From Rocky to Reality

Hey Ya’ll,

Last week, I stood in front of the famous Rocky Balboa statue in Philadelphia, that triumphant symbol of grit and resilience. Arms raised. Fists clenched. Victory immortalized in bronze.

But that’s not all I saw.

Lying at the base of those famous steps was a man … wrapped in blankets, asleep on the cold concrete.

Just a few blocks away, I visited Eastern State Penitentiary, the first U.S. prison, built on the idea that solitary confinement would inspire reflection and rehabilitation. Instead, it became the blueprint for the dehumanizing carceral system we still grapple with today.

That day was a collision of stories. One America that worships the fighter, and another that forgets those still fighting to survive. And, it was my first time in a prison.

RESOURCE:
A Former Prison Breaks From the System That Built It : https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/12/arts/eastern-state-penitentiary-museum-philadelphia.html

REVELATION:
The New York Times article explores the transformation of Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia from a once-revolutionary prison into a museum that confronts the legacy of mass incarceration. Originally designed to inspire reform through solitary confinement, the prison instead fostered psychological harm and isolation. Now a haunting historical site, it serves as a platform for public dialogue about America’s justice system, connecting past ideals to present-day inequities. We glorify resilience in the proverbial ring, but often ignore the systems that keep people on the ropes. Eastern State wasn’t just a prison, it was the beginning of a philosophy that punishment equals progress. But progress for whom? While we lift up stories of triumph, we must also confront the structures that make survival a fight in the first place

The top 3 ways we still feel the impact of Eastern State Penitentiary today are:

1. Solitary Confinement’s Enduring Legacy - According to a May 2023 report by Solitary Watch and Unlock the Box, over 122,000 individuals are held in solitary confinement in US prisons and jails on any given day.

2. The Roots of Mass Incarceration - The penitentiary helped establish a carceral philosophy rooted in punishment and control rather than rehabilitation. The article points out that modern mass incarceration reflects this same dehumanizing approach, especially toward marginalized communities.

3. Public Reckoning Through Museums and Memory - According to the article, it uses exhibits and public programs to connect historic incarceration practices to present-day injustices.

REFLECTION:

• When have I celebrated someone’s triumph while overlooking the silent struggles happening in the background?
  (How often do I notice the “Rockys” of the world without seeing the person sleeping at the bottom of the steps?)

• In what ways have I accepted or ignored systems that harm others, simply because they weren’t harming me?

• What is my responsibility in reimagining justice, not just as a concept, but in how I lead, connect, hire, give feedback, or create opportunity?

This isn’t about guilt. It’s about vision. We can’t transform what we won’t confront and I want us to lead in a way that both honors resilience and removes the barriers that make resilience necessary in the first place.

With urgency and hope,
That Inclusion Lady <3