You know, I was ready to die. I mean, I was really struck by something you said in the first episode - that, quote, "We have this tool that we journalists can use, which is our humanity" - that if you give humanity, you're going to get it back. After a decade reporting on music for various outlets, he served as Senior Editor on the public radio program Latino USA. And then the Supreme Court says HINOJOSA: It's going to happen. I can send you a list with hundreds of schools that will offer you correspondence courses for free. He was 17 years old when he was sentenced to life in prison. I feel like Im leaving my brothers behind.. And it was just the most unbelievable thing, truly. Theres so many people that have lived a life of hell and nobody ever hears our story! And even though I've been home three years, I'm still lost, you know, because this world moved fast. So I started visualizing and putting myself in places that Id never been before. Concord Monitor. It's impossible. She previously covered the criminal justice system, policing and immigration for Nashville Public Radio. The Jones decision effectively closed the door of judicial review for many outstanding cases. I was fascinated with the lifestyle. You have this dilemma with Suave - trying to keep some journalistic distance from him in the beginning, but then developing a genuine friendship with him, genuine affection. And I told him, When I get out, lmma get my GED. Then I got out of the hole [and] I took my GED. The only way youre going to fight the system is if you know how to write the grievance, if you know how to file them pro se lawsuits. David Luis 'Sauve' Gonzalez of "Suave" from Futuro Studios and PRX. And so it was like this long-haul battle. When I say we, Im talking about lifers. But it was new to me because when I went in, I had a complete family. We had a secret, unspoken bond. Futuro Studios partners with some of the worlds top media companies to produce beautiful narrative storytelling podcasts that center Latinx, Black, and immigrant experiences. And thats the life hes leading, in and out of solitary confinement, when he meets Maria Hinojosa in 1993. Required fields are marked *. She has been honored with her own day in October by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and has been recognized by People En Espaol as one of the 25 most powerful Latina women. This represents a 38% decline since 2016. And I felt like I was breaking that bond. Rahsaan New York Thomas: What was the highest level of education you completed on the streets? Once on the outside, he tries to continue this way of life. David Luis 'Suave' Gonzalez. In addition, PRX distributes trusted and treasured public radio programming to hundreds of stations nationwide, including The World, The Moth Radio Hour, This American Life, Snap Judgment, Reveal, The Takeaway, and Latino USA. PRX programs have been recognized by the Peabody Awards, the duPont-Columbia Awards, the IDA Documentary Awards, and the Pulitzer Prizes. CHANG: It is fascinating to listen to both of you describe all the complex layers that come into a relationship between journalist and source. STOP creating chaos against people you know nothing about. Maggie is an Adjunct Professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY and formerly the Producer-at-Large for Latino USA. I'm still learning. Stop the cancel culture and make yourself useful. l mean, of course it would have been easier, but guess what? What was it like to catch up with the world almost 30 years later? And the more she learns about Suaves crime, the more she comes to question the events that put Suave in prisonand the system that puts away children to life in the first place. That's when it hit me. David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez was one of those individuals who had their case opened. How big of a difference would it make if institutions across the country really put a focus on education? Shes been invited to discuss her reporting on WBEZs Morning Shift, WAMUs 1A and NPRs Up First podcast. You know, it was scary because even though I went to college, I got my degrees, I educated myself, transformed myself, I never thought about living as a free man, as an adult. Learn how your comment data is processed. CHANG: David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez is the focus of the new podcast "Suave." The story leads us back to North Philadelphia in search of someone else who was present the night of the murder. 10.20.2022 David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez A curated collection of links The Record What are records? I'm like a baby learning how to be a decent human being. Born & Raised in Paterson, Father & Husband, Former Paterson School Board Commissioner, Homeowner/Ta And I trusted her, and I still do. PublishedFebruary 23, 2021 at 3:14 PM CST, A German woman returned the kindness shown to her husband by helping a stranded teen, Thousands fleeing violence in Sudan are crossing the Red Sea to Saudi Arabia, NHL Playoffs 1st round: A curse lifted, defending champions ousted and 14 overtimes, Cookbook celebrates the tradition of Gullah Geechee cuisine. At Futuro Media, Hinojosa continues to bring attention to experiences and points of view that are often overlooked or underreported in mainstream media, all while mentoring the next generation of diverse journalists to delve into authentic and nuanced stories. When I met Maria, I was at a point that I wanted to commit suicide. A Philadelphia judge sentenced him to life without parole for a crime he committed when he was 17 years old. After Hinojosa spoke, he approached and asked, Im serving life. You know, and I say all the time, in 2017 when I stepped out that prison, not my family, not my community, not my friends - it was Maria Hinojosa that was there waiting for me. And for me, one of the messages for my fellow journalists is, always stay in touch with your sources 'cause you never know. Hes become a man and built a life behind bars. Suave returns to prison. That little place right here changed my whole life. It's important that the Latino community knows that these [Esperanza's] resources exist.". A Philadelphia judge sentenced him to life without parole for a crime he committed when he was 17 years old. I heard in Pennsylvania prisons, if youre a lifer, they aint trying to let you go to college, right? I mean, it's kind of crazy. Seuss book. