Michel jamal was born on a farm in 1949 in canton, ohio. Michael was the third of seven children and he remembers a close-knit black community of extended famiry and friends. In spite of growing up during era where segregation ruled, michael always attended Integrated schools. He met Linda wilson in the summer of 1967 in springfield, Illinois. The friendship and romance they developed over the next few years created controversy in the community and it became routine for michael to be taken to jail, where no charge were ever pressed. After holding Michael for several hours in jail, the sheriffs department would never release michael to his parent; only Linda's mothen was permitted to take him home to his family.