LOS ANGELES/WASHINGTON, DC (BBN) — For almost three decades, the most overlooked story in the fight for criminal justice reform and political hypocrisy is the story of DC native son, Halim Flowers.

A practicing and devout American Muslim, Halim Flowers — who has become one of America’s leading artists’ and most poignant voice for prison reform — is as remarkable as Malcolm X in his story of spiritual resurrection and profound political controversy

[SATO (Struggle Against the Odds) Communications Founder and DC Poet and artist Halim Flowers speaks to Capitol Intelligence/BBN using CI Glass on on new life after serving 22 years of a 40 year prison sentence at age 16 and attending Georgetown University at DC artist Nora Maccoby closing exhibition at New Community Church at 614 S Street NW in Washington, DC. February 23, 2020]

Enamored with Hip-Hop and gangster culture of the time, Flowers decided to use his extraordinary talents to become a successful drug dealer on the streets of Northeast DC.

A hyper-intelligent DC middle class teenager –accepted for early admittance to Howard University at the age of 15 – Halim’s story takes a dramatic turn facing 40-years in prison. It would have made national news as every parent’s worst nightmare if it did not occur in the backdrop of the 1990s when DC was the murder capital of America.

Halim, the petite teenage street drug dealer, was not a success in his entrepreneurial endeavors as he ended up shooting himself in the foot in an accident with a shotgun and being at the wrong place at the wrong time, when a drug robbery ended as a homicide.

Halim Flowers did not shoot the victim. His undeniable talents and potential for years went unnoticed when former US Attorney General under President Obama, Eric Holder, charged Halim Flowers as an adult under Title 16 with a mandatory minimum sentence of 40-years to life.

Then DC Assistant District Attorney, and currently professor at Harvard Law School, Albert Herring, showed no mercy on inflicting two life sentences on an adolescent.

[Former US Attorney General Eric Holder holds book launch on voting rights at the National Press Club on May 12, 2022]

Prisoner No. 272-123 in a D.C. Jail, with the closest comparison to rapper 2Pac, Thug Life in D.C., known for its Emmy win in 1999, portrays Flowers as a soon to be revolutionary painter and spoken word artist of his time.

Blowback Productions of Marc Levin is understood to be updating the Thug Life in DC of Hallim Flowers for Time Warner unit HBO.

How does Halim, a kid behind prison walls, stand amongst grown men serving the toughest, and longest prison sentences? Once only a statistic, Halim Flowers now creates a life worth living for, through his art, poetry, and spoken word performances.

Everyday, Halim Flowers celebrates the precious gifts of life with a loving wife, an infant son and that one can live a life of love and peace notwithstanding having lived 22-years of the worst horrors of the United States’ prison system.

[SATO Communications Founder and artist Poet Halim Flowers filmed by Capitol Intelligence/BBN using CI Glass (google glass) speaking to AOL and Revolution Growth Co-Founder Ted Leonsis and Black Entertainment Television (BET) co-founder Sheila Johnson at a VIP reception for WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert NPC Headliners Luncheon at the National Press Club of Washington, DC. March 3, 2020]

Flowers has now been showcasing his art in galleries throughout the United States and is one of the most sought-after artists of Art Basel, joining the ranks of American greats of Mark Bradford, Nina Chanel Abney and Jamea Richmond-Edwards. All Black Americans and all leaders in the global art world.

Flowers’ indescribable pain and frustration in prison has led him towards a path of greatness as his paintings have been acquired by art collectors and various investors such as NBA Golden State Warriors owner, Passport Control’s John Burbank, and feted by DC Wizards and Capitals owner, Ted Leonsis, and BET Co-founder and Hollywood powerhouse, Sheila Johnson.

Halim Flowers’ journey — like that of Malcolm “Red” Little –of hanging drug dealers, not enrolling in Howard University, and becoming part of the deadly DC drug crew scene to his imprisonment is beautifully described in his autobiography, Making of a Menace, Contrition of a Man.

Halim Flowers already has the leading literay agent, Carol Mann, approaching major publishing houes such as Bertelsmann unit Penguin Random House and others to publish an updated biography of Halim Flowers. Ironically, it was a Penguin Random House imprint that pubished AG Eric Holder’s book on election integrity: “Our Unfinished March: The Violent Past and Imperiled Future of the Vote.”

[Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle dodges questions on SPD #Gazprom kickback scandal on May 11, 2022]

In any wrongdoing, a man will feel remorse but at age 16? How can a man child be convicted for life without taking a life?  The actual killer of the man in the drug robbery was neither tried nor convicted.

How can the America’s most powerful such as President Bill Clinton, then US Senate Judiciary Chair US Senator Joe Biden, Eric Holder and Harvard Law Professor Albert Herring fail to apologize and seek forgiveness from Halim Flowers? President Joe Biden can give Halim Flowers the presidential pardon that he sought from President Trump.

This is another reason why even today Halim Flowers remains uncomfortable truth.

While in prison, Halim Flowers read the Wall Street Journal everyday and  founded  his own publishing house, SATO (Struggle Against All Odds) Communications, as his ambition was always to be an American entrepreneur.

Another reason why Halim Flowers remains an uncomfortable truth is that he credits President Donald Trump and his administrations’ First Step Act prison reform legislation for cutting off 18 years of his 40-year sentence, to the visible chagrin of partisan prison reform activists.

Flowers, a man who served 22-years in prison and created a hyper successful art career, is not interested in party politics when he speaks out on prison reform.  For Halim, anything or anyone, who can bring change to the injustice of the US prison industry where one out of three working Americans have criminal convictions, is worthy for his attention and support.

[The Carlyle Group co-founder and Co-Chairman David Rubenstein filmed by Capitol Intelligence/BBN using CI Glass answering question by SATO (Struggle Against the Odds) founder and DC Artist Halim Flowers who served 22 years of a 40 year prison sentence at age 16 on prison illiteracy at Coffee & Conversation with David Rubenstein at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. February 24, 2020]

One example of Halim’s integrity and determination was speaking to The Carlyle Group co-founder and co-chairman, David Rubenstein, on how one of the most powerful men of American finance can promote literacy and continuing education in American prisons. Not only did David Rubenstein thoughtfully reply to Mr Flowers question but demonstrated sincere respect for Halim Flowers’ accomplishments.

Halim Flowers has created a life many artists and men could only hope and dream. Now owning two homes in both Maryland and D.C., selling paintings for $10k-$50k or more, a book publishing house, and continued family support from his mother, his wife, daughter and first son.

Halim Flowers, notwitstanding being the victim of American injustice, is proud to show to all that the American Dream can be acheived no matter the odds or how powerful the enemy.

By Nigel Wright in Los Angeles and PK Semler in Washington, DC.  For more information, please email pks@capitolintelgroup.com

Copyright of Capitol Intelligence Group – Turning Swords into Equity®