Beating the Odds: Former Inmate Instilling Hope and Pride into His Community

Joe Pledger, once a grim and all-too-common statistic – black, male, incarcerated, voiceless and unseen – has embraced the true meaning of “reformed.” Incarcerated for 5 months, Pledger joined so many other nameless and forgotten inmates in the prison system. However, Pledger vowed to make his name known and legacy memorable. Intent on bettering himself and his situation, Pledger had a plan to improve not only himself but his people as well through entrepreneurship by forming Achieve Historical Appreciation! LLC.

According to Pledger, he had a very specific reason for creating his company.

“My mission is to preserve, promote and pursue historical interests, cultural values, and social issues that affect the community through creative efforts,” he said.

With a high school diploma and two-year degree, Pledger already proved himself different from the average black male prisoner. During his incarceration and even prior, he was compelled to change his life around and knew there was a better way. While other inmates laughed at his business ideas as unachievable, a corporal in the prison believed in him and encouraged him to travel his destined path to success.

“My ultimate goal is to sustain myself and get off of public assistance by demonstrating productive business practices,” Pledger stated.

Instead of learning how to be a better criminal like many in the system do, Pledger knew that he needed to establish credibility. His brainchild was to distribute portable learning centers throughout the Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland, Ohio to give inmates a chance to experience higher education, along with gaining an appreciation of the arts by utilizing portable DVD players.

Travelling throughout the country, including Hawaii, New York and Detroit, Pledger has been able to speak to and reach young black males whether at a juvenile facility, a comic book convention or business conference. He wants them to know that there’s something bigger for them out in the world.

“I want young black men to realize that their ancestors are the key to their survival and to overcome their adversities, they must reprocess what went wrong and correct it,” he said.

Continuing to beat the odds, Pledger maintains a productive life, has gone back to college several times to obtain higher education and is active in his church.

“My church family has invited me to speak on several occasions at family night and elected me or appointed me to key positions such as Assistant Sunday School Superintendent and Deacon,” said Pledger.

Pledger continues to alter the complexion of what it means to be a released inmate with limitations.

“My conditional release unit said that I might be the first person to ever leave the country on conditional release when I shared with them a letter from a director in Ghana who wants to sponsor my visit,” he said.

Pledger’s lasting piece of advice to newly released inmates is to, “to build trusting relationships with the court and community because this is the only thing that you can control beside your attitude. Establish a network of people that once believed in you because you will rely on them for recommendations, job opportunities and financial support.”

Check out his website at http://afrofuturism-game.weebly.com.