Bosco – How One Man is Turning the Tide on the War on Drugs

“We were blessed by the prisoner
Who knew how to be free”

Such are the lyrics by Lucinda Williams in her song “Blessed.” _{(Songwriter: Lucinda Williams; Blessed lyrics © Exploration Group LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc)}

And I am truly blessed to have been introduced to Quawntay Adams, a man who spent 16 years incarcerated due the United States Government war on drugs.

Quawntay Adams (aka “Bosco”) is one of those rare individuals that really makes you wonder whether an individual is an outcome of their upbringing or genetics. In the case of Bosco, it would have to be both.

Quawntay grew up in Compton, California where he was a product of his environment – family, friends, neighborhood. This led him to an early life of drug dealing, arrests, and convictions.

Now that he’s free, Bosco is on a mission to make sure others growing up in under-privileged neighborhoods have better opportunities than he did. Through deep soul-searching, change of perception, and committed action, he was able to revamp his own life, and now uses the same approach to inspire, coach, and change the trajectory for others. He is the Vice President and Executive Director for the I-CAN Youth Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to serve underserved youth through mentorship and sports. He is also committed to helping free individuals incarcerated for nonviolent drug offenses.

I have had the pleasure to regularly meet with Bosco to discuss his life, book, movie, and projects he is working on. Here are some excerpts of our discussions in an interview fashion:

SG: You were handed down a 35-year sentence, of which you spent 16 years incarcerated. What led to the conviction? How did you get out after 16 years if originally sentenced for 35 years?

QA: The conviction was possession of marijuana. Actually, an attempt to possess marijuana. A reverse sting in which undercover feds essentially entrapped me. I was sentenced to 35 years without parole, but I was freed after serving 16 because I fired my attorney, represented myself in federal court, and had my sentence vacated. I was arrested January 23, 2004, and released July 24, 2022.

SG: Tell us a bit about your upbringing and the influences in your life that guided you to your own little cannabis business.

QA: I grew up in South Los Angeles area. Compton. My father and family were Crips. It was the typical urban environment during the 80s. Poverty, gang, and drugs (it was the crack era). That’s all I saw. I didn’t see anything else or any other opportunities for a young black boy, so I eventually followed the trend of drug-dealing in my neighborhood.

SG: National Geographic released a three-part documentary (part 1, part 2, and part 3) on you while you were still serving time. How did that come to fruition and while many African American boys and men have been convicted for cannabis, why were they interested in you and your story?

QA: Because I’d pulled off a mind-blowing prison break. National Geographic was interested in my story because, as a black man from the inner city, and who’d dropped out of school at the age of 13, I wasn’t supposed to be the type of person who could pull off one of the most ingenious prison breaks in U.S. history. They deemed me an interesting man with an amazing story.

SG: You have worked to get your story out. You have written a book (available here). Produced a movie currently being shopped for distribution. Tell us about the motivation for sharing your story. Where did you write the material? How did you go about raising funds to launch these projects?

QA: I wrote the book while in solitary confinement. The material came from my head. Lol. I had to improvise and be creative. But the inspiration was rooted in my passion to prove the criminal justice system wrong. The system deemed me worthless to society. I didn’t agree. I wanted to prove it wrong. And sharing my story in a way that could expose true self to the world was one way of proving the system wrong. I not as bad as my sentenced suggested I was. I was able to raise money for these projects by simply begging. Lol. It’s an inspirational story that many people want to be a part of. It was hard work, but I left no stone unturned.

SG: You have also done major speaking engagements. What is the message you want to deliver?

QA: I want to inspire people to be resilient. Never give up because often our worst moments are our best. It’s in our worst that we find real meaning and purpose in life. In film, we like to say that conflict reveals character. So, when we find ourselves in such moments, we will truly find out who we are. My message to the people I speak to is: Look at me. I was dead, now I’m alive. Because I didn’t give up. Be hopeful and resilient.

SG: You have started “I Can Youth Foundation” non-profit group. Why and what is the purpose of this 501c3 organization?

QA: The I Can Youth Foundation was started to decrease the prison population from both ends. Prevent kids from taking the road that leads to prison, and to help some of those incarcerated get released and transition into society. The former can be accomplished by creating opportunities that expose at risk kids to alternative lifestyles than what they are constantly exposed to. We can dream only as far as our minds allow us, and the mind can go only as far as to what we see and believe.

What Bosco has accomplished in prison and since his release is outstanding, to say the least. His book, “Chasin’ Freedum,” is gripping and mind-opening. In addition to social injustices for African Americans, Chasin’ Freedum reveals the inherent brilliant nature of someone who lacked formal education and how he was able to successfully use that intelligence to constantly strategize while confined to a place that drives despair. The book can be purchased here. He not only wrote an amazing book, but also raised millions of dollars to finance and produce “BOSCO,” a star-studded movie about his life story (coming to theaters soon). The movie also includes an original soundtrack with songs from heavy-hitters like Snoop Dogg, Game, and French Montana.

The documentary of his escape from a maximum-security prison is mind-boggling and can be seen in part 1, part 2, and part 3.

He is also currently producing a documentary series about his life’s journey and transition entitled “Chasin’ Freedum.” See the sizzle reel for the inspirational series.

His ability to tell his story and captivate an audience in an honest and transparent manner can be viewed here.

If you want to learn more about the “I Can Youth Foundation” and/or donate to the organization, please visit Mr. Adams Go-Fund-Me page here.

Quawntay is also available for speaking engagements and welcomes direct correspondence. You can reach him directly via email at quawntayBadams@gmail.com.   You can also visit his website – www.quawntayboscoadams.com, and follow him on Instagram – @quawntaybosco.

And finally, I just want to add that my weekly sessions with Quawntay are the highlight of my week. I can only image how Mitch Albom felt while spending time with Morrie Schwartz as told in his book and movie, “Tuesdays with Morrie” – so much to learn from one individual. But while Mitch’s experiences were limited to capturing a life that was ending and sponging up knowledge, perceptions, how to live one’s life; my experiences with Quawntay are all that plus a wonder of what he is yet to accomplish. A life that is just starting for the great.

Get to know Quawntay “Bosco” Adams!