Maximum Security Prison at 15 Years Old: The Story of Marcus Bullock
“Hearing that ‘woosh’ under the door… that changes things. When you’re sitting in a cell for 23 hours a day… anything from the outside is a game-changer.”
That was just one of the reflections shared after our recent All-Hands lunch, where guest speaker Marcus Bullock spoke with raw honesty about surviving, and transforming a system that tried to consume him. His words were familiar. Our team could relate.
In 1996, Marcus was just 15 when he made a decision that would alter his life forever. He and a friend stole a car. That night, he became a statistic labeled a “super-predator” by a judge who said he’d make an example of him. Offered a harrowing choice between a trial with the possibility of life in prison or a plea deal for eight years in an adult maximum-security prison, Marcus signed his plea. He became inmate #247384.
Inside those prison walls, Marcus lost more than his freedom. He lost hope. Two years in, he told his mother to let him go, to forget about him. He was ready to give in to the violence, the isolation and the weight of a life that felt like it was over. But his mother, Sylvia Bullock, refused. “There was no way I was standing by and losing my son to prison culture.”
Every day for six long years, Sylvia made sure Marcus received something. A photo, a letter, a sign from the outside world to show him that he was still loved, still remembered, still human. She made sure he experienced that daily “woosh” under the prison door. That became a lifeline. “These photos and letters saved my life,” Marcus said. “They pulled me out of the deepest, darkest moments of depression.” Sylvia was determined to make sure Marcus knew there was life after prison.
On February 4, 2004, Marcus walked out of prison a free man at 23. But freedom didn’t mean acceptance. He filled out job applications relentlessly only to face rejection again and again because of his felony record. With his felony record Marcus found himself disqualified for many jobs before even getting started. Until one day, an application asked, “Have you been convicted of a felony in the last seven years?” He paused. Did the math. And answered, truthfully, no.
He got the job.
That job at the paint store became the first step in building a painting business of his own. But as he found his footing and experienced entrepreneurial success, Marcus never forgot those he’d left behind. Friends inside still asked, “Can you please send me some pictures?” They remembered the lifeline Sylvia had created for Marcus and longed for a glimpse of the outside world, encouragement and relief too.
That’s when Marcus had an idea: What if anyone could send love and hope with just a few clicks?
With the money he earned from his business, Marcus launched Flikshop, an app that turns photos and messages into real postcards delivered to incarcerated individuals all around the country. It’s more than an app. It’s a bridge. A heartbeat. A reminder that someone still cares.
“This is what restoring humanity can look like when you have support on the other side of these prison walls.” – Marcus Bullock
You Can Be Part of the Story
At Awake, we believe stories like Marcus’s are more than inspiration. We believe they are a call to action.
Marcus’s mom believed in him when the world gave up. Now, Marcus is helping others believe again — one postcard at a time. Here’s how you can help restore hope and dignity to those still behind bars:
- Take time to watch Marcus’s story. Hearing stories of individuals who have experienced incarceration creates “proximity”. Proximity spurs change. This video is 45 minutes long and shares more of the details of Marcus’s journey: I Was A Teenage Felon S2E9: Marcus Bullock (Super Predator; VICE TV)
- Download Flikshop. We not only want to be AWAKE to the issue of mass incarceration and recidivism, but we want to be a part of the solution. Awake has pre-purchased codes to share with our readers. If you’d like to join us in providing hope to incarcerated individuals, let us know and we’ll send you a code for 10 Flikshop credits.
- Send a postcard. Flikshop allows you to anonymously send a postcard to incarcerated individuals requesting mail… something from the outside to give hope. Just take a picture, add an encouraging message, and press send.
Credits: Written by Joe Mason, Edited by Jessica Coz
Your words could be the reason someone doesn’t give up. Let’s bring humanity back inside the walls. Let’s be the “woosh” that changes everything.