Life Lessons From an Incarcerated Father 

WATCH NEXT: Death penalty sentences may be on the decline, but many will spend their final days behind bars with another sentence - life without parole. We speak with The Wire’s Gbenga Akkinagbe, and hear how Ali Siddiq’s time in prison helped him become a comedian. - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ebytKVbaQ3M.html

I noticed when he was with his dad, instead of swearing, he just said “heck yeah”. Really shows the persona he puts on at school, and how he really just wants his dad.

the difference that a father can make

The presence of Father is so powerful, little man’s whole tone and demeanor changed in the presence of his dad.

He cant even look at his dad.

all he needs is a dad :(

"I think about you a lot, like when i cry and get in trouble. I think about you" This straight up made me cry.

I noticed the reason the father started laughing at the most important questions was bc he wanted to cry. But in jail he’s learned to hide his weak emotions with other ones. Sad to see

I feel like Cortez is angry about so much more than his dad and he doesn’t even realize it, neither do the adults around him. Like his little sister passing away such a brutal way, his brother also passing a very brutal way, and his dad in the situation he’s in. Life has been so unfair to Cortez.

I feel this video showed the real Cortez. He is just a scared kid. Yea, he talks the talk and get into fights, but it's because he is afraid and insecure. With no father figure to protect him, he feels afraid and has to fend for himself. Truly heartbreaking. I can only imagine what he could become with some love and patience from a man in his life.

No matter how much wrong his dad did in his life, he cares about his kid, and that's more than I can say about my dad...

This is so sad he can’t even look at his dad

this is heartbreaking

Cortez isnt a bad child. I like the fact that he does actually want to better himself. He don't actually want to be bad , i mean he just needed his father. Everyone needs someone to help them and life and thats just what he needs.

Broke my heart to see that cortez felt like he just met a stranger

That was hands down the saddest human encounter I ever witness. All I can say is wow. Things gotta change.

"I want there to be a man in my life so I can do better". That one hit his dad pretty deep man

You guys should have a cable network . this episode coukd be so impactful for this generation.

I didn't like cortez last episode but this scene with him and his dad shows he's just a lost little boy crying for a male role model....smh I cried. I liked how real it was. When you haven't seen someone in 6 years its awkward, its weird, i like that they showed that.

The dad doesn’t want to look at him to much, he feels ashamed he’s seeming him like this. That definitely shows a lot of remorse.

I feel bad for cortez’s father he started crying when he saw his child

"I need you to pray for me." "I do." damn.

Cortez's dad is the real mvp.

Forgot his words, his whole mannerisms changed when he's around his father. Just shows the impact a father has on a child's life.

I pray for these young black men I can see the pain in their eyes god please heal them

sad watching this, knowing cortez ended up arrested multiple times and is in jail by 18 years old. Sad

"we not at the club we doing a presentation" i died

the kid doesn't make eye contact with his father shows he is scared

I’m a father and I’m in tears just watching this. Imagining putting my son through a life without me being there for him. Breaks my heart.

This is so sad man. Cortez listen to your Dad because this is your future:(

It seems to me lil' Cortez needs his father more than big Cortez realizes. He seems massively disconnected from the life he left behind and doesn't really know how to react or handle it.

It’s amazing how Cortez completely transforms as a person when taking his medication. He becomes calm, relaxed, and cooperative.

This shows why fathers are important.

Was I the only one who almost cried when Cortez saw his dad 💯😭

Awe, I am so proud of Cortez. He can turn it around. I know he can.

its crazy cause now cortez is doing 25 years at the same prison with his dad

Son:“It be a lot of police walking through here“ Dad:“This is jail“ LMAOOO

6:41 "I think about you a lot. When I get in trouble, and when I cry, I think about you." That is a big thing to say to your father that you haven't seen in eight years. As awkward as their interaction is, Cortez has a lot of confidence to admit that straight up. He has incredible hope that his father will come back to his life.

Cortez’s father honestly reminds me of the Tupac lyric “penitentiaries is packed with promise makers”

This series really shows how good we have it, very humbling

This is one of the most heart breaking things I have seen in a while. 💔 I wish I could help children who go through this kind of pain. They’re just kids..I get so angry at parents who pop out babies when they have no intentions of straightening out for their children!!

