Anthony Michael Jefferson Boldly Speaks Truth to Power

by Robert M. Gardner

Anthony Michael Jefferson enters wearing white pants and loose shirt—elegant and confident. Soon we will learn to detest his crime, abhor his past, and finally, come to love him.

“The Bumpy Road Less Traveled” offers a rare opportunity to enter the world of an inmate, reliving his pain.  We feel the injustices of our flawed prison system. Jefferson never denies his crime or the need to pay restitution. Yet his story exposes the gaps in what passes for “justice.”

Jefferson excels as a storyteller.  In one childhood memory, a teacher helps him deal with his classmates’ racist taunting. He learns to deal. Still, despite the armoring, the slurs continue to hurt, reopening long-ago wounds.

Successful in school and athletics, Jefferson appears to be on his way to success, But as a kid, he is lured into dealing drugs in L.A. for quick money. At age 21, when a drug boss threatens his mom, Jefferson responds with a terrible crime. For the next 23 years, he Iiashuttled from prison to prison, losing his identity, and his hope.

Jefferson’s storytelling style moves to an elevated stage in front of a vast mural of prison cells.  A cot on the upper stage stands for his cell bunk. Jefferson’s superb storytelling provides vivid times and places.

Piece by piece we learn of his tortured past but finally we learn of his success.  After prison, he becomes a chef and then an actor. He has been acting in the Bay Area for the past three years.

There are two million people incarcerated in the US, that’s 20% of people in prison in the world, although we are only 5% of the world’s population. Among U.S. prisoners, 38% are Black, while Blacks number only 17.8% of the US population. What are we doing to help these former inmates reenter the world after prison? Jefferson tells a brutally honest story. He does not sugar coat what has happened to him and it’s a compelling performance.

We learn about his strict military family, his stern father, his caring mother and sister. At age 21, he made mistakes and suffered from the U.S. disease of racism. We are transfixed by the horror of 23 years in prison, chillingly depersonalized down to his prisoner number: J58635.

Jefferson discovers that his upbringing as a military brat serves him well in prison.  He knows how to pay respect to the guards. His obedience leads to becoming a truststed inmate with additoinal freedom. He doesn’t have to wear handcuffs, and he gets to work in the office.

One of the most important parts of Restorative Justice relies on the support of friends and family. His successful sister in New York helps him get into the Cordon Bleu cooking academy.

Jefferson is a dramatic embodiment of Restorative Justice that tries to restore fairness and responsibility in the justice system. Anthony Michael Jefferson is living PROOF that Restorative Justice WORKS.

The subject matter is tough, but I highly recommend seeing his unique and moving play.

 

“The Bumpy Road Less Traveled” –written & performed by Anthony Michael Jefferson, directed by Dylan Russell, at The Marsh, Berkeley.

Info: themarsh.org – Fridays, to August 7, 2026.

Cast: Anthony Michael Jefferson