Condemned: The Whole Story

by Keith Lamar

the whole story is the first-hand account of Keith LaMar's (a.k.a. Bomani Shakur) experiences during and as a result of the Lucasville Prison Uprising of 1993. LaMar has spent 20 years in solitary confinement on Ohio's Death Row, awaiting execution for crimes he allegedly committed during the longest prison riot in US history in spite of an abundance of suppressed evidence to the contrary. LaMar vehemently denies any participation and sets out to prove to readers that the State of Ohio knowingly framed him in order to quickly resolve (under great public pressure) their investigation into a prison guard's death. the whole story forces readers to grapple with the notion of justice for the poor and the for-profit prison industry in America.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2013

Reviews

[Stephen Babendreier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. An autobiographical account of the horrific indignities that the incarcerated suffer at the hands of the criminal justice system. What I found most incredible reading this book is the boundless strength of Bomani's spirit; his ability to preserve and to make a life from the little that was not deprived of him.

This book certainly leaves you with a heavy heart not only for Bomani's situation but for the countless others who whether guilty or not of their crimes are so profoundly dehumanized by a system whose purpose is to make individuals suffer rather than make society safe.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe him.

[Jacob Konieczny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe Bomani. Please get this book to anyone you can, more people need to read his story.

[Adam Rabiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several months ago, Keith Lamar (aka Bomani Shakur), who sits on death row in Ohio for his alleged role in the 1993 Lucasville Prison riot, received a three year reprieve in his scheduled execution date, from November 16, 2023 to January 13, 2027. I hope his execution is never carried out. He received this reprieve, largely due to the Freedom First movement, a collection of supporters and advocates throughout the country who are working to save his life. One of those passionate individuals is Albert Marques, a musician and high school teacher. Both of my children were in or are currently in a book club with Keith where he phones in from the penitentiary. Lamar also participates, similarly by phone, in a series of Freedom First jazz concerts where he reads his poetry set to music. Wanting to know more about the man, whose cause my children had taken up, I purchased the book at the end of one of these concerts. I was amazed in reading the book how far Keith had evolved as a human being and also concluded, as did my children, that the man is innocent of the charges the state leveled against him and received a bum's rap. Lamar is a very good writer, and knowing the book was self-published, I was a bit wary so was relieved at how the account of what happened and its legal aftermath grabbed you. Both at the concert, and in the book, I was also moved by Lamar's personal journey and how his suffering has shaped him. He has moved from anger and bitterness to action and, despite everything, love, deep spirituality, and a kind of acceptance, though he is fighting incredibly hard for his life which he loves, despite the harsh conditions he lives under, which for many years, and even now perhaps, has been solitary confinement. Knowing what I know now about how this world works, I accept Lamar's conclusions about money, power, and justice (or injustice) and who in this society benefit from them (think OJ Simpson, crime bosses, or DJT) and who, unfortunately, do not reap those benefits, but rather may face the brute force of a criminal justice system that is stacked against them (poor and often black or other minority groups). So while this is a deeply personal story published by a man who is seeking to save his own life, it is also a seething critique of a society that wants the world to forget about those locked behind its bars. In that respect, this is an important book with a universal message.

[Alyssa Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like every American citizen of voting age should have to read this book. (At the very least.)

The older I get and the more I learn, the more appalled I am at my country, government, fellow citizens, and what our tax dollars pay for and contribute towards, both at home and abroad.
It’s insane and asinine.

It leaves you feeling helpless and powerless. Even in my relative privilege and freedom.. what can I/we DO to fix these issues?

I really hope 2020 got us moving in the right direction with bringing racism and classism back to the forefront of people’s minds, police and prison reform among other topics.. but also I just worry that it won’t be enough and people who aren’t directly effected will forget and go back to their daily lives, and that kills me a bit inside.

Anyways, read the damn book. Open your eyes to the world around you, even the parts that aren’t directly effecting you. Speak out about what is wrong, vote consciously, and participate in life.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to read. This man has had an increadably hard life. To be a free in his beliefs means a very special spirit. this book shows the increadable injustise of poverity and racism. I just wish i knew how to fix it. I read this book for the prompt read a debut author (booklist queen 2025)

[Graceanne Giles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredibly eye-opening. Kieth is incredibly talented, strong, and wise. His story captures the corruption of the criminal justice system in the US very well and it’s heartbreaking. Stay strong Bomani.

[Ashley Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe him.