If you are not a viewer of the hit Netflix series Orange is the New Black, here are some basics you first need to understand about the character of Poussey and her death in the most recent season: Poussey was completely harmless and innocent character throughout the show. She did not carry around a weapon, cause fights or create conflict. She was in prison for a small drug possession. She was beloved by many friends and also had a girlfriend on the show.

While the show, story-line and characters are loosely based on the real-life events in Piper Kerman's memoir "Orange is the New Black", it is still highly dramatized and much of it is fictional. However, there are many aspects of the show that continuously ring true to the real world. From sexual assault between guards and prisoners, unjust, animal-like treatment of prisoners in max security, media manipulation of issues within the system, to racism; the list goes on and on. The death of Poussey in the final episodes of the season boldly stands out against the rest.

During a peaceful protest held by many of the female prisoners in the cafeteria where they all stood on top of the tables to protest the overwhelming use of brute force by the new guards, the Captain ordered all the guards to pull down any and all prisoners and to apprehend them. The youngest guard, Bayley, who was inexperienced in the field of criminal justice, pulled Poussey down and held her down forcefully with his knee on her back and elbow on her neck. While trying to get another inmate off of him, he accidentally strangled Poussey to death.

Immediately following the horrific death, the corporate sector of the prison gets to work on the "easiest" way for them to notify the media (meaning, how to not make them look like the bad guys). For corporate to appear innocent, either Poussey or Bayley need to be made out to be the threat. Since Poussey never exhibited violent behavior while incarcerated, was petite and non-threatening and was not sent to prison for any crime that was fatal, she had more of a "victim archetype" than a "bad guy" image.

This type of media manipulation is one that the public falls for too often. In OITNB, Corporate begins finding small details about Bayley's life that could potentially make him appear dangerous (they even resort to using a picture of him dressed up as some sort of soldier for Halloween with a bullet belt around him). The true blame for this situation should be placed on the management of the prison. With very little background checks and zero training, virtually none of the guards were equipped to work in the prison.

It is not Bayley's fault for doing what he was wrongly told to do under a stressful situation that he had no preparation for. It was not Poussey's fault for participating in a peaceful protest and for thinking she was safe under the custody of the prison. It is corporate's fault for not properly training or checking their employees. Why can't corporations ever accept blame for their wrongdoings?

Also, a reality that can be seen through the fictional scenario, is the brutality of the guards in the prison. Throughout the four seasons of the show, there are multiple instances of overly excessive force and sexual misconduct of the guards. This is an issue seen very often in the real world. This abuse of power is extremely evident in the multiple recent cases of unnecessary police shootings.

Poussey's death in the Netflix series is just one of many examples of real life issues within America's penitentiary and judicial systems. It is time the American people begin listening to the weakened and quieted voices of our incarcerated and previously incarcerated citizens.