"James Broadnax, who is 37, describes how he writes: 'I've been here umpteen days never forgetting To forget the absence of my fate. Sloppy ciphered sentences become rage, Provoking thoughts into words spoken Across this blank page.'"
"Broadnax's dream was to become a successful rapper. He would fill entire notebooks with handwritten rap lyrics. Next month, that old habit could cost him his life."
"During the sentencing phase of Broadnax's capital trial, prosecutors presented the jury with 40 pages of the defendant's notebooks found in a suitcase after."
"Broadnax was convicted along with his cousin of murdering two white men, Matthew Butler and Stephen Swan, during a robbery in Garland, Texas."
James Broadnax has spent over 16 years on death row in Texas, using poetry as a coping mechanism. His writing has evolved from rap to spoken word, reflecting his emotional state. Broadnax was convicted in 2009 for the murder of two men during a robbery, with his trial marred by racial bias in jury selection. Prosecutors presented his poetry as evidence, which may have influenced the jury's decision. He is scheduled for execution on April 30, raising concerns about the fairness of his trial.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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