Behind Bars: Fish a memoir of a boy in a man’s prison

Barry Wu                                                                                                                    11/14/11

Author: T.J. Parsell

Date of Publication: August 31, 2007

Publisher: Da Capo Press

Summary

            The story of Fish revolves around T.J. Parsell, a young teen that was taken into custody for robbing a photo mat with a toy gun. The autobiography starts out with the account of the Parsell’s childhood and throughout the book he states several scarring events that ultimately led to his present day situation. Parsell had always had a connection with his brother named Ricky, who guides Parsell through the early stages of his life. It would not be too farfetched to state that Ricky was the cause of Parsell’s behavior and actions that led to prison. The account of a inmate is something most people have seen on T.V. but what most individuals don’t see, is the account of a homosexual male going through prison. The story truly comes to life when inmate T.J. Much like high school, Parsell was inclined to his feeling for other men, especially to a young man named Scatter. Parsell was able to recognize in himself that he is gay and is willing to show it his fellow inmates.

            T.J. Parsell is shipped around several prisons, including Michigan Reformatory or Gladiator School, Riverside Correctional Facility, and County Jail. The process in itself is an unfair system with horrible employee’s who don’t care for the inmates. When Parsell is finally settled, the story soon turns to a battle for survival. Behind bars, inmates worry about ownership and usefulness of an individual. Luckily for Parsell, he was able to find a kind owner named Slide Step who spoiled Parsell with what little gifts they were provided with at the store. A few inmates like Red, a dark skinned man, didn’t care for his property and treated them like dirt. Parsell’s everyday life became easier with an owner and lived without much worry; it was until later that Parsell was told to be shipped off into Michigan Reformatory. Parsell had to endure the cruel treatment from the inmates at Michigan Reformatory but was eventually shipped back to Riverside. There he rejoined with Slide step and later finished his sentence.

Quotation- “So far, I’d gotten drunk, drugged, almost sliced to pieces by a jealous boyfriend, and sold ---or rather won, in a coin toss”(Parsell 96).

            This quote was after the first sexual encounter that T.J. Parsell had upon entering prison at Riverside. This scene depicted a horrible action that took place behind the bars of prison. It seemed to be like a whole new society that was the complete opposite of what the outside world had. The rules of prison were simple if you were weak find something strong to be your owner, if you were strong you would have to fight to get respect. Sadly for Parsell, he was not a strong individual so he became a servant previously owned by a man named Chet and later by a man named Slide Step. This quote show, just how cruel the inmates could be and the events that would unfold. The lives of the inmates mean nothing to each other; most people that aren’t getting out don’t care about the law or others. This story opened my eyes to what really happens behind bars, but truly this quote is the specific point where I question the system of justice.