She's All Caught Up is a cautionary tale for young people
enamored by the fast life and the older folks that love them. This memoir tells
of the negative influences that swayed the early life of author Jamila T. Davis
(creator of the Voices of Consequences Enrichment Series). She is currently
serving a 151 month sentence for her role in a multi-million dollar bank fraud
scheme.
Young Jamila grew up in a loving, middle class home. Her
hardworking parents, the Davises, overcame the barriers of poverty and racism
faced by African Americans in the segregated South. From the back wood shacks
of the rural south, the Davises migrated north, making Jamaica Queens, New York
their new home. They drove themselves relentlessly. By education and endless
hard work, they attained their portion of the American dream.
Determined to afford their own children the opportunities
they themselves never had, the Davises provided their children with a good
life, hoping to guarantee their children's success.
At first, it seemed as though the formula worked. Jamila became
her parents' ideal "star child." At a young age she performed in
dance recitals at Lincoln Center and toured the country in a leading role in an
off- Broadway play. Throughout elementary and middle school she maintained
straight A's and was accepted to the acclaimed "Fame" High School of
Performing Arts in New York City.
All was copacetic until high school years, when Jamila meets
Craig. He was a 16 year old drug dealer from the Southside projects of Jamaica
Queens. His street edge fascinated naive Jamila, and he quickly usurped Mrs.
Davis' position as role model and protector.
Jamila became mesmerized by the hustlers and life in the
inner city ghetto. Her values quickly changed. She wanted independence, power
and notoriety, and she chose life in the fast lane to claim them. With her
brains and beauty, she rises to the top!
As this high school teen rebels, breaking loose from her
parents' tight reins, the Davises wage an "all-out" battle to save
their only daughter who they love so desperately. But Jamila is in too deep!
Poisoned by materialism and the drama of street life, she resists, and the
Davis family is turned upside down!
This real-life story exemplifies the powerful societal
influences that affect today's youth, and the almost insurmountable challenges
of the older generation who fight hard to protect them. This heartfelt story
empowers both youth and adults to understand the tragic consequences of poor
choices while instilling the ability to resist them.
When this good girl goes bad, it seems as if there is no
turning back.
SHE'S ALL CAUGHT UP!
Despite her current obstacles, Davis is committed to paying
her way forward and transforming lives through her literary work. From behind
bars she’s making a difference!
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
January 29, 1995
“Pull the car over now!” I heard blaring from a bullhorn as
I was suddenly awakened from a deep sleep.
“Oh my goodness, Jamila, wake up!” Theresa shouted as she
fiercely nudged me from the driver’s seat of her gray Mitsubishi Mirage.
“What in the world!” I shouted as we pulled over on Capital
Boulevard and close to a dozen cop cars surrounded us.
“Oh, God, girl. We are in trouble. I’m so nervous,” Theresa
whimpered in a panic as sweat began to pour down her jet-black petite face.
“Calm down, girl. Just act normal,” I instructed, trying
hard to gather my composure. My heart pounded intensely as I watched the police
gather through the rearview mirror. Two cops exited their vehicle.
“You don’t understand! I’ve got a ton of drugs in the trunk.
Oh, man, Jamila, I think we are in big trouble,” Theresa ranted as the cops
quickly approached us.
“Young ladies, step out of the car and show me some
identification,” the tall, white cop said in a strong Southern drawl as he
approached the driver’s door of the vehicle, with his hand tightly gripped on
the gun in his holster.
We stepped out of the small, two-door car and fear engulfed
me as I watched several other officers swarm our vehicle. It became apparent
this was not a routine traffic stop.
“You can make this difficult, or it can be easy. Do you give
us permission to search this vehicle, gal?” the officer asked Theresa sharply
in his strong Southern accent.
“Well, um,” Theresa mumbled, clearly confused and
frightened. “I don’t . . . um. Well, I guess so.”
That’s all the officers needed to hear. They had Theresa’s
consent and began to ransack the car. After a brief search, the drugs that were
hidden in the luggage in the trunk of the car were quickly apprehended.
Tears rolled down my eyes as Theresa and I were read our
rights, handcuffed, and placed in the back of the police car. I was seventeen
years old and under arrest!
My life flashed in front of me. What was I going to tell my
parents? How could I ever explain this? I was supposed to be enjoying my freshman
year at St. Augustine’s University. Instead, I sat in a tiny holding cell at
the Wake County Jail in Raleigh, North Carolina.
I nervously stood silent as I was finally taken before a
magistrate judge, who formally announced my charges and determined my bail.
“Jamila Davis,” the old white judge announced as he banged
his gavel, “I hereby set your bail at two million dollars.”
Two million dollars! I thought in rage and disbelief.
I was escorted out of the small courtroom by the bailiff and
sent back to the dark holding cell. I cried uncontrollably as the reality of
the consequences of my lifestyle had suddenly crept up on me. I had no clue the
power a few bad decisions could have. My life didn’t have to turn out this way.
It was one poor choice that ultimately altered my entire destiny!
