Real Story

Growing up in the city, I lived and died on street code. The streets were my main learning environment, where I developed survival skills and built my identity. And, I was good at street life – made fast money doing some bad things – but it wasn’t until I was incarcerated for 13 years that I discovered what I was really made of.

I’ll never forget it. I was in the jail library doing research for my case, and my grandmother popped into my head: “Malik, if nothing changes, nothing changes.” It stopped me in my tracks. I get it! I have to reimagine everything I’ve learned. I have to take the skills that made me successful on the street and use them for positive, to contribute in a meaningful way.

That was in 2009. From that point on, I committed to doing everything for others. I engaged the prison guards; I ran sport tournaments; I worked with other incarcerated men to help them value themselves and not lose hope for their future.

It’s hard to stay mentally healthy and positive when you’re deprived of so much – family, connection, everything.

My focus was on doing good work and getting released, but then COVID hit, and everything stopped. In 12 years, I’d never been placed in the hole. I’d never been in solitary confinement. Suddenly, we were in lockdown, released from our cells for only 15 minutes a day, if we were lucky. That kind of restriction really messes with your mental health, causing rapid mental deterioration and stress. I saw men around me start to go crazy and get so angry.

I knew I had to advocate for myself and focus on all the good work I’d done. I’d been hearing about the Prison Society for a long time, and I saw how folks benefitted from the visiting and the mentor program. I pushed and pushed, and I was accepted to the [Prison Society] mentor program.

You don’t get help like that – passionate help – when you’re in prison. The Prison Society helped me stay focused and positive about my future.

When I was released in 2021, my only question was how can I stay involved? How can I keep doing this positive work to benefit others? The Prison Society looks at everyone as a human being deserving of kindness, and I like what they stand for. I’m proud to be a part of it. I wake up every day thinking, “How can I help somebody because of my experience?”

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What’s Next for Malik?

In addition to serving as a Prison Society mentor, Malik helped create Real Street Talk, a nonprofit that works to build the self-esteem of incarcerated men and helps them translate their skills to the outside world. He also recently purchased a food truck and is excited to pursue his passion for cooking on the streets of Philadelphia.

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