I met my dad for the first time too around this kid’s age. He did SO well. It is absolutely TERRIFYING. To do it in a prison with all them men shouting and screaming. It’s so hard to tell these kids. I was once one of these kids and you couldn’t tell me anything. I love you all, be good .

so important 4 our black brotha's to have our fathers in our lifes

He's a sweet kid, reminds me of myself. May the lord bless him and his father and bring happiness for all.

This sweet boy has me in tears 😢he just needs some proper guidance but he possesses such a genuine soul

vice news is the best ever this is amazing

9:30 best part. "you cant say shit, we gon lose our jobs" LMAO

I remember being a child, visiting my mom in prison, feeling all of these same emotions.

*update on cortez* I found a post from 3 years ago saying he was serving 3 years for a felony unfortunately. I also found a post from august 2021- he was arrested for armed robbery. I’m assuming he’s still locked up. It’s sad. If you look up “cortez last chance high” you’ll find what I saw.

Damn this video made me appreciate my father way more for his presence in my life...

"Did he just say shit , we can't say shit we might lose our job " 😂😂😂

Ms. Butler is hilarious 😂😂 “did they say shit ? We’ll lose our job”

MANNNNN dis shyt hit completely different wen u actually been through this exact situation.....itz hard to look at ur kids wen u in prison knowing u let the most important people in ur life down!! 🤦🏾‍♂️

What is the point of a correctional facility if they don't let convicts go back into society after all the correcting? America's prisons are so messed up and its awful to watch an unjust system tearing families apart.

I cried during this video because I know what it's like not to have a dad my dad died on a drug overdose when I was 5 months old

I always come back to this video throughout the years at moments when I miss my son. I see him 50% of the time so I have nothing to complain but there are times when I don’t see him for a couple of weeks and watching this both breaks my heart and gives me strength. The moment when Cortez walks in and cries when seeing his son again for the first time in all those years is so powerful and pure. I wish they could see each other more often. It’s such a tragedy.

I felt like crying. I always wanted a father in my life but he left my mom and me

Anyone find the invisible ninja cutting onions?

I’m so happy he got to see and talk with his father. This episode really pulled at my heartstrings. Goodness I cried like the whole way through.😭😭

Poor baby...I just want to hug him. He looks so lost.. May the Lord grant him peace and a sense of direction.. Bless you Cortez.

I really hope Cortez changes his ways.

I don't understand why this show was cancelled, it's not offensive in anyway, and it's very impactful for kids of this generation

i havent cried in years and i cant stop tearing up right now. im so shocked by the life these young men and women have to live. thank you to everyone that has provided a somewhat decent life for these kids. i would love to be a part of this positive role model experience for these young people.

Dad shaking his head and smirking telling his son the reason he is in jail. Then when he says, "you were six when I got in here." The whole time no apologies for how he ruined his family and wasn't there for his son.

awe he looked so much better after seeing his dad!

The talk he had with his dad made me shed a tear. I remember when I went to go see my dad when he was in prison. I had went to see him with my sister and his mom and dad for one of those visits where you get to eat and talk with the face to face. Family day event it was. I cried when it was time to leave. Seeing the walls close every foot step you take to get in and out is a crazy and unreal feeling even though it's all real. I remember me and my dad would write letters to one another, he'd always say that when he was gonna get out that he was gonna be there for me and my sister and my mom. But he never kept his word. It's sad that I don't know him like that, and when we run into each other it's always awkward. I seen him yesterday walking home and he gave me a hug and kiss, we chatted for like 5 minutes, and I went on my way. But what's sad is he told that same lie he always tells when he sees me or my sister, he always says "I'll be around the house Saturday, tell your mom I'm coming to see her." He said that yesterday and I shrugged my shoulders with a smirk. But I thank God that I had a mom who raised me right. Never been to jail, never been in any type of fights, never was one to run with the crowd. I've always stayed to myself even now as a 24 year old. All I needed was my mom, and she did the best she could, and I turned out great. I am forever thankful for her.

