Prison Guard interview-Ray
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Soft White Underbelly interview and portrait of Ray, a retired prison guard at Brushy Mountain Prison in Petros, Tennessee.
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#prisonstories #swu #tennessee #jailstories #correctionalofficer #crime #punishments #crimeandpunishment
Very thankful to have this man as my grandfather. Thank you Mark for giving him a platform to tell his experiences. I have heard these type of stories for most of my life, and I’m so happy that others will be able to enjoy them now.
Tell us about him?
He is indeed an incredible human being. I could literally spend hours listening to Ray. I have family that have have lived/live long lives. They are living encyclopedias. I am so glad you realize what a treasure your grandfather is. I hope we hear from Ray again. I could tell the pain and disgust he felt about the guards whipping inmates. I feel the same way. He made his job a very good and positive career. He could see things objectively. His insights into mental illness was prolific.
Does your grandfather have dupuytrens contracture ( vikings disease)? Many of my relatives on my mom's side of the family have it. It is typically in those of Scandinavian heritage.
Super cool
By his comment on James earl Ray, is it fair to say he was a racist
These jail background videos are Solid Gold. These older experienced gentlemen have the greatest stories i could listen for hours 🙌
Wish Mark could have met a gentleman who lives nearby who was a life criminal, inmate and later employee at Brushy and author of a great book! You all would love his story!
Right!?!
@Allan
What on earth are you talking about CIA and Mark?
And why are Mark keeping anyone high on drugs?
Are YOU sure you're sober because what you said makes no sense whatsoever.
Please elaborate!
I agree.
I loved the one he did a while ago and the one a few days ago.
But this gentleman unfortunately had an accent which was very difficult for me as a foreigner to understand.
I love listening to older people who have worked in prison and LE, but also mental health care and rehabilitation.
@@leneo1731you can turn on captions. 😊
Blessed with the best father-in-law ever! He has a whole lot of stories. If you ever come to Brushy Mountain Prison for a tour, you just might get lucky and see him. He visits often. We love him so much. ❤
What a treasure of a man to have in your family!
My daddy was raised in Deer Lodge in the 30’s and 40’s. Heard stories. ❤
I hope he reads these comments ❤
I’m curious what it was like to be the son of this man. He had to be a different type of father than most. I would think he would be strict to keep his children from going to places like this. To see the horrors he’s seen.
@@barbarap8580 He has heard about some of them!
Southern people are good story tellers…I could listen to them for hours …Love it!
Venmo me. I’ll read you books for $50 an hour.
Most certainly. Fantastic
I’m Irish and this accent is just so nice to listen to he’s a fantastic story teller
Please, if you haven’t heard that southern draw, you need to get out more
"Once you start cussin, you stop discussin." Love it!
I know! I need to remember that one, it's a gem!
💯
oh you can artfully weave it in. LOL
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx get a job, you weirdo.
You can learn a lot from listening to people talk
Man I just can't get enough of these episodes!!!! Not gonna lie, I find this (far more enjoyable and entertaining) than the whole Rebecca thing that went on for so long and having to watch Mark continually taken advantage of!! This content is the stuff I find to be the very greatest!!!!❤👏👏👍💯
Completely agree 👍💯
Yeah, enough of the addicts, criminals, and deviants...it is much better listening to people that make a positive difference in the world!
Have you seen the one where the guy goes and lives with the street kids in LA or something. It's a must watch for real! It's called American Street Kid and it's amazing seriously moving.
💯 agree!
My 2 sons and I toured this penitentiary a week ago. One of our tour guides was an old guard and the other was an old inmate. It was quite an experience! They did not hold back on their stories. The ex inmate was very open with how he got in there and how he hopes to reach at least help one person to make a smart choice and change a life.
I love redemption ❤
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx lol hows marke contribute to ppl buyin the CIAs drugs.
You got the right idea but you're barkin up the wrong tree
Good parent. Respect.
@@AlanKelly-nm9lxis that you Rebecca??!! 😂😂
&&hĥĝ%$
"Ray, what's most important lesson you've learned after all your years here?" . . .
"Mind your own Business."
Genius.
Selfish mentality. The type of folk who standby & do nothing as injustices are going on around them.
@@LordOfThePancakestry and save the world then you talk good what do you do?
