Guest: John “Divine G” WHitfield

EPISODE 2

Summary

John Divine G. Whitfield’s life story is one of resilience, transformation, and empowerment, despite being wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years. His experience inspired the Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing and highlights the power of arts-based rehabilitation within the prison system. While confined, Divine became deeply involved in the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program at Sing Sing, which uses theater to foster emotional expression, personal growth, and skills development. Far from merely surviving his wrongful conviction, Divine leveraged his time in prison to write novels, screenplays, and to support fellow inmates through education and cultural programs, significantly lowering recidivism rates among participants.

Divine’s journey also underscores systemic failures in the justice system, particularly during the 1980s crack epidemic, when many were unjustly swept into incarceration. Despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence—such as eyewitness testimony and exonerating audio recordings—he faced institutional resistance, with courts rubber-stamping wrongful convictions. Upon release, Divine was embraced by his community and friends from his pre-incarceration life, notably a former mentee who offered him a job with a prominent music tour, which he fought legally to secure.

Divine’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to choose positivity and empowerment over bitterness, even in the darkest circumstances. He continues to advocate for justice reform and wrongful conviction awareness through public engagement, including presentations at events like the Cannes Film Festival and involvement in documentaries. Divine has also launched a public petition to expose the evidence of his innocence and push for justice, emphasizing that public pressure is crucial in a system often resistant to correcting its mistakes.

Highlights

• 🎭 Divine G. Whitfield was wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years during the 1980s crack epidemic.

• 🎬 His life inspired the Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing, which depicts the power of arts in rehabilitation.

• 🎭 As a co-founder of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), he helped inmates develop emotional and life skills, reducing recidivism to 3%.

• ✍️ While imprisoned, Divine authored numerous novels and screenplays, becoming a published writer and educator.

• ⚖️ Despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence, systemic resistance delayed his exoneration.

• 🤝 Upon release, a former mentee and music industry professional supported Divine’s reintegration by offering him a job and legal assistance.

• 📢 Divine continues to advocate for justice reform through media, public petitions, and international platforms like the Cannes Film Festival.

FAQs

• Q1: Who is John Divine G. Whitfield?
  A1: John Divine G. Whitfield is a man wrongfully incarcerated for 25 years whose story inspired the Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing. He became a leader in prison arts programs and an advocate for justice reform.

• Q2: What is Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA)?
  A2: RTA is a theater program created in Sing Sing prison designed to rehabilitate inmates through creative expression, significantly reducing recidivism rates among participants.

• Q3: How did Divine maintain hope during his wrongful imprisonment?
  A3: Divine focused on self-education, artistic creation, and empowering others, refusing to let bitterness consume him and choosing to transform his experience into positive action.

• Q4: What is the current status of Divine’s exoneration?
  A4: Divine’s exoneration case remains pending with the district attorney’s office, and he is seeking public support through an online petition to push for justice.

• Q5: How has Divine contributed to society after his release?
  A5: Post-release, Divine worked on a major music tour, continued his advocacy work, and helped empower former inmates through programs like RTA and public speaking engagements.