Life Lessons From an Incarcerated Father
4,080,324
Published 2014-05-08
In Episode 6 of Last Chance High, Cortez makes an emotional trip to the prison where his father is serving a life sentence for murder. Deeply affected by the visit, Cortez begins taking his medicine regularly, and soon shocks his teachers with a new sense of self-control and openness.
On Chicago's West Side, there is a school for the city's most at-risk youth — the Moses Montefiore Academy. Most of the students at Montefiore have been kicked out of other schools for aggressive behavior, and many have been diagnosed with emotional disorders.
Last Chance High takes viewers inside Montefiore's classrooms, and into the homes of students who are one mistake away from being locked up or committed to a mental hospital.
Look out for new episodes of Last Chance High every Thursday.
Watch from the start on vicenice.com: news.vice.com/videos/last-chance-high-episode-one?…
Check out the VICE News beta for more: vicenews.com/
Follow VICE News here:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vicenews
Twitter: twitter.com/vicenews
Tumblr: vicenews.tumblr.com/
All Comments (21)
-
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. - https://youtu.be/ebytKVbaQ3M
-
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
-
He cant even look at his dad.
-
The presence of Father is so powerful, little man’s whole tone and demeanor changed in the presence of 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.
-
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.
-
This is so sad he can’t even look at his dad
-
this is heartbreaking
-
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...
-
You guys should have a cable network . this episode coukd be so impactful for this generation.
-
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
-
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.
-
Broke my heart to see that cortez felt like he just met a stranger
-
I feel bad for cortez’s father he started crying when he saw his child
