George T. Wilkerson is an award-winning poet, artist, and writer on North Carolina’s Death Row. Because prisoners are not allowed to host their own websites, I want to give him a page on mine.
I met George in early 2021 after reading Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row. Tessie Castillo, editor of the book, hosted a book club where readers could speak with each of the coauthors. I learned that George was a fellow poet (a damn good one, too), so I sent a letter asking for feedback. Pretty soon, we had a regular correspondence, sharing feedback on poetry and learning about each other’s lives.
George is admirable for both his craft and his dedication to his craft. But he’s not just a talented poet; he’s an excellent public speaker, writer, editor, and artist — not to mention a downright thoughtful, friendly person. As a Christian, he’s committed to injecting LOVE into all aspects of his life and his relationships.
George has spoken for Duke Law, the University of Dayton, App State, Greensboro Bound, American University, the Obama Fellowship, and more. If you’re interested in George speaking at your event or for your class, please contact me.
Books
- Beneath Our Numbers, co-authored with many others, Walk in Those Shoes, Dec. 3, 2022
- Inside: Voices from Death Row (essays & poems), co-authored with Terry Robinson, Michael J. Braxton, and Lyle C. May, Scuppernong Editions, Sept. 2022
- Bone Orchard: Reflections on Life under Sentence of Death (essays & poems), co-authored with Robert Johnson, BleakHouse Publishing, June 2022
- Interface (poems), BleakHouse Publishing, Apr. 2022
- Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row (essays), co-authored with Terry Robinson, Michael J. Braxton, and Lyle C. May, Black Rose Writing, 2020 (out of print)
SPEAKING
- “Using Metaphor to Express Emotion,” workshop co-led with Kat Bodrie, NC Poetry Society, Sept. 29, 2022
- “Their Own Words: The Impact of the Death Penalty in America,” Duke University School of Law, Feb. 10, 2022
- The Psychology of Entrepreneurship, Mar. 4, 2021
- “Living Joyfully on Death Row: Cultivating Self and Other Empathy, with George,” In Kind, Nov. 26, 2020
- The Hot Mic, Oct. 21, 2020
- Lions of Liberty, Oct. 9, 2020
- Dr. D’s Social Network, Aug. 18, 2020
- Longform, July 1, 2020
- PEN America’s Works of Justice Podcast, June 23, 2020
- The Sober Experiment Podcast, Apr. 25, 2020
- The Social Exchange Podcast, Apr. 8, 2020
- “INTERFACE: Beth Browne Interviews Poet, Activist, Inmate George T. Wilkerson,” Main Street Rag, Summer 2019
- Interview with Leroy Elwood Mann, Lethal Injection and Word to the Masses, 2015
Poems
Publications
- “10 Things I Love,” Walk in Those Shoes, Aug. 6, 2022
- “Active Rest,” i am climbing the stairs that i create with these words all the way to the top, PEN America, June 2022
- “visit w/ an/Other,” Walk in Those Shoes, Mar. 13, 2022
- “Fat Brown Quarters,” Walk in Those Shoes, Dec. 11, 2021
- “The Dead Man’s Zone,” Walk in Those Shoes, July 19, 2021
- “Rations for Refugees,” Greater Constellations, PEN America, June 2021
- “The Mushroom,” Walk in Those Shoes, Mar. 27, 2021
- “Section Eight,” Poetry, Feb. 2021
- “Court Kings & Flight Lessons,” Visiting the Blues: 2021 Prison Writing Awards Anthology, PEN America, 2021
- Right Here, Right Now: Life Stories from America’s Death Row, ed. by Lynden Harris, 2021 (published anonymously)
- “The Knowledge of Good and Evil,” Walk in Those Shoes, Dec. 18, 2020
- “Breaking News,” Walk in Those Shoes, Dec. 1, 2020
- “Catch-22,” Prime 53 Poem Summer Challenge, Prime Number Magazine, Issue 181, Oct.-Dec. 2020
- “Space-Time Continuum,” Bayou Magazine, Fall 2020
- “Talking to My Mom in Autumn,” The Prison Journalism Project, Nov. 13, 2020
- “And Then the Pandemic Began,” The Prison Journalism Project, Aug. 17, 2020
- “In Prison during COVID-19,” The Prison Journalism Project, Aug. 13, 2020
- “The Knowledge of Good and Evil,” St. Anthony Messenger, May 2020
