Introduction: At the end of 2021 a survey was sent out to over 750 prison readers of a newsletter made up of articles from revcom.us and featuring writings by Bob Avakian, BA. This newsletter is put together and sent every two weeks by the Prisoners Revolutionary Literature Fund (PRLF).

Over 150 prisoners responded even though PRLF is prohibited from sending a stamped reply envelope. In order to respond, prisoners had to use their own stamp from the small number they are allotted. The prisoners were from all over—North Carolina, Louisiana, Florida, Arizona, Texas, California, Illinois, and numerous other states. Some were from long-time readers and others from those brand new to the revolution.

While this is not a “scientific” survey, there is a lot to learn from what the prisoners had to say. One of the questions asked was simply, “What did you learn from reading the materials sent to you from Revcom?” followed by a few blank lines for the answer.

We are sharing some of the responses, grouped under different themes (for #1, “Thinking about the world, the horrors caused by the capitalist-imperialist system and why we need a revolution,” go here; #2, “The importance of the scientific method and truth,” go here; #3, “Appreciation for Bob Avakian [BA], the revolutionary leader,” go here).

4. Socialism and communism.

* Principally the struggle between capitalist and communist economic structures and their implications.

* I struggle with the Constitutional Law and Rights-in Capitalist Society and in the future Socialist Society.

* A lot, newsletter is very informative. I better identify what it means to be communist, fascists and the history of the world.

* I’ve learned a extensive amount of information. Mainly now however I’m broadening my scope of learning how socialism/communism works outside the theory. The concept/theory is beautiful especially applied to environment, science, education but I’m wrestling to how it applies to humans because we not all the same or have the same needs.

* I’m learning more on communism, marxism + socialism overall.

* I have discovered a better form of government to replace the ineffectual chumps that are currently in power. I have come to realize that capitalism-imperialism cannot fix itself, and especially cannot hope to fix global warming.