Billy Cooper

Compelling Creative Nonfiction Essay

Faculty Mentor: Nidhi Gandhi

I was born Billy Grace Junior. I’m 53 years old. For the last 46 years of my life, my name has been Billy Cooper. I’m a Black man throttled in the New York state prison system. Today, I have 25 years inside. I was arrested in 2001 for murder, as well as other charges. I’ve done juvenile time for selling drugs and not going to SCHOOL. This is my third state bid. Selling crack cocaine, armed robbery, and murder are the charges that I’ve done time for. Out of my 53 years alive, I’ve only spent twenty one of the fifty three as a free man in society.

I’m a son, a FATHER, a grandfather, a brother, a teacher, a black belt, a friend etc. I am many things, but of the things I was not was non-violent. I also was not drug and alcohol free for the majority of my life. Drugs, alcohol, and violence were my life. For close to forty years.

But today, I’ve turned my back on all three (Drugs - Alcohol - and Violence). Today, I’m a full time second semester John Jay/BMCC student with a 3.7 GPA. Today, I'm the co-coordinator of the Network Program at Otisville Correctional Facility. I’m the facilitator of a workshop called “Understanding Using the 12 Steps.” I’m also the co-facilitator of the “Anger Management” workshop. Today, I’m focused. Today, I’m drug and alcohol free. Today, I want to help kids and young teens who suffer from the effects of unresolved childhood traumas.

Click here to read Cooper’s piece “Trauma.”