Interviews with the Condemned

Interview no.19 (2006-08-28)

Welcome to the 19th Interview in our Interviews with the Condemned series. The following interview is being held with Michael Sabr’e Hill, housed at San Quentin death row for over 21 years. Michael’s handwriting was extremely hard to read and it took a a lot of time to figure out a great deal of his words. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to read it all as you will find out. I do hope that the things I thought Michael wrote down are correct. I will send Michael a copy of this page and he will most probably fill out the rest of the words. Nevertheless we like to thank Michael for his contribution. Click here to visit his profile page.

Personality:

Name: Michael Sabr’e Hill  
Address: San Quentin State Prison, D-76000, 1EB63, USA
Age: 52
Race: Black
Sex: Male
How long on Death Row: 21 year

1:

Question: Where were you born and raised?

Answer: Oakland California, 12-11-54, where I lived most of my life.

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: As the only son, two sisters, single-parent, my mother was everything to me, we did not realize we were poor until we growed up. I had a dog named queenie. She was my best friend for ten years, She was taken from our yard one night. Never had another dog. We played hide and seek. My favorite hiding place was our fige tree.

3:

Question: Do you have a favorite childhood memory? If so, what is it?

Answer: My favorite childhood memory is cooking with my mom on fourth of July all day of the third through the night we worked and have fun. She would tell me about her childhood, and how things had changed for black people here in California. She’s from Littlerock.

4:

Question: Did you like school? If so, share with us your favorite memory from your school years.

Answer: No, I did not do well in school. I learned to read and write here in prison I went to the tenth grade unable to read and write and special classes from third grade to the tenth.

5:

Question: What person or event impacted you most as a child?

Answer: Miss Andra, the only teacher that was interested in teaching me to read and do math. (can’t read the rest)

6:

Question: What hobbies or activities did you participate in while growing up, e.g. scouting, sports, etc.

Answer: Baseball, football, cooking with my mom, and crocketing, which I still do today as a hobby.

7:

Question: What was your first job? Please describe your duties/responsibilities and whether or not you liked the job.

Answer: Working in the shipyard as a rigger boy. Todd shipyard in the early 70’s.

8:

Question: As a child or teenager, what did you want to do when you grew up? Why?

Answer: Be a preacher because he was treated like a king. And had nice (can’t read) and clothing. I looked up to our preacher until I grew up and realized he was a selfish man and did not help the sick as I pictured him to do. I wanted to help people, pray for the sick, and heal people. That was my idea of a preacher.

9:

Question: Do you have a favorite movie or book? Please elaborate.

Answer: I have a favorite book. I’m reading a new and beautiful book. It’s about how to approach and understand the Quaran. I’m not in to movies.

10:

Question: Where was the most beautiful or special place that you can remember having visited? Please describe it.

Answer: My grandmother’s house, and the paintings on the walls. She would share stories about them and what (can’t read) every where, all had a special memory from her. She was so clean, everything had its place. Her yard full of food, (can’t read) and things to do. She would keep us busy working the yard. All them boys had to work, hahaha.

11:

Question: What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you?

Answer: I had Sunday school and went fishing with friends and fall in the bay, hahaha. I had to stay there all day while my cloths dry, hide in my underwear. My mom got word of what happened and when I came home she told me; “See what God does when you lie, go get those filthy cloths off and wash your ass.”

12:

Question: What job or occupation did you have prior to your incarceration? Were you employed at the time of your arrest?

Answer: I was not employed at that time.

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: I was involved with drugs, which looks over my life. I disregraded everything I believed in, my wife and family. Drugs, not something I will ever do again in life. I have been free of drugs for 15 years now. The first year I was out of my mind, no feeling, wishing death would come. Could not read or write. I was crazy, out of my mind. One day I got (can’t read), and never used drugs again, the best thing I ever did. Stop the madness, turn to God for help.

14:

Question: What do you miss most about the outside world and why?

Answer: I miss my ex-wife and family life. I long to her so very much. But at the time my love was the drugs and you can not have two lovers. My wife begged me to stop, but I couldn’t at the time, it had a hold of me. I miss seeing my son growing up to the man  he is today with my in put (?)

15:

Question: What is the one thing you regret most?

Answer: Their case which I can just get into do to my appeals, saddens me, when I think of the loss of lifes.

16:

Question: Do you have any strong spiritual or religious beliefs? If so do they influence how you view the future?

Answer: Yes, I am a Muslim, who believes strongly in God. My believes saved me from the drugs. (can’t read) time a day, and keep myself clean and away from those that do wrong. Praise to the almighty God.

17:

Question: How important is it for you to have contact with your family, friends and/or the outside world? Please elaborate.

Answer: The most important relationship one can have in life is family. Family breath hope, friends are the witnesses of that hope. Family helps and pray for you, and let you know you are loved, that someone cares, be concerned about you. Friends do their part by writing and talking to you. This keeps a person alive and walking to go through the situation.

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: I think it was more hard for my family who was in the court room, for me it was the end of the world for me. I sat still and could not say a word. I was in a dark place in my life. Drugs was all I had to live for, something to take me out of my reality, which lasted 6 years of prison for me, taking anything I could get my hands on.

19:

Question: What is a typical day like for you on death row?

Answer: Sitting in my one-man cell, friendless yes. I have a few true friends I’ve made her on death row, but each day I am alone, with no one to talk to in a meaningful way. Life hard and lonely I call my family daily just to hear a friendly voice, and the love they have for me unconditionally.

20:

Question: Do you feel that capital punishment serves as a deterrent? Yes/No Please elaborate on your answer.

Answer: No, capital punishment is about big money for attorney’s. There is a man who killed 48 woman doing life without, a man on death row killed one or two people, and get the death penalty, that is not right. Oakland, have more killing today than they did last year and the year before, and they send one to death every month.

21:

Question: If you could change one thing in the world today, what would it be and why?

Answer: It would be the hopelessness in our young people, the education or lack of education black get in the (can’t read) city. They are set up to fail, and you can see clear as day, still it goes on and no one is doing anything to change that situation. Just build more prisons, cut back on school funds.

22:

Question: If you could go back in time, where and to what date would you travel and why?

Answer: I would go back to June 1985. I was with the love of my life, who begged me not to return to Oakland, California. I had moved close to L.A. I had a good job lined up, and things were looking hopeful for me and my family. But I could not go without the drugs, so I returned. Within a few days I found myself out of my mind smoking drugs. I was called to report for work but never showed up, two months later I was charged with this case, been in jail ever since then. 

23:

Question: What has been the most important and life-altering event you have experienced?

Answer: The death’s of family members. All of my mother’s sisters and brothers, cousins and friends, not being there to do my part, have really hit home with me, and change the way I see things in life.

24:

Question: What is the most important thing that you want our visitors to know about you?

Answer: I would like for people to know I’ve changed from the person I was 21 years ago. Drug free, I have feelings, I care about others, I’ve come a long way. I am sincere, and a true man of my word. I’ve made some bad mistakes in life, and have been put on death row for them. Still, I’m human, and I long to share the person I have become through friendship.

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: For many years I did not know to expose my feelings or show them without looking weak. Today I can say my life is a open book, if you would like to read about what is going on with me, please feel free to write and talk about anything that you would like, I welcome you.

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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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