Meek Mill Awarded For Criminal Justice Reform Efforts
Meek Mill celebrates his latest achievement. He is the first rapper to receive the Nelson Mandela Changemaker Award for his work with the REFORM Alliance. Meek took to Instagram to acknowledge the honor:
“Blessings..” “I got ‘the Nelson Mandela humanitarian award’ Thankyou Rip to the great Nelson Mandela. ‘I ain’t grow up playing ball I had a smith & western* because where I’m from it’s very hard to turn 27’ #survivors.”
After his 2018 prison release, Meek assumed the role as an advocate for prison reform.
The Freestyle
In addition to the award, Meek gets candid about his personal experiences with the criminal justice system. And his lyrics detail his commitment to reforming the system in America.
“Niggas pleadin’, they got no money for lawyers, to even feed ‘em, nobody left to raise our sons and our daughters, so they repeat us, reapin’, innocent for twenty-eight years, ‘cause mamas’ grievin’, only goals’ to make it back home while she’s still breathin’, can you believe it, in the land of the free I’m fightin’ for freedom?”
Legal Successes
Along with changemakers including Michael Rubin, JAY-Z, Michael Novogratz, Clara Wu Tsai, and Daniel Loeb, the REFORM Alliance was founded. REFORM’s legal accomplishments directly impacted those in Virginia, Georgia and Mississippi penalized by archaic probation practices. The bills include Virginia’s HB 2038, Mississippi’s SB 2795, and Georgia’s SB 105, creating a path forward for the formerly incarcerated.
Meek Mill Doing Good
Moreover, Meek Mill founded the Dream Chasers Foundation, which benefits his hometown of Philadelphia and its residents. The rapper purchased $30,000’s worth of Christmas gifts for less fortunate families. He also brought 6,000 backpacks for Philly students.
Meek Mill stands among a group of artists who continually give back to their communities. The Philly rapper seems to keep his foot on the gas as he works to improve the lives of others
