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Seattle Singer Confronts Emotions Of Having A Son In Prison For Life

Josephine Howell of Seattle band Radio Raheem .
KUOW Photo/Gil Aegerter
Josephine Howell of Seattle band Radio Raheem .

Josephine Howell used to find it too painful to talk to her eldest son.

Charles is in prison on the East Coast, serving to two life sentences for second-degree murder. He was convicted at the age of 17 and has been locked up since 1999.

Howell fronts Seattle band Radio Raheem. They’ve written a new song about her son called, “Dear Charles.”

Howell told KUOW’s Jeannie Yandel that the song is a way that she attempts to express depths of her feeling in grappling with Charles’ situation.

“In all actuality I believe sometimes you have to be in the position in order to understand, and I never, ever want anybody to have to be in this position to understand it. So I tried my best to explain it,” Howell said.

Listen to Howell’s emotional interview to hear her explain how victims of crime can be empathetic to her situation. 

WATCH: Josephine Howell gives a teaser of "Dear Charles" in the KUOW studios.

https://youtu.be/PzTg858JT30