My Story

I was born in Chicago. I went to William T. Sherman Grammar School and Tilden High School for my education, and my neighborhood was the Back of the Yards community on the south side, which bordered the Englewood area. At age 12, I started moving back and forth between Milwaukee and Chicago, and during this time, I began to realize how deeply my family was impacted by poverty and drug addiction. This made me feel like I had to do something to contribute to the economic stability of myself and my family, which led to me dropping out of high school during the 11th grade and getting involved in the street life of both Milwaukee and Chicago. At 18, I was arrested and given a 40-year sentence of which I served 24 years.  

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When you wake up in prison, it’s like you are in a dream for a while. It took me maybe 5 years for the idea of incarceration, in addition to the long sentence I was facing, to really settle in. When I would go to sleep at night, my actual dreams were in the real world, not in a correctional facility. I felt like I was in a non-natural society. I learned that it’s up to you to be disciplined and determine how to fill your time with things that will help you while you are on the inside, as well as when you get out. Most of prison is very routine, but it’s on you to figure out what to do with this free time between structured activities. During open times, I went to school, read books, exercised, wrote letters, and tried my best to help others with things such as learning how to read. I also learned how to read Arabic myself. Most importantly, I stayed consistent with these things throughout my time, whether it was a good or bad day. To tell the truth, this is what kept my sanity. After 24 years, I was released from prison.  

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Now that I am re-entered into society, I am striving to be seen as a producer of good rather than a product of the carceral system. I mentor other returning citizens by hosting Peer Support and Leadership Circles at Ibrahim House, co-facilitate classes in the Marquette University Honors Program, take college classes through Marquette’s Education Preparedness Program, and participate in public speaking opportunities. One highlight was in 2021 when I contributed to a book entitled “On the Vocation of the Educator at this Moment” with various Marquette faculty and staff. Additionally, I enjoy attending community events and conferences with various organizations that support formerly incarcerated people.