Marked for Life

One Man's Fight for Justice from the Inside

By: Isaac Wright Jr., Jon Sternfeld - contributor

Narrated by: Isaac Wright Jr.

Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author, Isaac Wright Jr.

An empowering memoir of courage and hope in the face of injustice—and the basis for the ABC television show, For Life—Marked for Life is the true story of Isaac Wright Jr.’s battle to win his freedom after being wrongfully imprisoned for crimes he didn’t commit, and a critical indictment of America’s judicial system.

“If I waited around for someone to save me, I’d be waiting my whole life. Unless I took the reins of this thing myself, I was going to die in prison. If that was my destiny, then I was going to die fighting. The desperation of that equation kept me up most nights. I would never find a gladiator. So I had to become him.”

In the summer of 1989, Isaac Wright Jr. was a 28-year-old independent music producer, who’d struck out on his own and became one of hip hop’s early success stories. With his dance crew Uptown Express, Wright won recognition on Star Search, toured with Run-DMC, and transitioned into management, co-founding his wife Sunshine’s music group, The Cover Girls. They’d settled in the New Jersey suburbs to raise their six-year-old daughter, never imagining that Wright would fall victim to gross police misconduct and a corrupt district attorney.

Accused of being a drug “kingpin” and incarcerated in Somerset County while the prosecutor and police built their case of lies against him, Wright realized he would get no help from any defense attorneys—white men uninterested in uncovering the truth or in proving the innocence of a black man. Pressured to take a plea deal offer of 20 years behind bars, Wright chose to take the law into his own hands by educating himself in the legal system so he could represent himself in court.

Studying statutes and cases in the jail’s law library, Wright became an adept legal mind. But despite acquiring knowledge that he put to use in defending his fellow inmates, he lost his trial and was sentenced to Trenton State Prison for life, plus 70 years in 1991. For the next five years, Wright would continue learning law, become a paralegal with the prison’s Inmate Legal Association, and appeal his case. Threatened by corrupt correction officers and convicts, his family falling apart, Wright fought for his life with every legal means at his disposal, eventually uncovering the smoking gun that unraveled the conspiracy perpetrated by law enforcement officials against him.

Marked for Life is not just the story of how Isaac Wright Jr. won his freedom. It is the story of how he found his true calling as a gladiator fighting on behalf of the oppressed and marginalized communities victimized by an unjust system of law.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2022 Isaac Wright, Jr. (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

Enlightening

I learned a lot from this book and appreciated the determination of the author to learn, stand strong and in the meantime help others. The only negative thing I can say is his pronunciation of the word asked which he pronounced as axed.

Outstanding Book!

Grabs your attention and won't let go. A must have for your Audible collection. Give it a listen.

Excellent. Must read.

Excellent. Must read about the judicial system. Great writing and narrating. Perfect pitch. Reads like a thriller

Enlightening, Must Read

As a Jail Administrator in the south for 30 years. I’ve sadly witnessed first hand the truths on this book. Strongly recommend.

WOW

An credible journey. May Father God be with you, Isaac Wright, Jr. Keep following your purpose.

I believe that Mr Wright is what we all should aspire to be. Great in the eyes of our creator!

I enjoyed how the candor of the content. Open honest and real. As a black man who speaks about truth daily on my podcast (What’s up with ward) I was so inspired by someone who wasn’t sure about his own future yet willing to help someone else is the perspective of legends. I salute you brother Wright. Hoooorahhhhh ✊🏿

A Must Read

Although the circumstances were worse than despicable, the resolve, commitment and dedication displayed during arduous times gives weight to the measure of the man…well done sir!!!

Story worth listening too!

What a great recounting of an unbelievable event! I learned a lot about the reality of being a prisoner .

A must listen

Great to get the full story from the author
I watched the show and i left me wanting more
This book provided that a true motivational story of triumph and never giving up

A better word for inspiration..

I wish that I had the language necessary to describe how I felt at the end of this story. The complete range has no words that are so much more than just inspiration for the underdog’s to keep fighting even when the fight is in soul stealing darkness because the light is on the other side of said battle. Thank you for giving me another day to fight. Great work!!