Michael Littles

Michael Littles grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Littles is a self-described "frequent flier" at Rikers Island, having served multiple terms at Rikers over several decades, starting with his first stint in 1976. He was incarcerated at Rikers from October 2019 to April 2020, when he witnessed the first wave of COVID-19 sweep through the jail complex. His nickname at Rikers was "Mr. Kitchen" because he worked in the mess hall. He describes loading up food wagons to deliver to the housing units on his beat: a mental health unit, a "Blood House," and a "Crip House." According to Littles, Rikers could be an enemy or a friend, depending on how one served their time. He had access to various resources while at Rikers, including the law library, a job, and technical training opportunities. (Summary written by: Annie Anderson)