Interview with Rhan Powell

A Get Them Home Conversation

Q: Can you tell us a little about your background and what ultimately led you to prison?

Rhan: Bad choices, no guidance, absentee parents. I had love at home, but the family dynamic broke apart, and I filled the void with the streets. One choice led to another, and that path ultimately landed me in prison.

Q: What was the most challenging part about being incarcerated?

Rhan: All of it was a challenge—mentally, spiritually, emotionally. You had to build relationships with strangers and watch out for snakes. Some people pretended to be friends but wanted to harm you. The hardest part was survival in an environment that demanded constant caution.

Q: What role did solitude or solitary confinement play in your journey?

Rhan: Solitary gave me clarity. It forced me to sit with myself—no distractions, just me and my thoughts. I had to ask: Why am I here? What brought me here? And the answer was always me. It made me see that my choices put me there.

Q: How did incarceration affect you spiritually?

Rhan: At first, I carried a lot of anger. I even claimed to be an atheist, but honestly, I didn’t even know what that meant. In that space, I started reading—Message to the Blackman, then the Bible, the Quran, and other books. Little by little, God showed me that there was something better, that I needed to do something different. Looking back, I see that even then, God was saving me.

Q: What impact does environment have when someone comes home from prison?

Rhan: Environment is everything. You can’t come home and go right back to the same environment. Even if you try for 60 days, eventually life will life, and you’ll go back to what you know. For me, I had to remove myself from toxic spaces and just be still. Sometimes you need that solitude to heal and get clarity.

Q: What changes did you notice in yourself as you grew in faith?

Rhan: I learned patience, honesty, and discipline. The anger faded. My heart softened. I realized God was with me the whole time. What I thought was just survival was really God preparing me for transformation.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone still caught up in the streets, what would it be?

Rhan: Look at the man in the mirror. Make that change. The streets are a lie—the devil’s playground. They might look glamorous, but they only lead to destruction.

Q: And what message do you have for those currently incarcerated?

Rhan: Use that time wisely. Self-reflect. Don’t keep doing what you were doing on the outside. When you get home, remove yourself from people, places, and things that trigger you. And remember, you’re never alone if you’ve got God.

Q: What final words of encouragement would you like to leave us with?

Rhan: Stay humble. Stay diligent. Stay focused. Don’t let Babylon dictate how you maneuver. Stay close to God as best you can.