Jamila T. Davis, born and raised in Jamaica Queens, New
York, is a motivational speaker, prison reform activist and the author of
several books geared to empower the young and the old. She is also a co-founder
of WomenOverIncarcerated.org, an advocacy group created to shed light on the
lengthy sentences of non-violent, female federal offenders and rally for
sentencing reform.
As a former Hip Hop Music & Professional Sports
Celebrity Advisor and real estate investor, Davis is no stranger to triumphs
and defeats. From a self-made millionaire at age 25, her life took a tragic
twist. Today she’s known as federal prisoner #59253-053, sentenced to 12 1/2
years for bank fraud.
From behind bars, Davis embarked on an intense journey of
inner healing and restoration. Documenting her findings, she created the
“Voices of Consequences Enrichment Series,” which has helped to transform the
lives of female offenders across the country.
Discovering her purpose while incarcerated, and encountering
injustices within her own case, Jamila T. Davis developed “The High Price I Had
To Pay” Book Series, creating a platform for women serving decade plus
sentences for non-violent crimes to tell their stories. The success of the
series led to the formation of WomenOverIncarcerated.org.
Get to know Jamila:
Introduce yourself to the audience and tell them a
little about your latest memoir "She's All Caught Up."
Hello, my name is Jamila T. Davis. I am the author of
"She's All Caught Up." My book is a memoir about my early life,
written as a cautionary tale. It exposes some of the negative influences that
led me on a destructive, high speed chase to find fulfillment.
I grew up during the height of the crack cocaine epidemic in
the 80's. Back then, it was cool to date drug dealers who were getting
significant amounts of money. Just like kids today, my desire to be accepted by
my peers caused me to try to appease those I admired, regardless of the
consequences. Unlike the average chicks I grew up with, once I got a taste of
life in the fast lane I wanted my own share. Instead of simply accepting hand
outs from my drug dealer boyfriends, I decided to try my hand in the game.
Overnight, I became addicted to the high of getting money and it all went down
hill from there!
Please share with our audience where you are at? And,
how your current experience sparked the creation of your memoir?
I am currently serving a 12 1/2 year sentence at the Danbury
Federal Prison camp in Danbury, Connecticut. It is the same facility where
Piper Kerman, author of the book "Orange Is The New Black," was
housed.
While incarcerated, I participated in a prison public
speaking program, geared to deter at-risk youth from crime. Hearing teens vow
to avoid participating in criminal activities after listening to my story made
me recognize the power it had. This inspired me to write my book to warn others
about the detriments of living life in the fast lane. I want kids to understand
the severe consequences of this lifestyle, so they will think twice before
committing crimes.
What audience do you think will benefit most from this
book and why?
I think teens will benefit from reading my book, as well as
adults. A lot of people from all races and backgrounds have told me they can
relate to my story in certain aspects. I created my book to become a mirror
that causes readers to reflect. Even if you didn't make the same mistakes as I
did, most of us have been vulnerable to some form of peer pressure or negative
influences to gain acceptance. It is my goal to cause readers to dig in and
analyze themselves. I share my flaws so that others will have the courage to
take a look at their own flaws. We all make mistakes, but true empowerment
occurs when we dare to go back and fix them. It's all about being real and
breaking free from the chase that keeps many in bondage.
Share with us a little about how your family life was
growing up?
My mother was a school teacher and my father was a NYC
Transit supervisor. They migrated from the South to build a better life for
their family.
I grew up in an upper middle class home, with two very
loving parents. They enrolled me and my brother in all types of activities
including dancing, singing, acting, gymnastics and Judo. I had a full schedule
and was expected to get straight A's in school. My parents wanted to ensure
that my brother and I had all the things, and opportunities, that they lacked
growing up. So for the most part, we were pretty spoiled.
Do you think your childhood life fits the typical
prisoner? Please explain.
Not at all! My parents raised me for success. My mother's
dream was for me to become a doctor or lawyer, while being successful in the
world of entertainment. They never imagined that I would be enamored by life in
the fast lane. My desire to be accepted swayed me over to the other side. After
that, there seemed to be no turning back!
What was the changing point in your life that turned you
into a "get money" chick?
I was dumped by my first boyfriend, a well known drug
dealer, for an older girl who worked in a bakery. He told me he chose her over
me because she made her own money, attracting him to her independence. At that
moment something went off in my head. I felt like money would be the key factor
that brought me happiness and companionship, so I went after it full fledge.
Once I saw the attention it got me, I was hooked!
What is your message to teens that think living in the
fast lane is cool?
Take a look at my life. Serving time in prison is certainly
not cool! Regardless of how smart you think you are or what you think you can
get a way with, in the end crime will always catch up to you!
For the past 6 1/2 years I've raised my two children from a
prison visiting room. I missed out on their birthdays, graduations and all the
major holidays. I would give back every dollar I ever made to regain the time I
lost with them.
My experience has taught me that nothing is ever worth
losing your freedom. Therefore, avoid crime at all cost!
Find the author and buy the book:
Twitter/jamilatdavis.com
Instagram/jamilatdavis
Email address- jamiladavis06811@gmail.com
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