I’m 15 minutes into this and I am on the edge of my chair. This guy is priceless.
Do you really believe he didnt abuse POC in his custody? Just listen to his voice. And read between the lines. Of course he presents himself as an angel. Scum.
I am too... he's SO interesting, smart (and somewhat funny considering the topic!) but fascinating, entertaining and interesting interview! So glad to hear his stories! Especially about James Earl Ray being such an escape artist! I can't imagine working there, let alone how long and survive. He's tough as nails.
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx@ Hello 👋🏾🫡🫶🏾❤️🙏🏽🇨🇦Toronto Canada 🇨🇦
plenty more screws were he came from i can assure u that love.
Yes, prison stories makes great Contin. Anything crime related is great to.
This guy is sharp as a tack. Very engaging. You could probably get hours and hours of content from him. I'd listen to all of them.
I agree
Me too! Very interesting stories! I hope Mark brings him back
Me too
Uh huh 😊
I’m from a town about 45 minutes from here. I’ve been living overseas for over 20 years. It’s so nice to hear him speak. He makes me feel at home.
Sadly, Southern accents are becoming a thing of the past.
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx CIA Mark? Did I miss something?
Agree! He sounds like my dad. We are from SE Tenn. I've been overseas for 16 years now. Can't listen to this interview without tears.
Love this accent
Glad you made it back safely!
Ray write a book! Do us all a favor and share your precious stories!
He has 2 chapters about Brushy in Nature of the Beast written by David Mills
These prison workers are so soft spoken and mild mannered and yet still have seen some of the most vile depraved things. They work in the heart of the beast and maintain a level of professionalism unmatched.
Great talk Ray! I enjoyed that! Lot of wisdom!
And a good amount of prison guards also commit some of those vile and depraved acts within the prison walls.
@@rumpelstiltskin9729i agree 4skin
They do some wild and some depraved things too . Bet you never been to prison .
You on here, but take my word l from experience. 99 percent of guards are human scum. They go out of their way to treat you like shit. They will purposely deprive you of what you are obligated to have. I mean shit as simple as toliet paper. They straight abuse their power and convicts. I have had a guard for no reason go in my cell and flush all my stamps and envelops and throw my family pic in toliet. Plus toke my coat and keep in mind it was dead winter. And there is no heat or ac in most prisons
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx are you a bot
I could listen to Ray talk for a week straight.
Same..
Same!
Hope Mark does a followup
@@AlanKelly-nm9lxyou're in csis?
Me to !! That southern accent and politeness is timeless!!!
I would love to hear more older people interviews.
They have the best stories.
On another note
He sounds so much like my grandfather.
I hope his children and grandchildren appreciate having this GREAT man as their father/grandfather.
We are very thankful for him
We are very blessed!
I'd like to see a part 2 with Ray.
YES PLEASE!!!
Me too
You guys want his only fans? 😂
😅@@Lee-qd1lz
Fellers like this are a wealth of information on the intricacies of living a long and successful life. He’s lived through so much. People like this are so honorable in our society - honest as the day is long.
Absolutely
No question about it
Knowing right from wrong is what makes this man so likable. It's quite simple, but nowadays people make it so difficult. They twist words and go at things from all different angles, but this gentleman just says it as it should be. It's either right, or it's not. Great interview. Not all the stories were powerful, but they showed how people thought and you could tell the prisoners he cared about and those he didn't when he spoke of them. You could tell who he respected and who he didn't, both coworkers and inmates.
I absolutely agree
I agree. Only a person raised in those times, like myself, can understand the concept of right and wrong without being poisoned by the political brainwashing that has taken place on young peoples minds. I feel like a alien on a different planet in today's world.
Please for the love of God bring Ray back. We need to hear more, Mark.
I’m so glad you’re getting ole timers like Rays stories.
💯 ❤
Yes
Most people that I hear run on from story to story are annoying. I didn't want this man to stop. It is not just the stories but the manner of storytelling as well. What a great guest Mark! Thank you Ray!
I enjoyed beyond expectations all this guards stories and his voice and vocabulary was captivating! I hope Ray will certainly write the book he spoke of writing in this interview and I would definitely be one of millions who would buy it .
This man is special. They really don’t make guys like this no more. I could listen to him all day.
