Richard Miles, wrongfully convicted at 19, spent 15 years in prison before his exoneration. In this powerful episode of Making Black History Today, Richard shares his incredible journey from incarceration to liberation and how he now leads the fight for criminal justice reform through his Dallas-based nonprofit, Miles of Freedom.
Hear firsthand about the emotional, spiritual, and systemic challenges he faced during his imprisonment, the dehumanization of the justice system, and the path toward healing and advocacy. Richard’s story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of using personal hardship to drive meaningful change for Black men, families, and communities impacted by mass incarceration.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
• The injustice of his arrest and the 15-year legal battle to freedom
• Insights on the 13th Amendment and systemic bias in America
• The emotional journey of confronting the prosecutor
• The influence of activist Joyce Ann Brown on his life and advocacy
• How he founded Miles of Freedom to empower re-entry and criminal justice reform
Key Moments:
0:47 – Meet Richard Miles
26:22 – The 13th Amendment & systemic injustice
32:57 – Joyce Ann Brown’s impact
49:36 – Confronting the prosecutor
1:04:00 – Founding Miles of Freedom
Richard Miles’ journey is a vital reminder that resilience and advocacy can turn injustice into impact.
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