Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles On the windows ... I've never seen nothing like this before. Look ! On the windows ? You aint see nothing on the windows but people. Walking by. Not on video ! I Told you I stand out here for a long time watching this crazy stuff [Laughing] Wow !!! Alright ! My name is Otis Johnson. I went to prison at the age of 25 years old and when I came out I was 69 years old. I went to prison - or jail for the crime of attempted murder on a police officer. Assault on a police officer Prison affected me a lot. My re-entry was was a little bit hard at first because things have changed. I got off Times Square and I was looking at the atmosphere. The new things that was happening And I seen that everybody or majority of people were talking to themselves. Then I look closely and they seem to have things in there ears. I don't know with those things? With the phone thing? I phones they called them or something like that? I thought to my mind "What everybody became CIA or agents and stuff like that ?" Because that's the only thing I can think of ! somebody walking around with wires in the ears That's what they had when I was out during the 60s and the 70s. And then some people are not even looking where they're going ! So I'm trying to figure out how people do that. Control themselves to walk and talk on their phone without even looking where they're going. That was amazing to me. [music]So what's the next move Where do I go Where do I stay Where do I work Where do I rest Where do I play It feels as though I've been up in this gridlock for days Still I'm hoping that this shit stops, but hey [music] I remember this when I first got out. I was gonna make a call. Then I've seen the 1$ thing. It was what 25 cents when I was out? [laughs] I found out when I got on the street they don't use these. Like I said I'm used to being by myself But majority of the time I like the buses because you see diferent things and you also communicate with less people. You know bumping into people when you're riding the train and stuff because that thing's packed. But the bus is not really that packed. Even if it is packed you know you still have room enough to You know maybe talk to somebody or listen to what's happening with other families on the bus. [music] Already 20 years old, now that can't be right Why do I feel like I've already lived half my life [music] Being in society is a good feeling. A very good feeling you know? Other than being inside the prison. You only can go outside at certain times. So I like being in the sun and also observing people. It's nice. It's nice to be free. I think in 1998 or something like that I lost contact with my family. Coming out of prison I was mainly alone. Like I said I had no birth certificate. Nothing like that. I had no family. No girlfriend. No sisters. No brothers. No people that I could communicate that I had years ago. Bothers me a lot because I really you know I really miss my family you know. I remember I had two nieces and they were twins. Everytime I'd come over they'run. They'd run to me and one of them used to get behind me and hide. And the other one would be looking for the other twin And so sometimes I'd just you know just moved to the side so the twin can see the other twin. And she'd say "you crossed me!" So I remember that still. I used to love children. and that's one of the good memories I have. I eat different things now. Because I'm looking at all this crazy stuff they got. So I try it out. You know once in a while. The funny dinners. Different colored drinks. What do you call that ? The gator stuff. Pink. Blue. All these different colors so I started thinking that once in a while. Just because it looks funny. There's so many things that you can eat ! So it's a hard choice to pick out really the food that you want. For instance the peanut butter. It had jelly in it And I ain't never seen nothing like that before Definitely wasn't in the prison system you know. So peanut butter and jelly in the same place in a jar ? That that was strange. Still here! 1960's skippy still around. When I don't have nothing to do maybe a six o'clock at night you know I might Since it's nice out I go out in the park. You know I might just meditate You know you gotta let things go because hold on to anger will only stagnate your growth and development. You know a lot of people say society owed me because I did all this time. Even though I did the crime. I don't think like that. I don't feel that society owes me anything. Everything happens for a reason I believe So I let that go and deal with the future instead of dealing with the past. I try not to go backward I try to go forward. That's how I survive in society.
A2 US prison twin society packed good feeling people My Life After 44 Years In Prison 12 1 chatarow posted on 2022/02/07 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary