Ronald McKeithen is an artist, advocate, speaker and writer. Until three years ago, he was also an inmate in an Alabama prison.
He is a free man now because of the efforts of Alabama Appleseed Center for Law & Justice.
McKeithen was incarcerated for 37 years. He was given a life sentence for a robbery conviction, a sentence made possible by the Habitual Felony Offender Act. He was 20 years old when he received his life sentence.
McKeithen has only been a free man since the winter of 2020, at the onset of the pandemic. He was represented in court by the Alabama Appleseed organization, and he is now the chairman of the organization’s Montgomery branch.
“We save lives,” McKeithen said. “We get people out of prison that are serving life without parole that haven't committed a violent crime.”
McKeithen and the other seven members of his Montgomery station travel all over Alabama spreading the word about their organization and the aspects of the criminal justice system that their organization stands firmly against.
“The Alabama prison system is a modern-day plantation,” McKeithen said. “They don’t wanna let their slaves go, so things haven’t changed. We try to save lives, and that’s why I love what I do.”
McKeithen said he thought he was going to die in prison, but when Alabama Appleseed accepted his case, “All of a sudden, the lawyers showed up, and then, next thing you know, I’m free. And I’m out here just living a wonderful life.”
McKeithen’s story is echoed through a lot of his friends who he also has “helped to free,” he said proudly. McKeithen said that the Alabama Appleseed organization is not exclusive to their Montgomery or Birmingham offices. In fact, if you are in an Alabama prison and serving a non-violent life sentence, you are encouraged to reach out to this organization.
“These guys have served like 20, 30 or 40 years, and it’s like a slow, agonizing death sentence,” McKeithen said. “We have been able to get like 21 guys out.”
McKeithen said he was the second guy that got out.
He said that Alabama Appleseed doesn’t just “help you, then give you a bus ticket to go somewhere.” The organization also helps the former inmate adapt to society by getting a driver’s license, medical visits, prescriptions and housing.
The organization was on the frontline in Selma, when the pandemic began to create food disparities in Selma. They travelled to Selma High School to offer food boxes to those in need.
Today, McKeithen is promoting the artists of Alabama prisons and those who have not just yet been set free by showcasing their films, documentaries, books and paintings. He is an artist of great skill, and his own story and art are available online at ronaldmckeithen.com
Alabama Appleseed is a member of the national Appleseed Network, which includes 18 Appleseed Centers across the U.S. and in Mexico City. Appleseed was founded in 1994 with the mission to develop and help sustain a network of state advocacy centers that address local issues and develop and promote practical, systemic solutions, according to their website, alabamaappleseed.org
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