By Freda Freeman
Correspondent
Formerly incarcerated men want people to know they should not be defined by their past. They want a genuine second chance.
Henry Edwards II is trying to help them get it. Edwards, who has never been incarcerated, is producing “I Am Successful… Unfolding” — a cinematic fashion event centered on the identity, resilience and transformation of formerly incarcerated Black men. The event, held Feb. 22 from 1 to 5 p.m. at The Cookery in Durham, includes a short film, fashion show and panel discussion. Hoping to debunk the stereotype of what formerly imprisoned men look like, the fashion show features clothes depicting struggle, shift, arrival and legacy.
“‘I Am Successful’ came to me from the personal experience of being judged before being known. People will make assumptions about me based on my appearance without even knowing my story. That made me realize how many people, especially Black men, carry stories that aren’t fully seen. So, I created ‘I Am Successful’ to shift narratives and highlight dignity, growth and purpose,” Edwards said.
Edwards, a Snow Hill native, held similar events while living in the Washington, D.C., area. This will be his premiere event since moving to Durham in 2020.
Edwards’ mission is to elevate the stories of Black men rebuilding their lives with purpose, dignity and community support. His 2019 production featured a man arrested for drug possession the day after his college graduation, who served a lengthy sentence and is now a tenured professor at Howard University.
“These are the type of stories I want to share,” Edwards said. “Yes, I understand you have those stumbling blocks, but you still have a chance to make it and become other things as opposed to what society and your community is still telling you.”
Sharif Brown, of Knightdale, a mental health advocate and director of reentry with the Alliance of Disability Advocates, will discuss resources available to help those reentering society. Over the past nine years, Brown has transitioned more than 700 people from state and federal prison back into society, particularly those with disabilities. He helps with housing, employment, medical benefits, therapy, and sometimes family and location services.
“There is life and opportunity for individuals who have a justice-involved background. That particular felony does not dictate their future, that’s their past. The conference he’s putting on highlights individuals who have a justice-involved background who are now really productive,” Brown said.
One of the panelists, Edward Scott, of Wendell, was in prison for almost 30 years. He is now a community help worker and forensic support specialist who helps reacclimate those coming out of prison.
“He’s (Edwards) highlighting that even though an individual goes to prison, prison doesn’t define that individual. He also shows that even though people made terrible decisions, they can come out and be successful and give back to the community,” Scott said.
Panelist and Durham resident Tommy Green, who served 12 years, said everyone deserves a second chance. Green runs two reentry programs in which he helps formerly incarcerated men gain marketable life skills and those with chronic illnesses find health care.
“I want people to see that you can give a person with a horrible background or substance use or recovery a second chance or fair chance, and they can do something great. I want them to see guys like me who came from that life and made a change, and most of it is because someone gave us a chance,” he said.
“I want my legacy to be just that, a person that has turned his life around, gives back to the community and is an upstanding citizen. I don’t want to leave this world always being known as Tommy from the streets.”
Tickets for the event are available on www.eventbrite.com, and Edward’s Facebook and Instagram pages.
