Life Changing Advice From My Friend On Death Row

Jeremy Busby writes about a friend on death row whose influence transformed his life in prison and whose legacy continues long after his execution by the State of Texas.

Words That Changed My Life

“The time to worry about your reputation is before you have one,” I remember Hasan Shakur, a friend on death row, telling me when I first entered prison. “You have to always do the right things because it’s the right thing to do, and you will never have any regrets.”

These were just a few words of wisdom that Hasan gave to me during his short time on earth before being executed by the State of Texas fifteen years ago.

Born Derrick Frazier, Hasan grew up in extreme poverty in Galveston, Texas. By the time he was 18 years old, Hasan had been convicted and condemned to death by a jury in Refugio County. Upon arriving on Texas’ death row, Hasan dedicated himself to becoming a better human being and worked tirelessly to help anyone who came into contact with him to become better as well.

It was by what I can only describe as divine intervention that I met Hasan. There would be no other person on earth who contributed more to my growth and development as a person than an activist and writer like him.

Our youth were similar, and we both found ourselves charged with horrific crimes at an early age. Instead of judging me or trying to make me feel guilty for my failures in life, Hasan reassured me that he understood my struggles and was committed to helping me make the best of them.

“You can erase what has happened, Jeremy,” I recall him telling me very early in our friendship.

“You just have to make sure that the rest of your days are better than the past ones.”

Those words resonated with me as I struggled with the psychological impact of being sentenced to 75 years in prison.

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life. No one has control over what happens from this point forward but you,” Hasan pointed out. “Dare to struggle, dare to win!”

Those conversations took place back in 2001. Over the course of the next five years, Hasan became my hero and role model as he showed me how to live those very words.

Hasan’s Work Behind Bars

Despite being sentenced to death, Hasan dedicated himself to making a positive difference in the world.

He created the Human Rights Coalition on Texas Death Row, a platform that connected condemned prisoners with people across the globe. His coalition also published one of the first newsletters that gave those facing execution a way to have their voices heard beyond the cells that confined their bodies.

It was in that newsletter that one of my first articles was published.

“Write something for the newsletter, Jeremy,” Hasan instructed me.

“I can’t write on that level, Hasan,” I replied. “Besides, I’m not on death row.”

“You can do whatever you set your mind to do, Jeremy,” Hasan said encouragingly. “And our newsletter is for all humans, regardless of whether you are on death row or not.”

That was classic Hasan.

Not only did he always have a word of inspiration, but he also refused to engage in the classism and divisions that often separate people. If you were part of the human family, you were part of Hasan’s family.

I will never forget the day he asked me about receiving visitors from the outside. I told him that none of my biological family was in contact with me, so I didn’t receive visitors.

Hasan responded by sending me a list of people to add to my visitation list from Switzerland, Germany, Australia, and New York.

I added them all, and over time they came to visit me.

Whatever blessings the universe gave Hasan, he shared with others who were less fortunate.

A Legacy That Lives On

I wrote my article for Hasan’s newsletter, and it was well received by the readers. Hasan encouraged me to keep writing—and I did.

The writing career I have today—which includes being the first African American staff writer in the history of the Texas prison newspaper and contributing to The Marshall Project, The Crime Report, Minutes Before Six, Prison Writers and Death Row Soul—all began with a small seed planted by a giant man: Hasan.

More importantly, my commitment to improving my environment and helping the people I encounter—the foundation of my human rights activism—was instilled in me by this remarkable person.

It is hard for me to believe that fifteen years have passed since the State of Texas took his life in the name of justice.

It is even harder to believe that Texas continues to carry out this practice, which in my view only creates more victims.

Hasan would be 43 years old today had he been allowed to live.

While the death chamber could take his body, it could never erase his legacy of human rights activism—a legacy that lives on through me and through many others he inspired.

Long live my brother, friend, comrade, mentor, and fellow human being, Hasan Shakur.

The mantra you gave us—“Dare to struggle, dare to win”—will never die.

Don’t Miss Jeremy’s story Another Suicide in Solitary: When is Enough Enough?

Jeremy is serving 75 years in Texas for murder. His website is joinjeremy.com. You can follow him on FB @ joinjeremy or IG  @joinjeremy4justice

He is a former staff writer for the Texas Prison Newspaper, The ECHO. His writings have also been published by The Marshall Report, The Crime Report, and Minutes After Six.

Jeremy Busby #881193

James Allred Unit

2101 FM 3694

Iowa Park, TX 76367

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