Bokeem Woodbine on the Importance of Second Chances
- UpRising Editors
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
[THE FLOOR IS YOURS]
The seasoned actor pulls main character Hampton Chambers' prison release into real life
The rates of recidivism are very high in the community for multiple reasons.
So many social programs have been cut since the Reagan era. We know now that military-grade firearms and powder cocaine were purposefully disseminated into the community to dismantle communities. So there's a reason why a lot of times when people get out of prison, they can't get a foothold on life. And it seems like there's all kinds of outlets to glorify when somebody falls and stumbles and fails.
However, that having been said, there's human beings who make mistakes, pay their debt to society, come out and change their life around 180 degrees. And those type of stories are rarely depicted because it goes against the prevailing notion of who we are. So to be a part of something that shows David's awesome portrayal of this man who has made a mistake and decided while he's in the belly of the beast to change his life and do the right thing.
He's obsessed and driven to correct the wrongs he has done. That kind of singular focus is so well depicted by David. To be a part of something like that is just a no-brainer. It was easy for me to be inspired by that, and the fact that we're doing it in a humble, comedic kind of way, it's just great. —As told to J.H.
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