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. As the decades pass, Suave becomes a mentor for younger men and a model citizen inside the prison. Instead theyd at her watch a fiction show or read a fiction book, but I believe real life stories are much more interesting and soul catching than fiction. Keep changing our world and spread kindness to all., Your email address will not be published. You know, these are things that I need to learn.Luis Suave Gonzalez. That moment sparked a transformation in the life of Suave. Maria Hinojosa meets David Luis Suave Gonzalez in 1993. Public Media Your email address will not be published. Like Gonzalez, Thomas was able to earn a degree behind bars, which was one of the factors cited in the commutation he received from California Gov. Like, if you never go home, what does that matter? There are still several episodes to go in this podcast, so I don't know how the story ends up. You know the same way we grind when we hustlin on the corners, the same way you gotta hustle when you in the prison system. But in journalism, a source is somebody that could report what - the injustices taking place behind these prison walls that society don't know about. HINOJOSA: Yeah. And he finds that there are still a few things he needs to do, so he asks Maria to join him. This week, a story three decades in the making. About Suave from Futuro Studios and PRX. Ive never seen one in my life. Thomas, who was sentenced to 55-years-to-life in California, is the inside host of the Pulitzer-nominated podcast Ear Hustle. When I came out, I had basically nobody. Im going up and I know everything that goes up must come down.. Stephanie Lebow is the Senior Audio Engineer across Futuro Medias properties. He had heard Hinojosa on the radio and was intrigued because she was Latina. Everything she thought she knew about his case turns upside down. Earlier this week, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Montgomery v Louisiana case that people like Suave, called juvenile lifers, have the right to be re-sentencedwhich means his life sentence could be reduced to time he has already served. Juvenile life without parole sentences disproportionately hit Black and brown children. Did you hope that education would lead to finding you a way home? He is the cohost of both the "Suave" and "Death by Incarceration" podcasts. My God theres so many more important things in life. There are still several episodes to go in this podcast, so I don't know how the story ends up. In the corner of 8th and Somerset, Maria encourages Suave to talk about that night, which theyve never discussed in nearly three decades of friendship. CHANG: So Maria, I want to start with you because you met Suave back in the early '90s when the conversation around the criminal justice system was so different from the conversation we are having now about the criminal justice system. During her eight years as CNNs urban affairs correspondent, Hinojosa often took viewers into communities rarely shown on television and continued that work longform on Now on PBS. At Graterford State Correctional Institution in Pennsylvania, Suave joined the largest population of juvenile lifers in the country, young men considered by the U.S. justice system to be irredeemable. Then, in 2016, a Supreme Court decision changed everything. Get the latest updates on programs and events. The Slate Group LLC. And on the day of Suaves release, Maria travels to Pennsylvania to bring him home. Learn how your comment data is processed. Suave, as he likes to be called, was serving a life sentence without parole for a crime he committed when he was 17 years old. Copyright 2021 NPR. I don't know - because, Suave, we didn't even talk about it 'cause it's like you're in for life. I failed all that shit. So to me, education was about fighting the system and changing the law. David Luis Suave Gonzalez: Tenth grade. And I'm at a point in my career when I can say it makes me a better journalist. Fifteen seconds changed my whole life.. kevin@deathbyincacerationpodcast.com. We are ghetto or urban journalists, whatever they want to call us. In 2018 she was a Fellow at Shorenstein Center at the Harvard Kennedy School and is a frequent speaker across the country. I feel like Im leaving my brothers behind.. GONZALEZ: Well, whatever I missed in between, I just missed. Career. CHANG: You know, Suave, it's really moving to listen to you talk about Maria the way you do and the role that she has played in your life. CHANG: Yeah. Tim Pilleri . All rights reserved. Education in prison would reduce the number of incidents, meaning violence because when you are enrolled in an educational program, your focus is getting that degree. Those incarcerated serving life and long terms, we gotta get out the mindset that we need permission from the DOC. After Suave is cleared from all accusations, he returns to his home in Philadelphia and tries to move on with his life. I was fascinated with prison flicks. This is an incredible moment for American journalism the choice to recognize a piece going deep into the humanity of not just the source, but also the journalists. Gonzalez was a 2018 Reimagining Reentry Fellow through Mural Arts Philadelphia and is represented by the Morton Contemporary Gallery there. Maria Hinojosa, Maggie Freleng, Julieta Martinelli, Stephanie Lebow, Audrey Quinn, and Marlon Bishop the production team behind Suave, When I heard the news that Suave won the Pulitzer Prize, I felt like a tectonic shift happened, saidMaria Hinojosa, President and Founder of Futuro Media. Our partnership demonstrates the heights we can reach together in public media. Acclaimed journalist Maria Hinojosa met Suave 27 years ago when she was invited to speak at a graduation ceremony at Graterford. Suave, as he likes to be called, was. CHANG: And when you became a free man - I mean, let's just think about this. So I was able to encourage them to go to school. Theres no winners in this. Follow her on Twitter and sign up for her