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Candid Conversation with Kevin Bruno: Evolving Into the Man He Was Destined to Be
Two areas of great passion in Patrina’s life, family and criminal justice reform, come together today in her interview with her beloved cousin, Kevin Bruno. Sweet and sensitive as a child, Kevin has always been a person that Patrina admired and looked up to, rendering the challenges that he faced, first as a youth and later into adulthood, all the more impactful to her. Their conversation here today is a moving and compelling one as they explore both the joy and fear that Kevin has known throughout his eventful life and the personal and societal factors that led to these formative experiences.
They begin by reminiscing about some of their favorite childhood memories and the family members who have been revered role models in their lives, especially their granddad. Kevin then shares his experience of being young, Black, and big for his age (factors that led to his incarceration), God’s presence in his life, and the role that fear plays in the life of a Black man. He also offers his perspective on his upbringing influenced the man he is, the alleged rehabilitative nature of prison, his creativity, and what brings him joy these days. He concludes by sharing his valuable advice for parents struggling with the choices their children make. Kevin Bruno possesses a wealth of hard-won experience and wisdom, and his life story, as told here today, offers critical lessons for both listeners and society at large.
Episode Highlights:
Quotes:
“Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
“I was always in awe of my grandfather.”
“Not only was I persecuted by whites at the time, I was persecuted by my own people.”
“For me, that was probably the most devastating time in my life.”
“Those early memories can definitely shape our experiences.”
“I gravitated towards those people because I wanted to be like those people - not necessarily the outlaw part of it, but the feeling of invincibility for me.”
“I wanted to be loved, I wanted to be respected, I wanted to be protected, I wanted to be feared, because at that time fear was what keep you safe.”
“For me, that was a way for me to survive on the streets.”
“I know that it was God who told me, ‘This man is going to try to kill you. Scream!’ So I screamed at the top of my lungs.”
“It would be twenty years after that before I would see the outside of the prison cell.”
“For so many black men, our only recourse is to instill fear before we become fearful.”
“The other thing about environment is it’s very unique to each of us, and how we filter and perceive what's happening around us shapes our response to it.”
“This idea that prison is rehabilitative is crap, right?”
“I would say ninety percent of the men who go to prison leave in a worse psychological state than they arrived.”
“You always feel good because he was in the room.”
“They have to see us live a life that garners in them a respect and a trust.”
“A lot of times we look outside of ourselves for that feeling of safety and security, and as I've gotten older the thing that I have come to appreciate is that comes from within.”
“You are a divine creation.”
“Even when the storms are rolling…you can look at the storm and say, ‘This too shall pass’, because you have this peace that passes all understanding.”
“The world will definitely try to shape you and mold you and influence you. And if you can find a way to maintain visibility of your own north star and secure peace within, then joy can come from outside and inside.”
Links:
Joyfully You Life homepage
Joyfully You Life Instagram
Joyfully You Life Facebook
Joyfully You Life Twitter
Joyfully You Life linktree
View all episodes
By Dr. Patrina Clark
4.7
1414 ratings
Two areas of great passion in Patrina’s life, family and criminal justice reform, come together today in her interview with her beloved cousin, Kevin Bruno. Sweet and sensitive as a child, Kevin has always been a person that Patrina admired and looked up to, rendering the challenges that he faced, first as a youth and later into adulthood, all the more impactful to her. Their conversation here today is a moving and compelling one as they explore both the joy and fear that Kevin has known throughout his eventful life and the personal and societal factors that led to these formative experiences.
They begin by reminiscing about some of their favorite childhood memories and the family members who have been revered role models in their lives, especially their granddad. Kevin then shares his experience of being young, Black, and big for his age (factors that led to his incarceration), God’s presence in his life, and the role that fear plays in the life of a Black man. He also offers his perspective on his upbringing influenced the man he is, the alleged rehabilitative nature of prison, his creativity, and what brings him joy these days. He concludes by sharing his valuable advice for parents struggling with the choices their children make. Kevin Bruno possesses a wealth of hard-won experience and wisdom, and his life story, as told here today, offers critical lessons for both listeners and society at large.
Episode Highlights:
Quotes:
“Tomorrow is promised to no one.”
“I was always in awe of my grandfather.”
“Not only was I persecuted by whites at the time, I was persecuted by my own people.”
“For me, that was probably the most devastating time in my life.”
“Those early memories can definitely shape our experiences.”
“I gravitated towards those people because I wanted to be like those people - not necessarily the outlaw part of it, but the feeling of invincibility for me.”
“I wanted to be loved, I wanted to be respected, I wanted to be protected, I wanted to be feared, because at that time fear was what keep you safe.”
“For me, that was a way for me to survive on the streets.”
“I know that it was God who told me, ‘This man is going to try to kill you. Scream!’ So I screamed at the top of my lungs.”
“It would be twenty years after that before I would see the outside of the prison cell.”
“For so many black men, our only recourse is to instill fear before we become fearful.”
“The other thing about environment is it’s very unique to each of us, and how we filter and perceive what's happening around us shapes our response to it.”
“This idea that prison is rehabilitative is crap, right?”
“I would say ninety percent of the men who go to prison leave in a worse psychological state than they arrived.”
“You always feel good because he was in the room.”
“They have to see us live a life that garners in them a respect and a trust.”
“A lot of times we look outside of ourselves for that feeling of safety and security, and as I've gotten older the thing that I have come to appreciate is that comes from within.”
“You are a divine creation.”
“Even when the storms are rolling…you can look at the storm and say, ‘This too shall pass’, because you have this peace that passes all understanding.”
“The world will definitely try to shape you and mold you and influence you. And if you can find a way to maintain visibility of your own north star and secure peace within, then joy can come from outside and inside.”
Links:
Joyfully You Life homepage
Joyfully You Life Instagram
Joyfully You Life Facebook
Joyfully You Life Twitter
Joyfully You Life linktree