Our Mission
To provide publishing opportunities for
original works of arts and literature,
and promote literacy to people affected by incarceration.
History
The idea for TPI and Figgadealme.com was conceived in a small prison library in 2014 while the founder was providing library services to inmates. There he discovered two things. First, there was a wealth of quality art and literature being produced by inmates and people affected by their incarceration. The second discovery was the staggering rate of illiteracy within the prison population.
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After reading several works written by inmates there came the recognition of a sad reality. The reality was simply this, even though these manuscripts had significant literary value they would never have the monetary appeal to gain the attention of a standard publisher. Hence these works would remain in obscurity, never to be seen or read let alone published. It was here the idea was conceived to create a platform without regard of monetary value for the publication of these works that might otherwise be lost and at the same time promote creativity and the basic human right of literacy.
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~ According to urbandictionary.com "figga deal me" is a slang phrase meaning, "Do you understand what I am saying? " Anyone who has experienced incarceration will recognize the need to have a voice and be heard. The phrase was frequently used in the institution where the inspiration for TPI was conceived. While its use may not be as common in other institutions and the phrase has been used with other connotations, it still seemed an appropriate name for TPI's online store to give a voice outside the wire to ask the world...
"Do you hear what I am saying?"
― Kofi Annan
Born in Kumasi, Ghana
April 08, 1938
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Died: August 18, 2018
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“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development... Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity… For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right.... Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”
