Terry Everett was only three weeks old when his father was imprisoned for a felony. Growing up in Newport News, Virginia, Everett saw the impact of Black men entering the carceral system, often leaving families without fathers at home. The rate of incarcerated parents is significant — as of 2016, the most recent year data is available, about 47% of state prisoners and 57% of federal prisoners were parents to minor children, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). While the trajectory of these children varies, there is research suggesting that kids with incarcerated parents have higher rates of antisocial behaviors and school dropout, among other potential impacts. Despite these statistics and risks, Everett’s family was determined to steer him toward a productive path.
Education was prioritized in the Everett household. Despite limited resources at his high school, he participated in an International Baccalaureate (IB) program, took Advanced Placement classes, and graduated with a GPA over 4.0. His hard work extended beyond academics. When he wasn't studying, Everett often went fishing with his twin brother, an activity they enjoyed but it also allowed them to provide dinner for the family. Now, as a medical student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and a social media influencer, Everett wants to offer a visible, positive representation of Black men.
Teen Vogue spoke with Everett about the impact of his father’s incarceration, navigating medical school as a Black man, and using social media to normalize Black men in STEM.
Editor’s note: This conversation has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.
Teen Vogue: Much of who we are depends on where we were raised. Tell us about your upbringing in Newport News.
Terry Everett: We moved about every one to two years…because of financial and housing insecurity. We spent about three years in a suburban area after my dad got a job, but when he lost it we had to move. There were a lot of problems with my father being a twice-convicted felon that restricted what type of jobs he could get [or] keep. That resulted in us bouncing around. The majority of my upbringing was hanging on the streets seeing gangs, a lot of guys just hanging outside of apartments or on street corners. It was the typical hood.
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TV: What happened to your father when you were a child?
TE: My dad’s dad wasn't around when my dad was a kid. My dad became a provider for his mother and sister. He got into things, selling drugs and things like that, as a means to provide and help out for the family. Later, he was in the military but he got injured, which resulted in further financial strain. When my older sister was born he needed to provide for his family. He ended up just getting caught up and going to prison the first time for a felony. That was before I was born. His second time going to prison for a felony, my twin and I were three weeks old. He got out when we were about three years old. We were fortunate after he returned to have both parents in the household. It was difficult seeing him go to jobs he was more than qualified to have — he's a great man and I look up to him — and be consistently turned down. Especially when he got caught up in the first place because he was trying to provide for us.
TV: How did it impact your childhood when he returned?
TE: We were toddlers running all over the place when he returned. When my dad came home he basically put us in boot camp; he was a disciplinarian. There were no issues with our bond because I was so young. I do have faint memories of being in a visitation area or flashes from a courthouse. Even after he got out, he still would have to go to court to check in with his parole officer. What affected me the most is this belief I had that jail was in my future. There was just a deep belief that it was a possibility that I would be going to jail…. I was terrified of that. And while I was fond of my friends growing up, many of these guys got caught up in and out of jail, dying, and things like that. There is huge survivor's guilt.
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TV: What do you think made your journey different from your peers?
TE: Having both of my parents definitely helped…. My parents are my heroes, especially my dad. He has had a sense of resilience in light of limited opportunities. He had this unrelenting belief that he could be a great father. He would push me and my siblings. My mom went through [the track] to become a registered nurse and that put her around other people who thought differently and that reflected back into our household. The IB program that I was in during high school put me around people that I was never around. I was like, Wow, these kids think differently. Their parents think differently. I was able to adopt a different mentality just by being around those people that I feel my counterparts, who lived in my neighborhood, were not able to adopt.
TV: What do you think Black men need to be better supported in our society?
TE: Seeing my dad be out of prison and wanting to turn things around, I saw the system really villainize Black men. The things that they're doing that are getting them incarcerated and serving these long sentences are simply the result of not having certain resources. I live with my wife in a suburban area. There's not really many police around. But if you go a few blocks down, police officers are loaded up on the street. That was a similar situation when I was back at home. The money that you're paying for more police officers to be on the streets could just be allocated to give more people resources so they don't have to do things that would then result in them being in the system. We don't need more police officers, we need more resources.
TV: Has your family's journey affected your ability to care for patients differently?
TE: When I see patients who are imprisoned it’s like, I know those people. Those people are like my dad. We get patients who come in and other medical students don’t want to talk to them because they are in orange jumpsuits and handcuffs. They may think that all these people are such bad people. I don't have a problem talking to those guys. I can sympathize and empathize with where they're coming from.
TV: How are you helping to change the image of the Black community via social media and making music about STEM?
TE: During freshman year of college, there was a rap video challenge going around, we just threw some lyrics over beats. We had finished the first semester of college and we wanted to be doctors…. That video went viral. That was my entry into social media. Ever since, we have been making videos to motivate people and deliver life lessons. My purpose is to get more Black men involved and make STEM look interesting. Black men need knowledge about what is out there for them. It's not always a lack of self-confidence. Sometimes people just lack the visibility of what is possible.
TV: I admire the pride you have as you share your story. Have you always felt proud of your journey?
TE: Imposter syndrome is something I struggle with in medical school. Imposter syndrome is a double-edged sword. When we are submitting applications and doing interviews, we love sharing our stories: “This is where I came from and this is why I’m resilient.” Then you get into the profession and no one like you is around. Because I relate to my patients more than my classmates, I sometimes tell myself, I don’t belong, I don’t know what I’m doing, I feel out of place. But the thing is, you are the person at the table who can give others a voice. You aren’t here to be like everyone else. You are here to help the people who are behind you.
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