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Interviews
with the Condemned Interview no.5
The fifth interview is being held with Jermont Cox who currently is housed on death row in Pennsylvania. Jermont writes poetry and completed one book waiting to be published. Most of all jermont is a person that is having hopes and ideals for the future. Please read the interview to learn more about Jermont.
Personality: Name:
Jermont
Cox
1: Question:
Where were you born and raised? Answer: Philadelphia, PA, all my life. The inner city. Southwest Philly
2: Question:
Will
you share with us what it was like for you
growing up? (Did you have a pet, a favorite game, hiding place, or
favorite toy? Were you raised by both parents, a single parent or
relative?) Answer:
It was fun growing up. Partly in the
church. Mom was strict on making sure baby sis and gave respect, showed
love, not be selfish. Clean house, clean clothes. We lived off welfare.
Single Mom. Genesis Ruth Cox. Dad was around, just
not always active. Good man. Ralph W. Smith.
3: Question:
Do you have a favorite childhood memory? If so, what is it? Answer:
Wow! I really cannot
remember to be honest. When my Mom was happy, and we used to all sit
around as a family and just have fun. When she gave us birthday parties,
and invited half the projects we lived in. Those are best times because
it was all about family love. And my Mom not only spoke it, she showed
it to all.
4: Question:
Did you like school? If so, share with us your favorite memory from your
school years. Answer: Yes, because of the interaction with different people. I became my own character, and made people laugh. We didn’t have much, but Baby Sis was always coming up with ways to reinvent ourselves. Music, learning the piano, and how to sneak a breath in between chours (sic) in order to keep the same tone.
5: Question:
What person or event impacted you most as a child? Answer:
It is really hard to
say to be honest. I have always been very observant to all those around.
And absorbed a little from all I came into contact with. The good and
the bad. It was all about surviving before I knew the word exist.
6: Question:
What hobbies or activities did you participate in while growing up, e.g.
scouting, sports, etc. Answer:
Gardening
at John Bartram House in John Bartram Park. No sports at all. Dancing,
dancing, dancing. Oh! How I loved to dance- and continue to dance! Mom
was kind of protective.
7: Question:
What was your first job? Please describe your duties/responsibilities
and whether or not you liked the job. Answer:
YMCA summer job- janitor and watching the children at
nap time. Cleaning up the hallways, bathroom…sweep, mop, dump trash.
$25 a week. I love it. I stop going to school and got another full time
job to help Mom and Baby Sis.
8: Question:
As a child or teenager, what did you want to do when you grew up? Why? Answer:
9: Question:
Do you have a favorite movie or book? Please elaborate. Answer:
Officer and a Gentleman, Grease, Saturday Night Fever.
On the book, nothing really stands out. I love to read when I can focus.
As long as I can become the characters.
10: Question:
Where was the most beautiful or special place that you can remember
having visited? Please describe it. Answer:
Cannot remember.
11: Question:
What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you? Answer:
Cannot remember.
12: Question:
What job or occupation did you have prior to your incarceration? Were
you employed at the time of your arrest? Answer: Not at the time of my arrest, but a few month prior I was working at a nursing home. Dietry aide. I have worked all my life since age 15-21. I came to prison at age 21. 1st. time in prison
13: Question:
Were you involved with drugs or alcohol prior to your incarceration? If
so, please share the effects this had on your life. Answer:
Drugs destroyed my family. Mom and sister both battled drug addiction and alcoholism. And they still do.
14: Question: What do you miss most about the outside world and why? Answer:
Working, providing for myself. Being able to sit down
in a tub of water and take a bath. The human touch. The night air. A
kiss, and making love, of course. Going shopping, driving…
15: Question: What is the one thing you regret most? Answer:
I took the life of Mr.
Larry Davis. It was a accident. It was supposed to be a night of hanging
out, some one put Mr. Davis up to something… I walk in the middle and
fire the gun that killed Mr. Davis. I’m serving a life sentence. On my
last appeal.
16:
Question:
Do
you have any strong spiritual or religious beliefs? If so do they
influence how you view the future? Answer:
I was raised as a
Christian, baptized at age 9…prayed for the Holy Spirit and was bless
to r/c. I no longer call myself a Christian and do not feel the need to
be associated with organized religion. I believe in God and ask to be
bless.
17: Question: How important is it for you to have contact with your family, friends and/or the outside world? Please elaborate. Answer: I was raised in a family of women. 17 in all. I am the only male in my generation. Love, affection, emotions... That's human nature, and to not have that is not human. This place takes all feelings and emotions. The contact helps keep the mind and heart strong.
18: Question:
Do you remember your first thoughts
when hearing the jury’s verdict of death as your sentence? Will you
share this experience with us, e.g. your thoughts, feelings, reactions? Answer:
When the jury announced
Death. My thoughts was my Mom who was sitting behind me. One day these
guys tried to jump me. She came out of the house to help me fight, and
she hit the biggest one out there. Now she was helpless with guilt it
was her fault. My first thought was to comfort to let her know. I have
her strength and God’s protection. It will be alright.
19: Question:
What is a typical day like for you on
death row? Answer:
Cleaning. It helps me
think, and relieves stress. Trying to come up with a way to provide for
myself. Watching myself age. Worried if the justice system is going to
follow there laws.
20: Question:
Do you feel that capital punishment
serves as a deterrent? Yes/No Please elaborate on you answer. Answer:
No.
In places that have the death penalty crime is still high. When the
wrong man is sent to prison the streets know. That’s injustice. That
pushed one to hate the system.
21: Question:
If you could change one thing in the
world today, what would it be and why? Answer:
I would give
teachers and the educational system the same pay and benefits as they do
the prison system. Clean up the inner city. You change what person sees,
you change the person.
22: Question:
If you could go back in time, where
and to what date would you travel and why? Answer:
Oct. 5 ’91, the day my
son was born. I had a plan to do it all right for him and was on the
right track. I have no contact with my son. I have not seen him since
1993, and not talk to him since ’97.
23: Question:
What has been the most important and
life-altering event you have experienced? Answer:
Seeing
my son come into this world one year, and seeing Mr. Davis leave this
world.
24: Question:
What is the most important thing that
you want our visitors to know about you? Answer:
I love life, and have not
allowed this place to take that away.
25: Question: If you have anything else that you
would like included as a part of this interview, please share it with us
now. Answer:
I am serving
two life sentences and a death sentence. Two- I am completely innocent. I told my family not to be mad or angry. Let those families find peace in believing that justice has been served. They have lost loved ones. We can still talk and see each other. We cannot be angry only pray.
Visit Jermont's profile or Poems.
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to interview introduction page.
Webmaster’s
note: I have tried to type the handwritten answers as complete and
correct as possible. There is always a possibility that a typo or so
slips in. Please send an e-mail
when you come across them. Thank you!
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