I find it amazing, that almost all of these interviews, not one person is confused or has a hard time remembering events or order of events. Just boom boom boom
.....that’s not what’s happening. They are likely slightly nervous being filmed, and often people can “run their mouth” more easily when nervous, kinda just talking away without really giving lots of consideration to what they are saying
And the stories come out how they remember them / their brain interprets the events currently. This does not mean they are recalling the events perfectly in detail to what actually occurred. Many of the stories are only part truths, and that goes for any situation. Our brain fills in part of our memories with what we ‘think’ happened, but in reality things often occurred much differently than we recall
@AlanKelly-nm9lx
You've made this comment way too much, stop.
@@AlanKelly-nm9lxwow. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals and rehabs, and you talk like a perfect example of a hurt person. I’m sorry for what’s happened to you. This isn’t a “dunk” or a smart ass remark. But obviously there’s an issue. I don’t known Mark, I just watch the interviews for the people getting interviewed, but you don’t know him either. Healthy people don’t make assumptions that bad as easily as that, and try to do it in a darkly humorous kind of way. You don’t seem to be wanting to “warn” people, it looks more like you’re trying to get people’s attention. If it’s loneliness I get it. But you won’t cure that online. And better help sounds kind of weird to me too. But whatever it is, I hope you find what you’re looking for to live happily.
@@AlanKelly-nm9lx ok I got you. Just please take some time to think about how you’re acting. I’m being serious, even if you’re not. I really do hope you have happiness in your life. Have a good weekend.
@@wesleyalan9179 Report it as spam. Help me out! Just click on the 3 dots at the end of the offending comment and follow the brief instructions.
The wisdom and kindness of this streetwise OG is breathtaking.
I want another interview with Ray ! He’s got so much “down home” wisdom, it takes my breath away!
This man touches my Southern roots and makes me proud.
Don't you love it ? I just think of my Charlestonian grandmother and great grandmother ❤
Did it touch your KKK roots as well?
Alan, please get back on your meds for THE LOVE OF GOD.
Love the Southern drawl
Ray is a national treasure. The best stories come from these older generations. They lived life!
This is fabulous Mark. What a great interview.
He has the same accent as my grandfather, so nice to hear a voice like that again.
Needs sub titles, couldn't understand 1/2 of what he was saying
@@thebob3712 You can turn them on yourself as an options.
I know what you mean I’m from Mississippi but have lived in Wisconsin for a very long time so I know how comforting that can be sounds like home and comfort. ❤
@@thebob3712 You need your ears checked, then. He sounds pretty clear to me.
I can listen to this type of voice and that drawl all day its amazing
Mark ... I am your biggest fan and have been following you for a while! Imagine this morning finding out you were at Brushy, 30 minutes from my home! What a treat to have had the chance to meet you! Keep up the great work and hope you enjoyed your time in East Tennessee. FYI .. worked in court system my entire life and Ray shot King in Memphis, TN. Loved these stories this gentleman shared! Brought back many memories of the legal system, the murder trials and antics and F Lee Bailey showing up in our small county for a murder trial! Thank you for all you do!
Nicely done! Mark will love your comment, or at least I do!
@@roberthevern6169Same
@@keeper6458..thank you!!?
@@roberthevern6169thank you!!!
Yes- I live close also! Would have loved to know Mark was in Tn!!! I’ve been to Brushy to tour and I also work in corrections!! Loved this!
I miss my papa listening to this. Thank you Mark. This was such a down to earth interview
@@AlanKelly-nm9lxhaha you’re mentally ill
Phenomenal interview! Thank you Ray for your years of service! Thank you Mark for providing an educational, informative, intriguing interview! Incredible!
Love these guard and warden stories. Real stories, heart wrenching, and compassion. No self pity or blaming anyone. Real life
This is definitely one of your best interviews.
"Once you start cussin' you stop discussin"...its little colloquial gems like this is why I love this channel and why this man is a treasure.
I like the Prison Guard stories. Keep doing them, please. The stories are very interesting.
Thank you for this! Mark, you are doing such great interviews lately!!!
A good storyteller deserving of more vlogs.
He should write a book of bis stories!
This by far is one of the best videos you have ever done. Thank you, Mark.
Great interview! Many thanks to you Ray for your service! I could listen to you talk all day !
