That Bird Has My Wings: The Autobiography of an Innocent Man on Death Row (Oprahs Book Club

"When I reflect on the reality that society, as a collective, has condemned me to face death, my only recourse is to delve inward, seeking solace within the depths of my heart yearning for a sense of humanity. I yearn to remain connected to this world, aspiring to find purpose despite the grave sentence imposed upon me.

Jarvis Jay Masters, a 23-year-old Black man, penned a compelling memoir while incarcerated in San Quentin for armed robbery. Accused as an accomplice in the murder of a prison guard, he found himself sentenced to death by the gas chamber in 1990. Within the confines of Death Row's maximum security, armed only with a ball-point pen filler, Masters's memoir stands as a remarkable testament to human resilience and the prowess of a skilled writer.

Sharing poignant, revelatory, frightening, soul-stirring, painful, funny, and uplifting moments from his life, 'That Bird Has My Wings' chronicles the author’s challenging childhood marked by parents grappling with heroin addiction, an abusive foster family, a life entangled in crime and imprisonment, and the eventual embrace of Buddhism. Notably, Masters's narrative captured the attention of notable figures in the American Buddhist community, such as Pema Chodron, who contributed a foreword to the book after writing about him in O Magazine.

Even after 32 years since his conviction, Masters remains on Death Row. A growing movement, fueled by the belief in his innocence, actively engages with the legal system to secure his freedom."