In case anyone would like to know: After the show ended cortez fell into a life of violence, drug dealing and street life, forcing him and his family to flee the city. Coach william had gotten laid off and burned through the majority of his savings, but he says he continues to see some of the kids on the west side. Crystal and her son(Rudy Andrew Sanchez II) sadly died on Friday September 28, 2018. Spanky (montreal almond) got arrested just this year. And lastly, keontay was shot and killed. This is all the information I found for the people that wanted an update.

Thats Deep man .. "When i cry when im in trouble i close my eyes i think of you" .. this shit breaks my heart how many ppl go without fathers in there life it really can lead to a life without instruction or direction or comfort

When his dad started to cry.- Oh my gosh my heart. That is so wonderful..

Cortez : How did you get in here ? Dad : [Laugh] I got a murder & attempt murder !

Who’s watching in 2020??

I pray these kids receive the guidance they so desperately need

4:14 "It is possible." Love seeing that optimistic side in this kid. Hopefully he can apply that to his own life and goals. What a change from what we would hear from his mouth in the past couple of episodes. Clearly the meds are good for his behaviour.

Stay in school, go to church, and play basketball💯

As someone who lost my dad 3 years ago only a few years older than he is now this means a lot to me. I can see it in his father's eyes and his body language. He loves his son and just wishes he could show it to him.

I love this pastor!, a true man of god 🙏🏾

That moment he looks at his sons eyes and realizes he made his greatest mistake. Leaving his boy to fend for himself.

We don't know the exact circumstances that put that father prison, but look at the immediate impact he has on his son. He is an amazing dad if nothing else. I hope they reduce his sentence for good behavior and he get out and gets to be with his family.

Note: Sadly Cortez Shields went to prison for gun charges in Illinois in 2018. Now he finished his sentence and is currently not in prison anymore. Sad how much of a difference a father can make

you can see the genuine love and tenderness behind the hard exteriors in the father/son exchange. there are some beautiful hearts behind their masks. they just need all the help they can get

Who TF would dislike this I swear some people just hate them selfs

I'm so glad Cortez got to see his dad. His dad said just what he was supposed to. I hope it helps turn Cortez's life around while he's still young. GL Cortez!

I just wanna buy every single one of these kids lunch and just chill with them. Take em to six flags or like the zoo or something. They deserve that.

I just looked up cortez's name and it turns out he has been to jail twice. Breaks my heart

This was extremely sad! My heart goes out to young men like Cortez. It's so unfortunate, because he didn't ask to be born into a dysfunctional situation. I pray that he makes a turn around!

"Clean version on audiomack" lmao real

This is incredibly sad, yo. However I LOVE the optimism in Mrs. Aguirre's voice. You can tell she has a way to have people open up to her. That's who we need more of in our school systems, but also in our parents. It all starts at home.

im happy for him. he gets to see his dad after a long time. my dad left me when i was 7 and i havent had contact with him since. good on the father for caring so much update: i drove 15 hours to my dads old house not knowing if he was there or not and he cried since i found him

This was extremely sad and hard to watch, with him and his father talking. They're so disconnected the first few minutes with them only with each other was complete silence. From watching the father and the way he talks seems like it doesn't matter that he is not in his childs life. This young man needs a father figure but his dad isn't one. And why was he laughing about having murder and attempted murder charges, I hope Cortez doesn't follow in his dad footsteps.

Three things a kid needs: A father and mom in the house, a great environment to live, and non violent information coming into the minds

His dad been in jail since 05 dats 14 years and he doing 60 wtf damnnn foh

The way cortez was with his dad just proves how much he needed to see him and how much he needs him in his life-I hope they r all good now

I actually feel really bad for Cortez. It seems like he's a decent kid he's just in a shitty environment. Poor kid. And living where he does doesn't help....it's a vicious cycle that unfortunately he'll probably never get out of.

I did not see this man apologise I don't know if they didn't record it but that was the most important thing I think he should of done.

Cortez and his dad have me crying. I’m so incredibly sad for him. Hope he’s doing better. Poor baby

My goodness. .my heart breaks for this young boy. Men need to do better for their children and be there for them, a positive influence is what these kids need

Who else was bawling 😢

this series is so good.

Damn bruh that medicine has him doped out....

It's amazing how much control one's father can have over them. I didn't realize how much my father kept me together until after he passed. I miss him so much.