Divine G Calls His Time In Prison “Spiritual Epiphany” From God
“Sing Sing” Movie: Divine G Calls His Unlawful Time In Prison A “Spiritual Epiphany” From God
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The indie film “Sing Sing” celebrates a major feat. The movie had the third highest limited opening of the year so far, according to Deadline. It netted $137,119 on just four screens this past weekend and also had multiple sold-out Q&As in both New York City and Los Angeles, CA.
Based on a true story at the Sing Sing Correctional Facility in upstate New York, “Sing Sing” follows John “Divine G” Whitfield, an unlawfully prisoned man who embarked on a journey to educate his fellow inmates after what he calls a “spiritual epiphany” from God.
As a former DJ, writer and actor, Divine used his expertise in the arts to launch the Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA) program in 1996. RTA employs theater, music, dance and visual arts techniques to encourage positive change in the lives of inmates. Divine G told Christian Post that arts can help rehabilitate inmates and transform their lives.
“One of the things that was an absolute requirement with RTA — you had to be open to change,” he said. “You had to be able to embrace change because our whole mission was to use arts as not just a healing and rehabilitative tool, but as a tool for growth and development, a tool to make sure that when you walk out of prison, you don’t come back. That was really the ultimate mission.”
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Since its inception, the RTA program has spread to other correctional facilities, creating a network of chapters across New York state. The recidivism rate in state prisons is about 60%, but for RTA alumni, those rates are around 2%.
“People change, and human beings change,” he said. “I want people to really understand that we need to invest more in our prisons, because we want people to come home and be healthy, wholesome and loving and caring because it makes society safe. Our program is a safety mechanism. It’s a community safety network that enables people to come home and be a part of the community.”
Divine G has since been acquitted and released from prison. Today, he still advocates for prison reform and the use of arts behind bars. He told the Christian Post his faith guides him. He earned his master’s degree from New York Theological Seminary.
In A24’s “Sing Sing” film, Colman Domingo stars as Divine G. The inmates in the movie enter RTA and are able to foster a sense of community by performing in Shakespearean plays, dramas and a comedy. The real Divine G even makes a cameo appearance in the film.
Right now, “Sing Sing” is only able to be viewed on four screens in New York City and L.A., but there will be an expanded release nationwide in August.
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