Albert Woodfox stands before an audience of students and faculty after
spending most of his life in solitary confinement at Angola Prison.
The Lion's Roar / Ian Fischer

After his release from 43 years in solitary confinement, activist and member of the Angola Three, Albert Woodfox spoke at the University Center last Tuesday.

The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice hosted his speech.. Albert Woodfox spent more time in solitary confinement than anyone else in United States’ known history. He spent it in connection with the 1972 murder of prison guard, Brent Miller. Woodfox stood in front of the audience answering questions about his life and experiences.

During his time in prison, Amnesty International, among other organizations called for his release from what the state calls Closed Cell Restriction. Woodfox said he was allowed to leave his cell for just one hour a day. He explained what viewing the world was like for such a short time.

“Robert Hillary King, he has this saying,” said Woodfox. “‘To the frog in the well, the world is no bigger than the opening.’”

King is another member of the Angola Three. The late Herman Wallace is the third member. The three men went to solitary confinement in connection with Miller’s murder, but they maintained their innocence.

Woodfox said his mother is his biggest inspiration, but he did not feel that way during his youth. 

“My mom fought a valiant fight to save me from the street,” said Woodfox. “The noise of the street was louder than my mother’s voice.”

Woodfox became involved with petty crime in New Orleans. He was eventually charged with armed robbery and sentenced to 50 years in prison. He escaped during his sentencing and went to Harlem, New York where he found the Black Panther Party.

“Eventually, the Black Panther Party’s voice became louder than the street,” said Woodfox. 

Woodfox is a founding member of the Black Panther Party of Angola. He said he and the Angola Three became involved with the Black Panther Party to fight corruption, racism and abuse.

Miller’s murder occurred after the party’s founding and an eyewitness testimony from Hezekiah Brown connected Woodfox to the crime. According to NPR, the former warden Murray Henderson said he bribed Brown with the possibility of a pardon and more comfortable living conditions. 

Amnesty International among other organizations also noted the lack of physical evidence connecting Woodfox to the crime. Both Woodfox and Wallace’s fingerprints did not match a bloody fingerprint found at the scene, but the evidence has since been lost. This made it impossible to match with any other fingerprint on record. 

Woodfox pled nolo contendere, which means no contest. He said it was not an admission of guilt, but a plea for his freedom.

Woodfox shared his views on the 2016 election and Donald Trump who he said is exploiting the working class for his own gain. He also shared his views on the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

“I think a lot of the kids in Black Lives Matter will be some of the greatest leaders,” said Woodfox.

Senior health education and promotion major Precious Singleton was excited to see the presentation. 

“This is history,” said Singleton. “I’m honored. I’m blessed and he actually talked to me.”

 Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice Instructor Rebecca Hensley asked Woodfox how he avoided becoming bitter.

“I am bitter,” said Woodfox. 

He said the bitterness motivates him now.

Woodfox plans to spend time with his family and be “active and an activist” as a free man.