-
My Midnight Years
- Surviving Jon Burge's Police Torture Ring and Death Row
- Narrated by: Prentice Onayemi
- Length: 8 hrs and 36 mins
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Publisher's summary
Ronald Kitchen was 21, on his way to buy milk for his four-year-old, when he was picked up by the Chicago police, brutally tortured, and coerced to confess to five counts of heinous murder. He spent 22 years in prison, 13 of those on death row, labeled as a monster. Kitchen was only one of the many victims of Jon Burge and his notorious Midnight Crew that terrorized and incarcerated Black men - 118 have come forward so far - on the south side of Chicago for nearly two decades.
Not one to give up, Kitchen co-founded the Death Row 10 from his maximum security cell block. Together, these men fought to expose the grave injustices that led to their wrongful convictions. The Death Row 10 appeared on 60 Minutes II, Nightline, Oprah, and Geraldo Rivera and, with the help of lawyers and activists outside, were instrumental in turning the tide against the death penalty in Illinois. Kitchen was finally exonerated in 2013 and filed a high-profile lawsuit against the Chicago Police Department, Jon Burge, Mayor Richard Daley, and the Cook County State's Attorney.
Kitchen's story is outrageous and heartbreaking. Largely absent from the current social justice narratives are the testimonies of the victims themselves. Kitchen is a rare survivor who has turned his suffering into a public cause and is poised to become a powerful spokesperson. The atrocities of the Midnight Crew have been brought to light through Kitchen's actions and are now part of the discussion as the nation engages in an unprecedented conversation about racism.
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- By: M. William Phelps
- Narrated by: J. Charles
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Jeanne Dominico's fiancé found her body on her kitchen floor. More than forty stab wounds and blows to her head with a blunt instrument had cut her life short. What monster had struck in the heart of a peaceful New England town?
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"True?" Crime
- By Shelli on 09-30-09
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No Justice
- One White Police Officer, One Black Family, and How One Bullet Ripped Us Apart
- By: Robbie Tolan, Lawrence Ross, Ken Griffey Jr. - foreword
- Narrated by: Robbie Tolan
- Length: 5 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
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No Justice is the harrowing story of Robbie Tolan, who early on one New Year's Eve morning, found himself being rushed to the hospital. A White police officer had shot him in the chest after mistakenly accusing him of stealing his own car...while in his own driveway.
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Supporting a wonderful and brave human being
- By Caro on 01-12-20
By: Robbie Tolan, and others
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The Lynching
- The Epic Courtroom Battle That Brought Down the Klan
- By: Laurence Leamer
- Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner
- Length: 10 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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On a Friday night in March 1981, Henry Hays and James Knowles scoured the streets of Mobile in their car, hunting for a black man. The young men were members of Klavern 900 of the United Klans of America. They were seeking to retaliate after a largely black jury could not reach a verdict in a trial involving a black man accused of the murder of a white man. The two Klansmen found 19-year-old Michael Donald walking home alone.
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Very Readable
- By Jean on 06-10-16
By: Laurence Leamer
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Unholy Messenger
- The Life and Crimes of the BTK Serial Killer
- By: Stephen Singular
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 10 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
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To all appearances, Dennis Rader was a model citizen in the small town of Park City, Kansas, where he had lived with his family almost his entire life. He was a town compliance officer, a former Boy Scout leader, the president of his church congregation, and a seemingly ordinary father and husband. But Rader's average life belied the existence of his dark, sadistic other self: he was the BTK serial killer.
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It's a Christian Book!!
- By Nick on 07-07-16
By: Stephen Singular
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A Death in Belmont
- By: Sebastian Junger
- Narrated by: Kevin Conway
- Length: 8 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1963, with the city of Boston already terrified by a series of savage crimes known as the Boston Stranglings, a murder occurred in Belmont, just a few blocks from the house of Sebastian Junger's family, a murder that seemed to fit exactly the pattern of the Strangler. Roy Smith, a black man who had cleaned the victim's house that day, was convicted, but the terror of the Strangler continued.
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Excellent
- By Susanna on 01-13-15
By: Sebastian Junger
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The Upside of Fear
- How One Man Broke the Cycle of Prison, Poverty, and Addiction
- By: Weldon Long
- Narrated by: Weldon Long
- Length: 6 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Weldon Long knows firsthand that Maui is nicer than prison. After 13 years of federal and state incarceration, he emerged a transformed man: a powerful speaker, driven motivator, and successful trainer/entrepreneur. Long holds a BS in law and an MBA in management, despite dropping out of high school in the ninth grade.
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What’s the point?
- By Elliot king on 10-21-21
By: Weldon Long
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Bending Toward Justice
- The Birmingham Church Bombing That Changed the Course of Civil Rights
- By: Doug Jones, Greg Truman, Rick Bragg - foreword
- Narrated by: Doug Jones
- Length: 15 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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On September 15, 1963, the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, was bombed, killing four young girls. Who were the perpetrators? Due to reluctant witnesses and racial prejudice, the FBI closed the case without any indictments. But as Martin Luther King, Jr., claimed, "the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." Bending Toward Justice is a detailed account of this key moment in our national struggle for equality and the long road to prosecuting those responsible for the tragedy, related by an author who played a major role in the investigation.
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Great piece of History
- By rita on 03-08-19
By: Doug Jones, and others
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Picking Cotton
- Our Memoir of Injustice and Redemption
- By: Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, Erin Torneo, Ronald Cotton
- Narrated by: Richard Allen, Karen White
- Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
- Unabridged
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Jennifer Thompson was raped at knifepoint by a man who broke into her apartment while she slept. She was able to escape and eventually identified Ronald Cotton as her attacker. Ronald insisted that she was mistaken - but Jennifer's positive identification was the compelling evidence that put him behind bars. After 11 years, Ronald was allowed to take a DNA test that proved his innocence. He was released after serving more than a decade in prison for a crime he never committed.
