Who Understands Me but Me

In the 1970s, America began incarcerating people at a higher rate than ever before. This was caused by the government’s changing policy on drugs—the self-titled “war on drugs”—which mandated longer prison sentences for those caught possessing, distributing, or using illegal substances. The result was increased incarceration for minor offenses, affecting people of color disproportionately, and more and more African American and Latino men were sentenced to lengthy prison sentences as a result.

Baca was one of the men of color affected by these efforts. He was living in Yuma, Arizona, in the early 1970s, running a marijuana distribution network, which brought him substantial income. One night, police raided the home of a heroin dealer that Baca happened to be visiting. An officer was shot during the raid, and Baca, though not the shooter or one of the targets of the raid, was caught up in the arrests. He was sentenced to five years in prison, where he was meant to work as part of his sentence.

Baca refused to work, insisting instead that he be allowed to go to school. The guards put him in solitary confinement for his insubordination. Solitary confinement has become increasingly common in prisons over the years and is widely considered an inhumane form of punishment for prisoners.