Thank you Mark, for the balance! I like these stories…I am from WV but migrated to NC in my 20’s. After a visit with family (I do every summer) with my grandsons I decided to make a trip thru the middle of WV. I took the gboys to Moundsville State Penitentiary which shut down in 1995. One of the guards that use to work there gave us the tour…best deterrent for preteens they really liked it. Next trip was Weston Insane Asylum then New River Gorge Bridge. Best trip so far 😎👍🏼
I need to take my sons to see the inside of a prison. I did 3 short prison sentences, and they don't know that yet because I don't want them thinking it's OK.
Please do a part 2 with Mr Ray! A good prison/jail officer makes all the difference to the inmates. I know because I was one. People like Ray probably have no idea the impact they've made on people. In a place where you're stripped of everything it's really nice when the guards treat you like somebody. Give respect get respect. God bless you Mr Ray. Thanks for this one Mark 👍
I love this interview. I could listen to his stories forever.
This is the very best interview you've ever done !! Interesting, engaging and unforgettable!! Kudos Marc !!!!! ...and thank you Ray!!!!!
A Prison guard for that many years!!!
This man has surely seen things that only Stephen King could imagine.
God bless you Sir.🙏🙏🙏
Steven King is a weirdo bro
@@LiquidMrBasedso what. He wrote some incredible books. What have you done? 🤣
Only a few months. Feel free to listen. Two ears one mouth
@@LiquidMrBasedwhat makes you say that?
Incredible interview! Thanks, Mark
Hi Mark....am really Enjoying these Interviews...Love the background of the Prison Bars.....Artwork of Lifestories......
Thankyou for all your hardwork it changes lives!!!!!
Loved the interview . His story at the end of the inmate and his son hugging and crying broke my heart . A lot of those inmates have amazing hearts they just made bad choices at one point in their life .
Nice backdrop change, gives us something to look at... keep it up Mark, some of these stories have changed my life in small ways and also ways that it took me a while to realize. I was a dancer for on/off 10yrs and did pain pills for 12 yrs, my first BF hung himself when I was 16.... I can relate in many ways to these people. Cassandra will always be my favorite though. RIP...
🖤🖤🖤
The world needs more men like Ray.
I interviewed the warden of Brushy Mountain in 1983 for an ABC-TV affiliate WATE in Knoxville. It was dark, dank and depressing. It was also hardcore. Retrospectively, to me, this was a Tennessee Alcatraz, and I live in Tennessee. I had never picked up on such a negative vibe before. This was an era in American history, where the court system was one thing, but the prison thing was another. I observed excessive force and intimidation from the guards the warden pointed out to me. I thought it was decrepid. I remember the interview like yesterday, and how kind the warden was, but how hateful the guards were. Just one opinion as the warden escorted me around. He was a great guy. But I saw treatment that was excessive, and I will never forget it.
You’re talkin bout when I worked there..what guard did you feel intimidated by give me his name?.. I was there in 83.. it was dark alright, I worked there 30 years.. do you know the cops arrested people and then when they sent them to prison, we had to deal with them. Without a gun to protect ourselves intimidation sometimes was the only weapon we had.. you can Kill each other, but you don’t kill us.
Great interview. I could have listened to his stories for hours. Nice to see you interview someone who isn’t a druggie or with major head issues.
Dabailey 🤔. Good point I have enjoyed many of this channel’s stories but. The are Heavy on extreme drug use alcoholism and severe mental issues. This gentleman was a breath of fresh air. 🌎💪🏽🚀. Just the facts heartbreaking- in life -
About time he interviewed someone who's sober
Saturday morning coffee and an interesting interview, thank you Mark! Love this!❤
My father spent many a year in Brushy Mountain . Have many horror stories from that old place. Glad my dad made it out alive.
You sound like someone Mark would be interested to talk to about your father's experiences.
Thank for this interview. Love listening to him talk, sounds just like my papaw.
A few videos back during the book auction you mentioned that there were developments after the confrention with the Whitakers. Will you be following up with us soon on what has happened with them?
Thanks Mark ❤
This prison has a crazy history when I looked it up.
Wow, this man is amazing. I am so glad he is still here with us. And can share wisdom and knowledge with us. He is a true man. He is a true fighter. He is a good man. I can see it in his eyes.
