Anthony Ray Hinton

When you're poor and black in America, you stand a greater chance of going to prison for something you didn't do. ”

It's hard to explain exactly what it feels like to be judged. There's a shame to it. Even when you know you're innocent. It still feels like you are coated in something dirty and evil. ”

My only crime was being born black - or being born black in Alabama. ”

I believe in laughter. I believe laughter is good for the soul. I believe in making other people laugh to make them feel good. ”

I often say that if I had one wish in this world, I would wish that every child could have a mother the way my mother were. And I never went without clothes, I never went without food... I never went without anything that a child needs. But above all of that, she gave me unconditional love. ”

I want people to realize that we can teach hate, but we also can teach love. ”

Bitterness kills the soul. ”

I never used a gun in my life. ”

Henry Hays was cheated all his life. He was cheated by his father who taught him to hate. His community taught him to hate. My mom told me, no matter what one does in life, he or she deserves some compassion, and I knew Hays deserved compassion more than anybody. ”

Black, poor, without a father most of my life, one of 10 children - it was actually pretty amazing I had made it to the age of 29 without a noose around my neck. ”