Singer, Songwriter, Bodybuilder, Personal Trainer, Self-Educator, Sociologist, Writer.
Incarcerated for 21 years, homeless for three and a half.
Anthony, well-spoken, self-disciplined, and intellectually driven, could have a pretty impressive resume. But employers only look at the second line. "They don't tell you why you don't get hired; you just don't get the position," Anthony explains. "[And] every application asks about your criminal background."
It's difficult to move forward and make positive changes in your life when your future has already been decided for you. That's part of Anthony's story, and the story of millions of other formerly incarcerated people leaving the system to re-enter society.
So let's focus on the first line for a change, because Anthony's a brilliant man.
Anthony writes music: gospel, jazz, R&B, ballads, funk, you name it, he doesn't discriminate. "If you're a songwriter or a musician, you like all aspects of music," he says. "Music is the universal language." And to be frankly honest, it keeps him going: "When I'm walking these streets and going through all the hell I'm going through... the first thing that pops into my mind is a rhythm." He's written numerous songs and hopes one day to make a record.
Next, bodybuilding and personal training. When Anthony was locked up, he had plenty of time to work on his physique: lifting weights helped pass the time and alleviate the daily stress. "Bodybuilding is a very spiritual thing to a lot of people," he tells me. So when he got out, he became a personal trainer, going to people's homes and workplaces to coach them.
As for his intellectual and academic endeavors: "I like books that deal with society, that deal with social strength, that deal with the psychology of community," Anthony tells me. "You want to read books that will keep you aware of your surroundings, of your standing, of your position. Why it is what it is, and how we can get from Point A to Point B. You know, how we can change it." Anthony has studied and written about law, sociology, and politics. His advice for those following his footsteps: "Get some education, get smart, and study the law. And then, once you have the knowledge, help those who don't have it. Teach them how to maintain their freedom."
I could go on, but Anthony can tell it better. So if you're ever around Lower Queen Anne, find him and strike up a conversation. And buy a paper.
To Real Change readers and the world, he says, "We're all brothers and sisters, and we all need each other one way or another."
See Anthony in a video interview: realchangenews.org or
youtube.com/realchangevendors.