newsletter, College Inside, on the future of postsecondary education in prison. In the series premiere we meet Suave, a man who has been serving a life sentence at a Pennsylvania prison since he was just a teenager. GONZALEZ: What I do believe is that Maria is a journalist that wasn't trying to sensationalize my story, and she was telling it in an educational way where we could get people to understand that prison is not the rite of passage. Julieta Martinelli is an award-winning investigative reporter and currently a producer at Latino USA. GONZALEZ: From 1998, '99, I gave up all hope. While incarcerated, Gonzalez developed a decades-long friendship with journalist Maria Hinojosa. Recently, it launched the critically-acclaimed podcasts: Anything For Selena with WBUR, La Brega with WNYC Studios, Norco 80 for LAist Studios, LOUD: The History of Reggaeton with Spotify, and dolo: The Ballad of Chalino Snchez with Sonoro. And I'm at a point in my career when I can say it makes me a better journalist. At a Pennsylvania prison, Suave joined the largest population of juvenile lifers in the country. We cant change the world fighting over whos right or wrong. In many states - including Pennsylvania, where Gonzalez was sentenced -there are few, if any, college opportunities for people with such lengthy sentences. His stories have appeared in The FADER, This American Life, Planet Money, NPR News, Studio 360 and many other outlets. Please everyone share kindness. You may have heard some of our reporting over the last few years about a man named Suave, who is serving a life sentence for murder at a prison in Pennsylvania. PRX serves independent producers and organizations by helping them connect to their most engaged, supportive audiences. Look. Back behind bars, Suave suffers flashbacks and struggles deeply to adjust, and Maria questions the entire parole system. Your focus is not nonsense no more. Meanwhile, Maria travels to Philadelphia and Suave anxiously awaits the decision from a judge that could finally grant him the opportunity to experience life on the outside as an adult for the first time. A Latino juvenile lifer, Suave had been on what he described as a suicide mission. What can I do? Hinojosa responded, You could be my source. In 1988, David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez was found guilty of first-degree homicide. Group, a Graham Holdings Company. He would spend the rest of his life . That our podcast focusing on people that are often forgotten just because they are behind bars is being recognized is an extraordinary feat. He was released last year after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that minors sentenced to life could be resentenced. And I was like, wow, somebody really cared because in street term, a source is a snitch. As a Soros Justice Media Fellow, she spent 2019 documenting the human repercussions of changing legal policies along the U.S.-Mexico border. And to be the first formerly incarcerated person and the first juvenile lifer to really knock that off, man, listen, its a blessing. Audreys reporting with Reveal on deadly for-profit disability care led to the unraveling of one of the countrys largest group home companies and earned a Garden State Award for podcasting. In 1988, Gonzalez was found guilty of a first-degree homicide committed when he was 17 years old. The fifth fellow, Luis Suave Gonzalez, will appear Nov. 2 at a public symposium on overhauling the criminal justice system. I wanna talk to you about the Pulitzer prize, bro. Luis Suave Gonzalez was only 17 at the time, making him a juvenile, but he was tried as an adult and given a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of ever being released. Youre a victim, so you victimize other people because youre hurt. I'm not perfect. The story of David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez on Latino USA - Saturday at 6pm This week, a story three decades in the making. December 6, 1986. Fifteen seconds. Now nearly 50, Suave has come to terms with the fact that he will never leave the confines of SCI Graterford. Things in Suaves life took a completely unexpected turn when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 in the case of Miller v Alabama that for juveniles, mandatory life without parole sentences violate the Eighth Amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. The Power of Visiting: A Special Presentation by David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez David Luis "Suave" Gonzalez was sentenced as a "juvenile lifer" at 17, and served 31 years, mostly in state prison, before being released in 2017. You came out when you were in your mid-40s. Even the worst day that I have is good. Each week, , hosts David "Suave" Gonzalez (Suave podcast/released lifer) and Kevin McCracken (Adulting Well podcast) will be joined by law-makers, community leaders, policy-makers, formerly incarcerated and the currently incarcerated as they shed light on institutions that viciously target and harm marginalized communities, specifically HINOJOSA: That's the thing. Suave had a rough startas a teenager walking into a maximum-security prison he says he was a target, and much like in the neighborhood where he grew up, Suave decided he had to be tougher than everyone else. That is until a Supreme Court ruling changes everythingand Suave suddenly gets a second chance to fight for his freedom. Additionally, Hinojosa was the first Latina to anchor a PBS FRONTLINE report: Lost in Detention which aired in October 2011 and was the first to explore abuse at immigrant detention facilities, garnering attention from Capitol Hill as well as both the mainstream and Spanish-language media. I had grandmother, grandfathers, aunt. Audrey Quinn is a documentary audio reporter and editor. But as Suave readies for life on the outside, his excitement gives way to a never ending list of fears about what life outside of prison might be like. 70% of all juveniles serving life without parole are people of color. He is also a street artist, with his art mirroring his advocacy work: critical of injustice, but exploding with compassion for those forced to carry its burden..

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