A well-known quantity in here is a man named “G Dub”, a.k.a. Dwayne Tyrone McClinton. 45 years old, he’s been down 22 years and this is his first bid. He’s been to the hole too many times to count. He’s a very reserved individual, he doesn’t associate with many people. He’s very stern and serious, you never really see him smile, not unless you know him. If you know him, though, he has a wicked sense of humor, his smile and laugh is almost devious but sincere. He’s a man who commands respect from all sections, he’s never afraid to speak his mind and if you test him, he has no problem jumping.
I didn’t know him at the beginning of this set but he’s a big name here and on the streets, and there’s stories that you hear about him that stand out so much that you go, “really? He seems like he’s not on that type of time.” Well, if you sit down and get to know him, he’s come a long way, he’s grown and changed his direction, he’s now working to build up and help people. Most days you’ll see him on the activities floor working on projects, like his finance classes and his finance books (one of which he has completed). He developed an entire financial literacy course that he teaches here, hoping to guide his fellow man in a positive direction, so they can get over and “win”. He also spends a lot of time with the Uhuru Sasa club, a black cultural club here that he’s not only a member of, but is also part of the executive body.
His free time is spent really working, studying, and in some cases (with a select few), mentoring. I personally feel inspired by him, his story, his change, and his new direction, I look to him as a mentor. You seldom see him out on the yard unless he’s working out, he has no time or patience for the drama and fuckery you find on the yard. He’s been through and seen a lot, not just on the streets, but also inside. So as a veteran of the streets, he has a lot to say about the hole, prison, gang culture, and unlike most, he doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks it. He’s stepped back from that life and wants to guide the youth and other members in a new direction.
He developed a nonprofit with a completed syllabus, course curriculum and the whole nine yards. Looking forward to release for him isn’t just for his freedom, but for others. He endeavors to liberate and make the change in his own way, to change the lives of so many at-risk youth. Delivering Real Effective Attributes & Methods For Black youth Involved in Gun violence, or D.R.E.A.M. B.I.G. He and his nonprofit seek to educate black youth in treating trauma, creating unity and equity. He plans to open community centers across the nation and offer real alternatives for our people. However, youth will not be the only ones. One this I really like is that he seeks to engage adult caught in the life as well. So many of us get forgotten after becoming and and felons also. So his program doesn’t have an age limit like a lot of regular outreach programs. I really see this as much more than a traditional outreach program, as it seeks to do more.
One thing he noted and highlighted was that gang members suffer from the same traumas as veterans coming home from war and he says the key to this program and healing the black community is addressing our trauma. One of the ways he seeks to have this done is a form of therapy called Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing, touted as a therapy stronger than CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy). He feels that he doesn’t want to push medicine on people and would rather address the root causes rather than manage or mask the problem with meds.
As a gang member for most of his life, to step back, take what he knows and aim to help people is a noble endeavor. What he wants to see is our people “stop killing each other over old as beefs”. Instead, get to a point where we say together, “If you wanna rep a set or color line, we don’t gotta kill each other… I want them [gangs] to be able to coexist, I want to get to a point where we can open a business together… Gangs aren’t gonna go anywhere (as is), so I want us to be like Nipsey Hussle, that boy said we were killing each other over corners and blocks we don’t even own”.
G Dub is looking forward to getting out and embarking on this journey. He’s currently working on his 819 and clemency packets and welcomes outreach, support in all forms and is ok with being contacted. He also has a website for his nonprofit. It you’d like to visit it, take the time to contact him first as he doesn’t want anyone taking over his plan before he gets to see it to fruition.
Here’s what he has to say about the abusive conditions of being in the hole long-term:
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SID #12309791 – “G Dub” “G W”
Name: Dwayne Tyron McClinton
Age: 45
How long you been down?
22 years
How many times you been down
1st time
How many times have you been to the hole?
Too many to count
Longest hole shot?
2 ½ years, over 10 years altogether
Have you been to IMU?
Yes, 4 times
How has your mentality changes from your first hole shots to now?
Back then, I was on some gang shit. From the first time to now, I’m more mature, I don’t let the gang shit run my life. I’m focused on finance, business and helping other.
What are some things you do to prepare for the hole? Do you still find yourself doing these things?
I used to walk around with my address book, I don’t put pictures up in my cell. I’d keep a bunch of hygiene shit in my cell for when they let me get my [ed.: indecipherable text].
