3ra. parte - La libertad duele y sana: después de 38 años, soy libre | Nucamendi #entrevista
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Nucamendi spent 38 years in prison, with 30 in solitary confinement in maximum security.
- ❖His initial days of freedom were marked by both immense joy at seeing society and unexpected difficulties like navigating public transport and bureaucracy.
- ❖He experienced a frightening incident where he was chased through Mexico City's metro tunnels after an offensive comment.
- ❖Federal prisons, despite their flaws, provided psychological support and workshops that aided his transformation.
- ❖He aims to dedicate his life to preventing youth crime by sharing the "three consequences of error" of incarceration.
- ❖He reconnected with his former partner after 22 years, a bittersweet experience that solidified their friendship.
- ❖He is actively seeking contacts in government to present his project for youth crime prevention.
Insights
1The Shock of Re-entry and Societal Stigma
Nucamendi found immense joy in seeing the city and people after decades, but also faced immediate challenges like navigating bureaucracy for basic documents and experiencing social stigma, exemplified by an administrator's mistreatment until his "celebrity" was recognized.
Al salir se me hizo maravilloso ver a la gente, ver la sociedad, ver a los coches, ver las escaleras. Es todo es hermoso. () and me empezaron a estigmatizar como persona normal y me empezaron a dar lata, a molestar... el administrador subió corriendo y me dijo, "No puedes estar paseando por el hotel." Y me regañó, me maltrató. (-)
2The Harrowing First Night Out
On his first night of freedom, Nucamendi was chased through the streets and metro tunnels of downtown Mexico City by a group of men after an offensive comment during a casual drink, highlighting the immediate dangers and social complexities outside prison.
unos chavos se vean decentes... me invitaron. Mi error fue que me me me metí con ellos a platicar... un cuat se sintió medio medio ofendido... se me echaron encima y me corretearon por todo el centro... me metí al metro, tuve que meterme a las a las vías del metro y de una de una estación a otra... me corretearon por entre las miras por por el túnel. (-)
3Solitary Confinement as a Catalyst for Reflection
Despite spending 30 of his 38 years in maximum security and solitary confinement, Nucamendi found the isolation beneficial for deep reflection and structuring his future life, contrasting it with the negative influences of other inmates.
estar en máxima seguridad es estar 100% alejado de todo... estuve como 30 solito... Pues reflexionar y construir un futuro... la soledad me hizo bien, me estresó porque la gente platica lo mismo y no es más que fantasía... a mí me hizo bien estar en arraigo... me ayudó a reflexionar y a cambiar mi perfil. (-, -, -)
4Federal Prisons' Role in Rehabilitation
Nucamendi credits the federal prison system, despite its imperfections, with providing essential psychological support, educational programs (poetry, philosophy), and work workshops (sewing, making seals), which were crucial for his personal transformation and desire to reintegrate.
el sistema federal... es positivo porque estamos como si fueran los tutelares, estamos con servicio de psicología todo el tiempo... un montón de maestros... nos tienen 100% este activos en los federales... tiene mucha infraestructura para recomponer a los internos, para ayudarlos. (-)
5The "Three Consequences of Error"
He identifies three core losses for young people entering long-term incarceration: loss of individuality/sovereignty (subjugation to other inmates), loss of romantic love/partners, and loss of loved ones (parents, family) due to time and abandonment.
la primera es cuando se pierde la individualidad, la soberanía... la segunda, la pareja... se pierde terriblemente... el tercero es la pelea de los seres amados, porque el tiempo pasa y no se detiene... perdí a mi madre, perdí a mi padre. (-)
6Bittersweet Reunion with Past Love
After 22 years, Nucamendi reconnected with his former partner, the "love of his life," finding the experience beautiful yet tinged with sadness as their relationship had matured into a deep friendship rather than romantic love.
Verbigracia la que fue el amor de mi vida. Me buscó... fue increíble, fue fue hermoso... fue no, no fue hermoso y triste. Ella era mi ilusión, era mi pareja... Y ahora es una mujer que que independiente... ya somos ajenos... ya no sentí este ese amor de de chamaco. (-)
Opportunities
Youth Crime Prevention Speaker/Educator
Develop and deliver programs to educate young people about the severe, long-term consequences of incarceration, focusing on the "three consequences of error" (loss of sovereignty, love, and loved ones).
Motorcycle Delivery Driver (Uber/similar)
Utilize existing driving skills to work as a delivery driver, leveraging the demand for such services in Mexico City.
Lessons
- Advocate for and support social reinsertion programs that include robust psychological and educational components for incarcerated individuals.
- Challenge societal stigmas against ex-convicts by recognizing their potential for change and offering opportunities for reintegration.
- Educate young people about the profound, long-term personal and emotional costs of crime, beyond just legal consequences, using real-life testimonials.
Notable Moments
First steps into freedom
Nucamendi describes the overwhelming joy and beauty of seeing the world outside prison after 38 years, appreciating simple things like people walking, cars, and pharmacies. This highlights the profound impact of long-term incarceration on basic human experience and the value of freedom, often taken for granted.
The "Tragically Famous" Identity
Nucamendi initially faced mistreatment at his hotel until his identity as a "tragically famous" ex-convict was recognized from his previous interview, after which he was treated with respect. This illustrates the double-edged sword of public recognition for ex-convicts: it can lead to better treatment in some contexts but also reinforces the stigma that "normal" people face.
The Pigeon Friend in Solitary
The host recounts a story of another inmate, Daniel Arizmendi ("El Mochaorejas"), who befriended a pigeon in solitary confinement, feeding it bread to maintain his sanity. This moment underscores the extreme psychological toll of solitary confinement and the desperate measures inmates take to cope with isolation and maintain their mental well-being.
Quotes
"La libertad es una es un es un gozo que tiene la gente, los jóvenes, que deben de saber valorar. Bien dice el dicho de nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo vea perdido."
"Yo me boicoteo yo solo, pero no es fácil. Fue una vida lo que viví dentro. 38 años se dicen fáciles, pero fue de espantoso."
"la soledad me hizo bien, me estresó porque la gente platica lo mismo y no es más que fantasía. La gente fantasea mucho los internos, me refiero. Y nada más platican cosas feas, cosas tristes, cosas malas y eso no es positivo, es negativo."
"El apoyo psicológico me ayudó mucho. Yo no tuve el problema que tienes con la muchacha que me platica porque ella no tuvo se ve asistencia psicológica. A mí los psicólogos me ayudaron y me ayudaron me llevaron de la mano."
"Yo creo que miles de mexicanos te dimos ese abrazo en la señorita que te entrevistó. Abrazo de bienvenida al mundo."
"Yo tenía un temor que la sociedad me iba a dar la espalda y lo que usted me está diciendo de gente que me sea bien es hermoso y más me motiva a ser una persona positiva."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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