- “Kenny, a Mosaic,” Walk in Those Shoes, Mar. 6, 2020
- “Space-Time Continuum” and “At the Zoo,” Main Street Rag, Summer 2019
- “Who Am I,” Life Lines Collective, Sept. 25, 2016
- Some pieces published in Compassion newsletter
Awards
- Interface, Victor Hassine Memorial Scholarship Award, 2021
- “Court Kings and Flight Lessons,” first place, poetry, PEN America, 2021
- “Talking to My Mom in Autumn,” Story of the Week, Prison Journalism Project, 2021 and 2020
- “Catch-22,” Press 53’s Prime 53 Poem Summer Challenge, 2020
- “The Knowledge of Good and Evil,” third place, Walk in Those Shoes writing contest, 2020
- Interface, finalist for Press 53’s Poetry Book Contest, 2019
- Interface, finalist for Cathy Smith Bowers Chapbook Contest, 2018
- “Carpe Diem” and “The Blacksmith,” 1st prize and 2nd prize winners, LifeLines Poetry Competition, 2015
- “At the Zoo,” 1st prize, LifeLines Poetry Competition, 2014
Essays
Publications
- “I, Lazarus,” Vera Institute, The Human Toll of Jail, Jan. 2023
- “Getting Out,” Walk in Those Shoes, Dec. 4, 2022
- “The Death Row Question,” BleakHouse Publishing, 2021
- Right Here, Right Now: Life Stories from America’s Death Row, ed. by Lynden Harris, 2021 (published anonymously)
- “Vacant Lots and Aviaries,” Visiting the Blues: 2021 Prison Writing Awards Anthology, PEN America, 2021
- “Six Cubic Feet,” Walk in Those Shoes, Nov. 8, 2020
- “Transcience,” Walk in Those Shoes, Aug. 5, 2020
- “Coleridge’s Middle Finger,” Walk in Those Shoes, Apr. 5, 2020
- “Missed Amends,” The Fix, Mar. 17, 2020
- “The Joy Paradox,” In Kind, Nov. 26, 2020
- Readers Write: Worship, The Sun, Issue 526, Oct. 2019 (published anonymously)
- “The Mechanics of Miracles,” The Wing, Aug. 2019
- “Limp Gray Fur,” The Named and the Nameless: 2018 Prison Writing Awards Anthology, 2018
- “Limp Gray Fur,” PEN America, Aug. 6, 2018
- “It’s Surprisingly Tough to Avoid Snitching in Prison,” The Marshall Project, July 19, 2018 (published as “The Brutal Politics of Snitching in Prison” on Vice, July 20, 2018)
- “Death Row’s First Ever Talent Show,” The Marshall Project, Mar. 22, 2018 (published as “I Watched a Talent Show on Death Row” on Vice, Mar. 23, 2018)
- “The Implications of Trying to Kill Yourself on Death Row,” The Marshall Project, Jan. 26, 2017 (published on Vice, Jan. 27, 2017)
- “How a Phone Changed my Life on Death Row,” The Marshall Project, Oct. 6, 2016
- Editorials published in Compassion newsletter, 2014-present
The Upper Room
- “Inspiring Kindness,” The Upper Room, Nov. 2022
- “Unmerited Favor,” The Upper Room, Dec. 3, 2019
- “True Gratitude,” The Upper Room, Oct. 3, 2019
- “No Limits,” The Upper Room, June 10, 2018
- “Answer to Prayer,” The Upper Room, July 5, 2017
Awards
- “Vacant Lots & Aviaries,” first place, nonfiction essay, PEN America, 2021
- “Cave Painting,” PEN/Vera Institute of Justice prize, 2021
- “Death Row’s First Ever Talent Show,” The Marshall Project, 2019 Ellie Award finalist
- “The Mechanics of Miracles,” Samuel Johnson Essay Contest, LifeLines, Aug. 2019
- “Limp Gray Fur,” second place, PEN America, 2018
Visual Art
Exhibited Works
- “Deciphering a Ransom Note” (2018), Capitalizing on Justice art competition
- “Resisting Stereotypes (humanity isn’t black and white)” (2014), Windows on Death Row (artist statement)
Awards
- “Deciphering a Ransom Note,” Gold, Capitalizing on Justice art competition, 2018 (sold for $1,000)
Sample ArtWork
- The LOVE Nun, 2022
- Rose, 2022
- Portrait of Kat, 2022
- “God Said BANG,” 2018
- Iron Man, Nov. 2016
- “Thinking of Heaven,” Oct. 5, 2012
- “Looking for Inspiration,” Aug. 18, 2012
- Penguins, Nov. 12, 2011
- Portrait of John Wayne, 2011
- Rose on handkerchief, 2011
- Portrait of Mike
- Jesus on the cross
- Rose origami
Misc.
- Featured in the article “Keeping Hope Alive on Death Row” by Sister Patricia Schnapp, St. Anthony Messenger, May 2020, p. 24-29 on issuu
- Editor for the anthology You’ll Be Smarter Than Us, Compassion, 2019
- Editor for Compassion newsletter, 2014-present
Kat Bodrie 