Lorton Correctional Complex: Inner Voices Performance

Object Details

Creator: Anacostia Neighborhood Museum
Names: Anacostia Community Museum; Anacostia Neighborhood Museum; Inner Voices (Drama group); Lorton Correctional Complex (Washington, D.C.)
Collection Creator: Smithsonian Institution. Anacostia Community Museum

Place: Anacostia (Washington, D.C.); Washington (D.C.); United States; Lorton (Va.)

Topic: African Americans; Prisoners; African American prisoners; Drugs; Methadone maintenance; Heroin; Music; Dance

Biographical / Historical: Inner Voices group was formed in October of 1969 by inmates of the Lorton Correctional Complex, which was a penal institution located in Lorton, Virginia. The goal was to alleviate some of the tensions and frustrations caused from being incarcerated. The group gives people an experience or shares an experience with people rather than performing for an audience. They use the stage as a social mirror to reflect some of their past experiences and to reflect some of the ills of society with the hope of coming up with some solutions for the problems. Inner Voices, Incorporated, an outside chapter and nonprofit corporation made up of men who were released from Lorton Correctional Complex, works with schools, churches, and government agencies to enlighten the community to some of the problems associated with drugs and some of efforts the community can participate to overcome the problems.

Citation: Lorton Correctional Complex: Inner Voices Performance, Record Group AV09-023, Anacostia Community Museum Archives, Smithsonian Institution.

Scope and Contents: The Inner Voices group from the Lorton Correctional Complex use music, dancing, and dramatic skits to present the drug scene based on the experiences of the men in the group. Performance is followed by a question and answer session where the inmates talk about their experiences using drugs.; Dramatic and music performance. Part of ACM Museum Events, PR, and Ceremonies Recordings. Transcribed from AV004343: Lorton "Inner Voices" Pertormance at Drug Exhibit on the mall. Undated.

Collection Restrictions: Use of the materials requires an appointment. Please contact the archivist to make an appointment: ACMarchives@si.edu.