Topic
The topic of the TED Talk “Am I not human? A call for criminal justice reform” is the criminal justice system in the US. Marlon Peterson advocates for rehabilitation instead of punishment when it comes to convicts. This is suggested by an analogy with music: “…those people literally made music out of garbage” (ll. 16-17). Peterson talks about how people in Trinidad and Tobago took empty oil drums and turned them into a musical instrument, suggesting that a similar transformation can also be achieved by convicts who have access to rehabilitation programs.
To further explore the topic of the criminal justice system and the need for rehabilitation programs, Peterson uses his experience with the system: “I was sentenced to a decade of punishment in a correctional institution. I was sentenced to irrelevance – the opposite of humanity” (ll. 23-24). After taking part in a robbery, Peterson was arres...