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Listen for the story not the writing
- By Professor Sombrero on 06-13-09
By: Jennifer Thompson-Cannino, and others
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The Meaning of Matthew
- My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed
- By: Judy Shepard
- Narrated by: Judy Shepard
- Length: 5 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
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The mother of Matthew Shepard shares her story about her son's death and the choice she made to become an international gay rights activist.
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Heart breaking story
- By sherry on 08-10-12
By: Judy Shepard
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Cruel Death
- By: M. William Phelps
- Narrated by: J. Charles
- Length: 11 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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Erika Sifrit was once a high school basketball star and an honors student. Then she married Navy SEAL Benjamin Sifrit. Some say Erika was abused by "B.J." Some say she pulled his strings. But by the time they reached Ocean City, MD, Erika was packing a gun in her Coach bag and was caught in the grips of a new American death ride.
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Extremely poor reader.
- By Tyria Mendicino on 10-06-19
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Convicted
- A Crooked Cop, an Innocent Man, and an Unlikely Journey of Forgiveness and Friendship
- By: Jameel McGee, Andrew Collins, Mark Tabb
- Narrated by: Calvin Robinson, Adam Verner
- Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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Racial tensions had long simmered in Benton Harbor, a small city on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, before the day a White narcotics officer - more focused on arrests than justice - set his sights on an innocent Black man. But when officer Andrew Collins framed Jameel McGee for possession of crack cocaine, the surprising result was not a race riot but a transformative journey for both men.
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Wonderful book
- By Michelle B Ouellette on 06-10-21
By: Jameel McGee, and others
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Where Mercy Is Shown, Mercy Is Given
- By: Duane 'Dog' Chapman
- Narrated by: Alan Sklar
- Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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Considered by many to be the world's greatest bounty hunter, Duane "Dog" Chapman has become famous for capturing fugitives on Dog the Bounty Hunter, his number-one-rated show on A&E. But his job doesn't end when he cuffs his man - or woman. Having personally struggled against abuse, addiction, and a life of crime, Dog knows a thing or two about the path that these fugitives cuffed in the back of his car are on.
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Slow narration - I wish the author narrated more
- By HappyQuails on 02-22-11
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Operation Family Secrets
- How a Mobster's Son and the FBI Brought Down Chicago's Murderous Crime Family
- By: Frank Calabrese Jr., Keith Zimmerman, Kent Zimmerman, and others
- Narrated by: Todd McLaren
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
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The Calabrese family of Chicago is a close-knit, middle-class, multi-generational Italian-Irish-American clan. They operate family businesses. They work day and night striving for the American Dream. All three sons forge a bond with their controlling father, Frank Sr., and their soft-spoken favorite uncle, Nick. As a boy, the oldest son, Frank Jr., realizes that his father and uncle are also "made" members of another close-knit family: the outfit.
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Riveting Listen!
- By ahippieadventure on 02-06-13
By: Frank Calabrese Jr., and others
What listeners say about My Midnight Years
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Gerri Scarbro
- 04-29-24
The beautiful voice
Loved the way the story was told . I could picture everything . I will always wonder how Ronald has worked through all the demons that must haunt him everyday .
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- Anonymous User
- 04-20-22
Eye-opening, heartbreaking...simply a must read !!
Highly recommended. the narrator brilliantly delivers in telling the author's story with true conviction and passion. Simply a must-read !!!
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- Walter
- 06-03-22
A story that I wish was unbelievable.
This was an amazing expose of the corrupt police in Chicago , I wish that it was fiction but unfortunately it is not. The research that went into this had to be a huge undertaking but the t’s were crossed and the i’s were all dotted correctly . It is my hope that this story helps to alleviate any future situation that may present itself but I hope with a bit of doubt. I can hope!
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- LiveFromTheDec
- 02-17-21
Important book
Very good book. Mr Kitchen bares his soul on how it was on death row and even the hardships of transitioning back to “normal” life. Highly recommended.
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- Lisa
- 05-14-22
Excellent story and narrator
I want to hug this man. This book should be read in the classroom kids need to know what happens in the real, cruel world of racism
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- Lisa M. W.
- 03-27-20
Great book
I thought this was a great read but was too short. I especially love the narrator's voice.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Tennessee D
- 02-10-22
Eye opening
An inside look of police corruption on minorities and the devastation it leaves behind.
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- Marc
- 12-12-21
No place for racism
Thank you for sharing your story.
It is heartfelt.
This should be a must read in our public schools.
I am white.
I had never heard of such blatant self serving politics.
You are brave and were blessed with the strength of two very strong strong caring women.
Best to you all
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- Dwayne Walton
- 12-14-22
Biggest Gang In Chicago
Most people can not, or will believe Mr. Kitchen’s amazing story of courage and perseverance. As someone who was raised 3 miles from where he grew up, and personally knew four of the men that were exonerated (and compensated) due to the lazy, racist uncaring thugs that comprised the midnight crew of the criminal Jon Burge, i knew the stories were true, and that he and others were wrongly imprisoned. It’s a sad commentary on our society that we are still fighting just for the right to be treated humanely because others don’t want to give up a false impression of privilege that the country was built upon. As someone who was spared his and the other’s nightmarish experience by a mother who worked 38 years for Chicago P.D. and literally saved me from a similar fate by stopping the cops from falsely arresting me, i commend him for his bravery and thank him for sharing his poignant story. People say that Chicago has a gang problem, and it does. And the biggest gang in Chi is the C.P.D. with the blue code of silence…
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- breeze
- 03-08-23
must listen
the story is one of millions in this country. all to familiar. too close to home
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