Always excited for a new SWU video
Same. I am always wondering what do we got today from SWU😊
THIS MAN IS PHENOMENAL. HE SAVED SO MANY LIVES & HIS EXPERIENCES WILL LIVE ON. I PRAY HE WRITES A BOOK 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️
Amazing story. Thank you sir. Keep these prison interviews coming!
this is history right here
This one is going to be great! Thank you Mark
Mark! What a great interview! I absolutely loved watching this interview with Ray. It was too short. More of these Mark. Thank you!❤
Good Morning Mark 🩵 fantastic interview… I could listen to him all day long !
Blessings from Toronto
Great work.
Nice early morning drop here in Toronto.
"You've told me what you're going to do, you have told me what you think I am, now let me give you some information ".😂
Mark I TOTALLY enjoyed this interview. I am an avid listener. It’s one of my strong points. He was great in telling his stories. I was mesmerized the entire time. It flew by. Thank you.
These prison interviews are fantastic.
I could listen to Mr. Ray all day long.
Bring him back again, Mark, please
I applaud this fella for stating the truth that many prison workers don’t want to admit “we’re not properly equipped (to handle mental cases)”
Fun fact: In the Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter was slated to be transferred to Brushy Mountain in exchange for revealing the identity of Buffalo Bill. A cell with a view of the Cumberland Mountains of East Tennessee.
"Take this thing back to Baltimore!"
This was a fantastic interview! Boy did he have stories! What a man! ❤
This was the best video yet, i could listen to this mans stories all day!
Another great interview. I could listen to this man's stories all day . Thanks Mr Ray
Best Interview EVER
Very moving. Excellent post, Mark.
A most down to eatth interview
Mark, this is your calling. I love hearing the wisdom of our people. Your ability to share this with us is a true study in humanity. It is difficult, for you, as you have such a wonderful empathic heart. Guard that and do not take on a hundred years of disfunction to make your heart troubled.
Bless you as I listen to this wonderful wise man!
“He didn’t need shooting” ❤
Great interview! Could listen to him for hours.
Love these subjects! I don’t know if it’s from being from Appalachia or just the fine folks you find here in the south but, these are so interesting!
I could listen to this man for hours!!!! Another damn good interview. The prison worker videos are always gold
These recent videos are really fantastic, just waiting for mark to stumble on the untapped resource of extended care facilities, so many stories that deserve to be heard
Ah shucks Mark. You cut this interview short! This guy talking about the prisoners and characters is gold. Incredible stuff! a peek behind those tough iron bars... I could have listened for many more hours.
This was a great interview mark!
Good morning ☀️ I hope everyone has the day they deserve.
Many thanks to you Ray for doing this interview! I could listen to you talk all day!
Mark I am loving this series!
Living in NC now, I love to hear these stories. Excellent guest!!
WOWWWW, GREAT INTERVIEW!
Sure, don't miss that place. Although i didn't do time at Brushy, i heard about it from the system in NC. I went in in 93 and came out in 07. Did time all over NC. My first 3 years were done in lock up. That woke me up. Being in a 6x9 23 hours a day, 7 days a week for 36 months, woke me up. The rest of my time i used as an education. Seen alot in those years, and things definitely changed and changed for the worse. Never forget the day i went from jail to prison. Walking down that long sidewalk going unto the prison all shackled up . I was scared shitless. Sure, dont miss it. God has blessed me in so many ways sunce my release. Great job, Mark. Learned a lot about life from watching your content.
Great interview, and he's honest about the fact that the inmates are the product of mental illness and/or the product of their horrible childhoods. He has seen a lot, you can tell.
WOW, just wow. I think this man and the warden from here are my favorite interviews yet.
What a great interview. I was the food service manager at BMP for a short time in 1989 and I can attest to what this gentleman is saying. I worked at three different facilities during my tenure with the TDOC and Brushy Mountain was unlike any other prison in the state of Tennessee.
Well I’m sorry but I’m not just going to take your word for it. Plz provide proof of years you were employed or ill just have to dismiss this as unproven information
@@LordOfThePancakesshut up dude
Great interview and great story teller. I could have listened to Ray for another hour.
“If 2 people know sumthin, thas 1 too many.”
My Nana is from TN and her dad, my Great-Grandfather, looked and sounds exactly like this man. So confronting to hear him talk. The portrait you took of him Mark is beautiful. ❤
My favorite so far.