  This isn't because I'm white - it's because I'm ignorant of the way people live.  ALL people.  I, like most middle class family dads don't have the time, patients or I guess, interest to see how someone else lives.  This is the birthplace of genuine ignorance.  Reading your story gave me some insight.  For that I am grateful.  I live for the day when there won't be any African-American writers, Caucasian writers, Latino writers, women writers, men writers or ANY of the little pigeon hole categories we place ourselves and each other in.  I live for the day when our children's children will have a common history that's not separated by our father's father's father's hatred.  I live for the day when there is no Black Experience, White Experience, Gay/Lesbian Experience, but only shared life experiences.  Yeah, I know I envision a utopia, but without our visions we have no future.   So much for philosophical ramblings.  Your story brought it out of me.  A good story.  (Mike)