The purpose of the present qualitative study of formerly incarcerated Black male students' is a heartfelt look into the lives of Black men navigating the U.S. criminal justice system using their resilience following participation in a prison-based education program. Drawing on a strength-based lens versus a deficit-based lens was a focus on success rather than any wrongdoings. This study also examined the extent to which it spotlights the hardships the formerly incarcerated students endured, like mental health disorders and trauma-informed systemic racism, depression, and wellness. What was found through deep conversations and discussions with 12 Black males, from New York City who grew up in harsh and impoverished neighborhoods, mental health of chronic stressors, depression, and anxiety, a sense of hopelessness, lack of development from proper parenting, credible education, or quality healthcare identified how those conditions significantly impacted them and played a role in the final entanglement in the criminal justice system. Constant vigilance of resilience, among Black college men due to the threats of violence, and oppressive situations, coupled with a cycle of emotions lends itself to their courageous sense of pride, grit, and pathways towards education reintegration during, and after incarceration. This study is important because the results indicated that resiliency and having a sense of pride play a large part in identifying the link between mental health, impeded progress concerns, and racial discrimination which are the pivotal aspects of the study. Based on mental health challenges a person's hope and resilience within a systemic world of incarceration can lead to severe post-traumatic stressors yet it could also leverage the students' capabilities within themselves through a healing process by leveraging a place to learn, understand, and educate themselves against many odds. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]