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William Peeples

Cohort: 1

Where are you from?

Chicago. 

What is your favorite field of study/topic? 

Sociology, philosophy, and writing.

What is something you would like people to know about you as a student?

My life experience has taught me the value of what others may take for granted. Education is power, it is transformative, and it is the one possession that cannot be taken from you. 

What does being a part of NPEP mean to you?

In a word, everything! NPEP has given me the treasures of knowledge, community, and the satisfaction of attaining higher learning. There are people — good people — who have committed no crimes; yet, they are locked out of advanced education. I am incarcerated but have been gifted with this amazing opportunity. 

What course has had the biggest impact on you and why?

Professor David Smith’s psychology class on decision-making. Because it helped me understand the science of why I failed so miserably as a human being; but it also showed me I am not beyond redemption, and I hold the power of change within my own mind. What I do from here on out will determine my legacy, not what I did over 30 years ago, as horrible as that act was. 

What is your favorite book or article that you have read in your NPEP classes?

That’s easy. Gloria Anzaldúa’s “La Frontera.” She impacted how I see gender roles and how I act out my masculinity, and how I view LGBTQ individuals. After reading her book, I saw and valued femininity in a whole new way. The whole male vs. female dichotomy is a falsehood — we are all integral parts of a whole that are equally necessary for us to thrive. 

What assignment (paper, project, homework) have you found the most rewarding?

My paper from Alex Kotlowitz’s journalism class. I wrote about three books I read: “No Visible Bruises” about domestic violence, “Pushout” about the over-criminalization of black girls in school, and “Missoula” about rape on college campuses. I believe my paper championed the cause of female empowerment, gender equality, and what men need to know about contributing to the well-being, safety, and agency of girls/women in this society — all that I am is due to the various women I’ve learned from on my journey to redemption. I owe them.

Meet William Peeples

 

William’s Featured Work:

William’s article “When You Know Better, You Do Better,” published in Northwestern Magazine.

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William’s article “My Cellie Was the Father I Never Had,” published in The Marshall Project.

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William’s essay “Love’s in Need of Love” in response to the killing of George Floyd:

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William’s essay “The Loss of Contact with Loved Ones During the COVID-19 Pandemic”:

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