Wrongfully Convicted by Harun Akbar
Medium: Marker on paper
Dimensions: 8.5 x 11
Artist Statement: Though I am now known as Harun Akbar, i was born Aaron Griffin in Philadelphia, PA in 1974. I am currently being held hostage under the name Sharif Jones. / This piece represents my never ceasing fight to regain my freedom. My hands on the bars represents my strength to bend bars. My looking out of the cell window represents my unobscured vision whereby I constantly keep my eyes on the prize: my regained freedom. The cracks on the concrete enclosing the barred windows represents the cracks in the system. The mor and more cracks appear in the system, the more and more the truth that is hidden within its belly become exposed to the public: There are innocent men, women, and children trapped within the bowels of a corrupt judicial system, though thsose prisoners are actually innocent, wrongfully convicted and or victims of mass incarceration. The number 1993 represents the year the system kidnapped me and held me hostage.
Image description: Cartoon style marker drawing of a Black person inside a cell, holding onto the bars of a small window with their hands in the foreground. The window is inside a red brick wall, and around the window is cracking cement with the words “Wrongfully Convicted 1993” on it.