Reclaiming Agency Through Storytelling, Nature, and Family Post-Incarceration

Key Quotes

"When I did come out and got off the van, I immediately just saw so many people that I loved, people that I cared about. They were there with open arms. People were in tears, people were screaming, people were yelling, people were cheering for me. It was the greatest moment of my life. It's interesting because I've been home now over a year, and I've done so many amazing things, but nothing compares to that feeling. Nothing."

Greg Eskridge describes the overwhelming emotion of his release from prison. He highlights that this singular moment of reunion and celebration surpassed all subsequent positive experiences, underscoring the profound impact of freedom and human connection. Eskridge emphasizes that no other achievement or event has matched the intensity of that initial feeling.

"It's so surreal for it to be such a beautiful environment and you have the ugliness of a prison structure surrounded by so much beauty. It is just mind-blowing how that prison is situated. But there's so much hope being surrounded by so much beauty because you can see it, and it's almost like if you can see it, you can touch it."

Greg Eskridge reflects on the stark contrast between the natural beauty of San Quentin's location and the harsh reality of the prison itself. Eskridge notes that this juxtaposition of ugliness and beauty within the same environment offers a sense of hope, suggesting that the visible beauty makes the possibility of freedom feel more tangible.

"I don't even think beautiful is an appropriate word. I would say it's so majestic. You have almost a 360-degree view of the Bay Area. You're in Berkeley, you can see Oakland, you can see Richmond, you can see all of these other little small cities in the Bay Area, and you're surrounded by water."

Greg Eskridge describes the Berkeley Marina as a place of profound natural splendor. Eskridge emphasizes its majestic quality and the panoramic views it offers of the surrounding Bay Area, highlighting the expansive presence of water as a key element of its appeal.

"Yes, so there's been layers to my freedom. There's been moments like walking out of prison, obviously you're free, but standing by the water, the ocean is the ultimate freedom for me. The ocean can't be tamed, it can't be controlled, it can't be destroyed. The ocean is just a place where as soon as you see it, it causes you, it caused me to just be silent, to just sit and be still. That's what the ocean represents, and it just represented the ultimate freedom for me."

Greg Eskridge articulates his personal definition of ultimate freedom, connecting it to the vastness and untamable nature of the ocean. Eskridge explains that the ocean's immensity evokes a sense of profound peace and stillness, representing a freedom that cannot be contained or manipulated.

"I was able to just yell and scream, and it just felt so liberating, and I've never, it felt like I heard my actual voice for the first time in my life, and I'll never forget that moment."

Greg Eskridge recounts a powerful moment of liberation experienced while riding a jet ski in Long Beach. Eskridge explains that the ability to freely yell and scream, something impossible in prison, allowed him to feel a profound sense of release and to truly hear his own voice for the first time.

"So I just want to continue to let people on the outside hear the humanity in people that are on the inside, and that's what Uncuffed is about. Uncuffed is about bringing you a little bit closer to the people that you never get a chance to hear from."

Greg Eskridge expresses his ongoing mission with the Uncuffed program. Eskridge states his desire to bridge the gap between those inside and outside of prison by highlighting the shared humanity of incarcerated individuals. Eskridge emphasizes that Uncuffed aims to provide a platform for voices that are rarely heard.