The Culture of Wings

In my last post, I touched on the subject of cultures. In prison, every different pod or wing has its own distinct culture. The amazing thing is that even though wings “flip” (i.e. new inmates to the wing fully or almost fully replace the old guard), the culture of each wing is permanent.

I live on “N” wing, wherein inmates with more than fifty years are housed until they serve ten flat (for aggravated time) or five flat (for non-aggravated time). Our wing is the richest wing on the unit by far. Such was the case for the “big time” wing on my last unit as well. Our wing there spent four times as much as the dormitories wherein the inmates with the most privileges and least time were housed. Do our circumstances induce more pity or concern from our loved ones? I’d imagine so.

Moreover, our wing is by far the most entrepreneurial. I get two sandwiches a day delivered to my cell, my clothes washed and pressed, and my mail delivered to me, all for a competitive price! People run stores, cut hair, make loans, run pots and parlays, fix radios, draw and engage in countless other “hustles” to make a profit. My buddy who just moved to “A” wing said that no one does anything there. He can’t get a sandwich to save his life, and horror of horrors, has to wash his own clothes. He said everyone there is broke, and content being so.

My buddy on “L” wing said the culture there is even worse. The majority of them are broke as well, but they’re also exceedingly vice-ridden. The occasional stray sandwich won’t sell, as any horded soups are saved for cigarettes. Fighting and extortion is rampant. And whenever anything “free” is being offered—chow, barbershop or library—the dayroom is beyond packed. Our wing musters up barely a shot (20) of inmates at the ungodly predawn hour in which breakfast is served. “L” wing regularly cranks out five or six shots of inmates for breakfast.

These wings have had these cultures for decades, across thousands of souls.