What’s your stance on prison?
I think prison is not about rehabilitation, they just us people’s labor for profit.
For each individual in prison, they should have a program so if you’re here for murder, you should have a program addressing that to rehabilitate you, but they don’t do that. Instead, all they want is bodies.
What’s your stance on the hole as a punishment?
I know that being in solitary confinement messes with your mental. I’ve seen people go in and not come out. They’ll go in for 6 months and not talk. I think the length of time is excessive, you assault someone and go to the hole for 2 years, it’s ridiculous. It can cause mental illnesses, I still get anxiety attacks. I couldn’t figure out why, and I’d pass out in the cell from anxiety attacks, my blood pressure was up all the time. I talked to a counselor who told the hole probably caused that.
Every time I got out the hole, I’d always walk with my back against the wall, when I’m in my cell with someone, if their blanket is hanging down, I’d jump up and say, “mf, put you mf’n blanket up before I beat yo ass”.
I still don’t like talking to people, when you’re in the cell by yourself for so long you get used to staying to yourself.
What effects have hole stays had on your family?
My mom couldn’t come see me, because every time I go, I go to IMU and don’t have visits or phone calls and you lose that family connection, I stress the hell out of my mom. She thinks you’re in a dark dungeon ass, ass naked, cold shivering. It’s not like that, but it sucks.
For you, have there been any positives to the hole?
Learning, that’s where I took the time to educate myself, the “hole” time I’m in there [pun intended]. That’s how a lot of people lose themselves, they don’t have nothing to focus on. One thing I know in the hole is you gotta protect yo mind – so I read. That’s why I don’t talk to homies on the block, they’ll call me all day and I’m out like I don’t hear them.
I studied personal finance, real estate, self help books, business books, mainly money shit.
What’s an average day in here for you?
Wake up, brush teeth, work out, I always save breakfast for lunchtime, then I eat lunch and save my lunch until dinner and save my dinner for later. Go out to rec, then come back and study, talk to the homies as little as possible. I don’t like being on the tier with homies, I don’t like to talk.
Do the CO’s treat you differently in the hole?
Yup, they talk a lot of shit, they’re disrespectful as hell, until you flip out on them, I mastered that, then they leave you alone. The majority of them treat you like shit.
Do you experience the “reset”?
I feel like that right now. The reason I feel like that is being out here dealing with all this, you wanna be by yourself. And being celled up with someone don’t help, because I gotta get out the cell to give my celly time to himself. In the hole, I can be by myself and get my food brought to me, no cell stuff, don’t gotta deal with people. Give me a tablet, phone access and a TV and some books and I’d stay right there [in the hole]… nigga, don’t give me some weed and put me in there, I never come out. I only stay out to talk to by girl and handle my business.
For people on the outside who advocate for prisoners and want to do more, what would you like to say about hold shots?
The they’re doing the right thing [advocating for us], because being in the hole doesn’t fix anything, it just causes mental illness… me, if I’m a violent mf, if I’ma beat someones ass, I’ma do it, I don’t care about the hole, so the hole is ineffective. If someone is gonna do something, they’ll do it. There’s always gonna be violent people, but putting people in there for so long is wrong.
Were you a part of any movements to make the hole better?
Yes, I’m the reason they got phones in that mf, I woke up one morning after 2 years and told everyone on the tier, “hey, I haven’t talked to my mom in 2 years”. So I had everyone tear up their packets and got us phones and dip and pull up bars on the yard.
At Two Rivers [Correctional Institution], I pushed the line to get books out at our property and we got people able to send in books. For 2 weeks, I had everyone sign up for sick call and when they came to my door, I told the cops, “Yes, I did that, we want books and even if y’all move me, they’ll keep striking”. The moved me the next day. I was sending kites to the committee saying this was non-negotiable, so eventually they got us TV’s in there too.
Background:
What brought you here?
Robbery & murder/manslaughter
Family:
mom, sister, and my girl and my daughter
Where are you from?
Portland
Plans after release?
Moving out of state, going into real estate, open a car lot and start a gang prevention program as a nonprofit, and travel. After being in here, I’m going everywhere.
Closing thoughts?
D.R.E.A.M. B.I.G.
Contact:
Dwayne Tyrone McClinton #12309791
Oregon State Penitentiary
2605 State Street
Salem, OR 97310