I AM SUCCESSFUL: SECOND CHANCE
If you have seen any portion of Ava Duvernay’s award winning documentary “13th” then you know that our country’s criminal justice system is quite broken. But more than that, you would know that the brokenness is designed to place disproportionate number of black men and women behind bars. From the creation of a bail system that keeps low income people of color behind bars, not because of crimes committed, but because of lack of resources, to a plea bargaining system that has been shown to give less desirable deals to black defendants, it is clear that the deck is stacked against black men in today’s criminal justice system, and that is just what happens before going to trial.
Black men face numerous issues when leaving prison and trying to start their lives over again. One of the most pressing of those issues is creating a livelihood. Most formerly incarcerated people are low skilled, and with the cutting of many of the training programs that prisons used to have, they remain that way. Add to that the stigma of being formerly incarcerated and the challenges associated with maintaining positive relationships with family, and you will see that life ain’t been no crystal stair for men who are simply trying to start their lives over again.
It is because of that uphill battle that so many black men are fighting that we brought you this year’s “I Am Successful” campaign. This year’s group of talented men are literally beating the odds everyday. They are beating the odds that say they should be dead or back behind bars. They are not only surviving, but thriving. Some have done it by going back to school, others by starting their own businesses, but the point is, that there is hope after prison.
But let us not be fooled. This collection of men who have taken their second chance at success, are not indicative of an “even playing field”. On the contrary, the fact that there are so few other success stories of formerly incarcerated black men, is indicative of the fact that we have more work to do. As a society we can push our employers to hire convicted felons, push for bail and criminal justice reform in our communities, and most of all, have empathy for the brother walking down the street. You may not know what he is going through.
