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Law

Youth Radio: Dads In Prison

Aysia Evans and her father
WUNC

The following is from WUNC's Youth Radio projectreporter Chelsea Korynta.

When I was 15, my father was sentenced to three months in prison. I was one of the 2.7 million Americans under 18 with a parent who’s incarcerated. In 2013, Sesame Street even created a series of videos starring a Muppet named “Alex,” whose dad is in jail.

These videos are recommended for children between the ages of three and eight, not teenagers like me, or my former classmate, 18-year-old Aysia Evans. Her dad has been in prison for drug possession and dealing for about 15 years, since Aysia was four. She used to visit him when she was young, but lost touch with him about five years ago. 

“He was in prison for most of my life, and we tried to have a relationship but it didn’t work,” Aysia says.

Throughout her teenage years, the absence of her father has become a significant emotional struggle for her. She’s fought through depression, self-harm, and anxiety, none of which are covered in Sesame Street’s video series.

“I just kind of backed into a corner, like I felt I had no one there for me at all,” Aysia explains. “And it’s hard because you try filling the holes that you have within yourself with so many things. But you just have to come to the realization, like, this hole is going to be here.”

Aysia’s dad was released from prison on July 1, 2014. He was transferred to a halfway house, a monitored and secure location where prisoners begin to reintegrate into society. Aysia wants to visit him and wants to set aside all her anger and sadness in favor of starting a new relationship with her dad.

“I think it’s gonna be harder for me to incorporate the word 'dad' into my vocabulary now that he’s, you know, back here.”

On July 19, Aysia and I made the hour-long trip to the halfway house to meet her father. I was busy asking a local where to park when Aysia recognized her father in the parking lot. He didn’t recognize Aysia at first. Once he did, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He didn’t seem to know what to say.

We went inside the halfway house, and I agreed to turn off the recorder. They talked about regular stuff. Aysia made plans to visit again and programmed her number into her dad’s new cell phone so they could stay in touch. Aysia cried and told him how much she didn’t want him to go back to prison. Her father held her hand and teared up himself, and then the two-hour visitation time was up.

The afternoon ended with hugs and I-love-yous. But what Aysia wanted was an apology and some assurance that he’s out of prison for good. There’s no quick fix for their relationship. No furry Muppets are there to give Aysia advice on forgiving and starting a new life with her father. But today was a start.

Aysia is a rising sophomore in college. Her university is right down the street from the halfway house where her dad will spend the next few months.

Youth Radio reporter Chelsea Korynta is currently in her first year at UNC-Greensboro.

Here's a Sesame Street clip with "Alex":

http://youtu.be/yk3SxyPW6lA

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