An engaging history of the 1984 "Cuban riots" at the Federal Penitentiary in Atlanta.
I had a very personal attachment to this book, as I worked for the Federal Bureau of Prisons from 1989 until my retirement in 2011. When I started, some of the veteran employees talked a great deal about the riots, as some of them had worked in Atlanta, or had been sent there "TDY" for the disturbances. Then, throughout my career, I worked with others who had been involved.
In addition, while at my first duty station, the Federal Correctional Institution in Oxford, WI, I had the experience of working with many of the "Mariel Cubans". In all my years, I never experienced a more frustrating, bedeviling, confusing group of men!
Finally, after reading this book, I can better understand them, and maybe put to rest some of the nightmares they caused me!
Lawson started at the Atlanta Federal Pen as a Correctional Officer, and the adventures he experienced with the position. His descriptions of the feelings evoked by the closing of the entrance gates behind him really brought back memories!
The games played by the inmates, but also by the older guards, the supervisors, and the administration were so familiar. As Lawson describes, the effects of the Civil Rights Act of 1976 and "Jimmy Carter's efforts to increase minority percentages within government leadership", rapid changes were made. It helped lead to a situation where "morale was very low, tension was high, and upper management was allowing low level supervisors with limited abilities, at best, to make many key decisions". To add to the author's discomfort, his union activities led to his being "seen by management as a troublemaker".
Slowly, the games begin to take their toll on the author. Add in the stress of the rumored closing of the facility, and the Atlanta Pen was a ticking time bomb. The final straw came with the arrival of the "Mariel Cubans".
The Mariel Cubans were a group of men who arrived in the Cuban exodus of the late 1970's. Castro, sensing an opportunity to rid of his country of both hardened criminals and mental patients, cleverly inserted them into the people fleeing his country by boat to the United States. He also gained the benefit of "sticking it in the eye" of the Americans.
These men, were used to being treated as animals in Casto's prisons. Their habits, from the sanctity of life down to personal grooming, were something to behold. Lawson does a good job at describing some of them, but I feel that he, for the benefit of not scaring the reader, to left a lot out. Who knows, maybe someday I will write a book about them myself!
One thing that the author did note about the Cuban population was the "rapid emotional change and response" they were capable of. One minute you could be having a somewhat civil conversation (they were always loud, animated, and invading what American's felt as their "personal space), and the next, with absolutely no warning, could become enraged and violent.
So, what was America to do with this population? They were not remotely equipped with the skills to live productively in society. Deportation was off the table, Castro was not going to take them back under no circumstances. Let's just lock them up in prison! And when they started getting militant, let's just move them all to one place where we could keep an eye on them. The Atlanta Penitentiary! Never mind that it was scheduled to be shut down because it was old and rundown. Or that the majority of staff had already been transferred out. Or that the administration was being run by a misguided warden and his personal staff of cronies. What could possibly go wrong?
What went wrong was that the Cuban population figured out that they were screwed. They discovered that even if "after doing everything within their power, they were still facing life imprisonment with no parole - having never gone to court. In addition, the instructions "remain until deported", with no deportation, was in reality, "life imprisonment with no parole".
Lawson noted that "as a result of the frustration and apparent endlessness to the current situation, most of the Cuban detainee population was becoming more militant.
Which all led to the blowing up of the situation on November 1, 1984. Despite obvious warnings, even of the date and time, spoken to personally, as well as in writing to staff, management failed to prepare for a total lockdown.
Which led to a takeover of the institution by the Cuban population. Over 100 staff held hostage. For over 11 days. Not knowing if they were going to live or die. Including the author. Major portions of the facility burned. Millions of dollars of damage. Lives ruined.
I wish that I could say that things have changed in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I'm lucky. Despite some close calls, I made it to retirement. I have friends still working there, who tell me that things are getting worse everyday.
That's why this book is important. Because if we don't remember our history, it will happen again. And that will be tragic.
I wish the author the best, and hope that he can let go of some of the anger that he so obviously still holds close. If I could talk to him, I would tell him, "You made it, brother. Let it go. You did your time. There's life on the other side. Enjoy your blessings. Life can be great, if you let it".

The Atlanta Penitentiary Burns by author Earl Lawson is a great book! Let's you look into the hostage situation of 121 people inside a burning penitentiary. A part of history and an amazing story. I absolutely recommend this book!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC copy of The Atlanta Penitentiary Burns in exchange for an honest review.