Incarcerated Scholars Conference Art Gallery 2025

The Essence of Balance

Emmitt X Wright

Knox College

Illinois

I’m from the streets
I lacked knowledge and wisdom of self and became a beast
The Greeks and Romans disguised as police
Have shot at me and chased me until my speed increased.
They locked me up in their jails but I kept getting released 
Peace never entered my mind
because I feasted off of crime.
I knew that the world was mine only when I was confined.
And time seemed to still
and pieces of my life became real but
Still I had more street knowledge to fulfill. 
I had to tell more lies, more robbing and
more people to kill
I had to pass more poison for ills.
I became as hard as the street of concrete.
I couldn’t sleep until I fulfilled my destiny.
I had to master negativity, so nothing of intelligence will ever tempt me.
I am very familiar with this energy.
I did 20 years in its university
I am certified and have a diploma in negative philosophy
My body was so cold I can predict negative prophecies
and genetically make a negative people.
It’s true this is what I’ve been through
and growing into the other side of who I am.
A lamb with no tears, a lion with no Fear.
Everything that happens is clear when the knowledge of self appears
My ears have heard truth on the other side opposite of the one filled with lies
and the calcified eye that never cry started to moisturize
that gave rise for me to see through all three 
and positivity was making me open to more that allowed to explore outside of the door of this box 
and the knots that my tongue was tied began to unloose. 
And the truth became real 
and that which I once destroyed I started to rebuild 
and my concrete still body was now flexible with the utmost respect for all people
Pros and cons provide equilibrium 
Add and subtract equals.
The opposite attracts the opposite energy
So I am very attractive to positivity.
Perfection is the balance of two scales evenly.
I am knowledge and wisdom, so I am is me.
My beast is crushed intellectually 
The streets was nothing but a teaching.
I used confinement to empower my thinking.
Reaching perfection is the essence of balancing

Artist Statement

I’m from Illinois. I have five unpublished books & a few published articles. One of my most favorite books is my unpublished children’s book called: “Oblivion the Elephant.” “The Essence of Balance” was a true metaphor piece for my Life that I had to hide to avoid a lot of my personal struggles. I hope you all can appreciate & try & figure it out.

If you are the artist of an artwork featured in this gallery and want it removed, please reach out to alliance@higheredinprison.org