"Another Wasted Life": Rhiannon Giddens on How Death of Kalief Browder Inspired New Song
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Published 2024-06-19
“Another Wasted Life" is a remarkable new song by the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Grammy-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens. She released a video of the song on October 2 to mark International Wrongful Conviction Day. The song was inspired by Kalief Browder, a Bronx resident who died by suicide in 2015 at the age of 22 after being detained at Rikers Island jail for nearly three years, after being falsely accused at the age of 16 of stealing a backpack. He was held in solitary confinement for two years and was repeatedly assaulted by guards and other prisoners.
In the video for “Another Wasted Life,” Rhiannon Giddens features 22 people who were wrongly incarcerated. Together, they collectively served more than 500 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit. The video includes two men, David Bryant and Tyrone Jones, who each spent 40 years in prison. Another seven of the men each spent over 25 years locked up after wrongful convictions. Rhiannon Giddens made the video in partnership with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.
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All Comments (21)
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Thank Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now! staff.
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Love Rhiannon Giddens since her days of singing with the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Very glad and appreciate seeing her bringing our priorities as a nation - human rights - to the fore. Thanks Amy and DN team for this story 👍
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Amy-Thank you for all that you do and for shining a light on the work of Rhiannon Giddens on this day!
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Thank you for this interview!
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It’s sad how few people watch these videos. Speaks loudly to how far we have to go as a citizenry.
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Keep up that excellent reporting Amy! We all love your work.
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Just so heartbreaking....I'm so so sorry....Thanks Amy and be safe all.
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Kahlif story was hard to hear. This has been and beautiful segment. Thank you DemocracyNow
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My heart is breaking ❤❤❤
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Thank you!
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I have loved Rhiannon Giddens for SO long now. She amazes me over & over & over again. From banjo to opera, she always delivers more than expected. So many like her never get recognized; I'm so glad she found her way.
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Kaluefs story sticks with me. My mother used to say " the slaughter of the innocents".
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I love the collab with this. Very important going forward to gain awareness of this huge and common issue. Wasted life because it was stolen by systemic failings, and people acting as gods where they should have no right.
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You are an inspiration, Rhiannon! Keep it up.
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That is right the prisons are for money. Thank you your honesty and application of your talent towards justice
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God Bless you Amy Goodman and the Democracy Now staff! 😢❤from 🇹🇹
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I was blessed , 😇 in the fall of 1963 , my high school took us to Norfolk County Jail. A two hour visit, and I promised myself that I would never get put in jail. I’m 81 now , headed for 107 , and I will stay out of jail. 🙏🙌👌🤞🤔🧐😎🤓
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That was so heartbreaking. I remember when he passed. They took his life from his living body and left a scarred shell. He desperately struggled to make peace with who he had become. 😢
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Your courage is much appreciated sis.❤️
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How terribly sad 😢
