Where you start out isn鈥檛 always where you end up
惭测听cover story is a sequel, one that鈥檚 almost a quarter century in the making. In 2001, the Monitor reported a story about inmates performing Shakespeare plays in a Kentucky prison. It inspired filmmakers Hank Rogerson and Jilann Spitzmiller to create the hit 2005 documentary 鈥淪hakespeare Behind Bars.鈥� In turn, they invited the Monitor to join them this summer in Louisville, Kentucky, for the filming of a sequel, 鈥淪hakespeare Beyond Bars.鈥�
Staff photographer Melanie Stetson Freeman and I spent five days with Jerry Guenthner and Sammie Byron, pivotal figures in the earlier article and in the documentary. Both men had been imprisoned for murder.
After spending time with them, I reflected on how perilous it is to judge others.
鈥淚n the first film, they were people that were really working hard on transforming themselves through the power of art,鈥� says Mr. Rogerson. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 be defined by one action. We need to be defined by all of our actions.鈥�
Jerry and Sammie now work at The Spot, an opportunity center for at-risk youth. We observed Jerry teaming with a young woman named Lia to perform a scene from 鈥淛ulius Caesar鈥� for a class. Earlier, Sammie imparted a life lesson to his students about how he maintains a relationship with his son, who he says is a drug dealer, by avoiding talking to him in a judgmental way. Where you start out isn鈥檛 always where you end up.
鈥淲hen we put a label on someone or we put them in a box, we all miss out,鈥� says Ms. Spitzmiller. 鈥淐ulture has gotten so complicated that we鈥檙e trying to simplify things with stereotypes and labels and boxes more than ever.鈥�
I鈥檒l never forget watching a minor league baseball game with Jerry and Sammie. Over the crack of bats, the cheers of the crowd, and the crunch of Cracker Jack, they talked about how their postprison lives will never be fully normal. One example: They avoid the grocery store cereal aisle; after decades behind bars, they get overwhelmed by copious breakfast options.
They hope other people will assess them on their efforts to steer others away from making the same mistakes.
鈥淚鈥檓 very blessed to have the opportunity to show that everybody has a chance at redemption,鈥� says Jerry, who was utterly entranced by the postgame fireworks display. 鈥淣o matter what you鈥檝e done in life, no matter what kind of prodigal son you鈥檝e been, you can always return.鈥�
