In this moving episode of Emunah, Dr. Tamara Henry sits down with
Rev. Jamesina Greene to uncover an often-overlooked reality inside Americas
prisons the quiet, unseen caregiving that happens every single day. While the
public tends to view prisons only through the lens of punishment, Rev. Greene
invites us to see another side: incarcerated men and women who care for the
sick, the elderly, and the dying; who mentor younger inmates; and who offer
comfort and hope to those society has forgotten. Together, they explore what
this kind of caregiving reveals about faith, dignity, and redemption in the
most unlikely places.
Statistics on incarceration are staggering. More than 1.2 million people are
currently held in state and federal prisons, and two out of three are also
workers. Their jobs mirror those outside the prison walls cooking, cleaning,
cutting hair, landscaping, making furniture, uniforms, and even license plates.
Some work in laundries and kitchens, while others perform vital public services
like road repair and firefighting. Yet this labor, often exploitative,
generates enormous profits for state prison systems and governments.
According to an ACLU report, incarcerated workers produce more than $2
billion a year in goods and $9 billion a year in
services that help maintain the very prisons where they are confined.
Rev. Greene is the founder of A Mothers Cry, a
Maryland-based charitable organization supporting mothers of incarcerated
children across the nation. Since 2000, the organization has provided critical
resources and community outreach to help families navigate the financial,
social, and emotional challenges of having a loved one behind bars.
Rev. Greenes commitment is deeply personal. Her son, Byron, has been
incarcerated since age 25, serving a 50-year sentence for first-degree assault.
Over the years, he has often been placed in a caregiver role within the prison.
My son is living proof that even behind bars, love and compassion survive,
Rev. Greene wrote in a Baltimore Afro-American op-ed on September 18,
2025 a sentiment she echoed in her conversation on Emunah.
Host Dr. Tamara Henry reflected, The hands that lift, feed, and comfort
others remind us that Gods compassion cant be confined.
Byron himself shared insight into life behind bars: he rarely sleeps more
than two or three hours a night. Its never quiet, its never dark, and its
never safe, he said. Youre kept in a constant state of hypervigilance
prison is a battlefield. His words paint a vivid picture of the mental strain
faced by those incarcerated and the critical need for compassion, mental
health care, and human connection.
In addition to her ministry and nonprofit work, Rev. Greene is also a
self-published author whose books can be found on Amazon. Her titles include Help,
I Dont Like Myself, A Mothers Cry: A Mini Book for Moms, Finding
Me, and I Am a Voice.
Call to Action
This episode carries a strong call to action:
Contact your state delegate and senator and urge them to support legislation
granting credit to inmates who voluntarily serve as caregivers behind prison
walls.
To connect with Rev. Greene, email amcjami@gmail.com
or call 443-669-5485.
To reach host Dr. Tamara Henry, email Wordconsultingllc@gmail.com
or share your testimony at wordconsultingllc.com.
