This is how an interview is conducted! Ask the guest a question and let THEM speak! 😊

I like the fact Roland remained quiet and allowed Ali tell his story!!

Relatable: at age 19 (2 years in college), my dad told me I had to go, and kick me out on to the mean streets of Kingston, Jamaica. It was a dark episode that I have tried to forget; but, I made damn sure that my son, now 22, doesn't go through that. He wants to be a pathologist (very long course of study) and he is staying here, in this house, until he DECIDES to leave. The street is no joke,

I could Listen to Ali all day. I’m glad Roland did this interview. I’ve been wanting to hear Ali speak in this capacity. You can tell in his comedy that he’s an intellectual.

"That place creates a type of human being you're really not prepared for" - Ali Siddiq

This man carries a lot of pain. Comedy is probably like therapy for him. Blessup..

This was So Powerful. Ali is The Truth. Literally when I see Ali Siddiq, I just click.

I’ve come to realize in this life that it’s not the flesh and bones that we interact with on this plane of existence but the Spirit that dwells in each of us. Saddiq’s spirit is what shines beyond his comedy. I stand enlightened.

If y’all don’t know what “Mexican got on boots” mean, you’ve never laughed before 😩😂

Man...This dude just instantly became my favorite comedian....Loved this interview!! Roland laid low and let my man tell his story...awesome!

I am so glad I found this dude. He is really amazing!!!!!!

When he said "you still got light in your eyes" - man that brought tears to my eyes. Lord help us all and help pull us up out of any discouragement and despair

I didn't know just how much substance was behind this comedian until today. Much respect. I would love to sit down and just listen to him tell stories.

"You still got light in your eyes".. That was an uppercut.

I haven’t been so locked into a person just talking 4 a long time! On to pt 2!

Ali SIddiq ain't a comedian. That man's a PREACHER.

Wow Roland just let Ali talk powerful!!!!

The more I see of him the more I like him. He has an amazing story to tell and he tells it well.

I love how Roland is letting this man speak. He has alot to say and it makes sense.

"You still got light in your eyes." Lord have mercy.

When you need to go to prison to learn about voting, you know something is wrong about your "community"...

If he was born in a different time and place we would be learning about him next to MLK, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X.

How don’t more people know this man?

I'm glad he's turning the lights on against these rappers glorifying prison!!! I'm so tired of that and hope this brother makes a major difference.

Goddamn, Ali is a great man. All his stories were captivating. The way he speaks too, very real.

He said at the beginning, he was supposed to be out the house by 18, like wow, he probably didnt get any support and had to sell drugs to try to secure his future, very disturbing. This guy is a survivor. WHAT AN AMAZING MAN, WHAT an awesome thing he did for the rest of the inmate, God bless.

I watched so fast bc, " Mexican got on boots" 👍👍👍😁😁😁😁

My generation needs you. Men 15 plus needs you. Keep using your comedy to unlock minds. Your comedy is in a league of its own!

ABSOLUTELY amazing to see a piece of coal enter the system and come out a sparkling diamond. Blessings to you my King, may God continue to bless and keep you.

Some are put here to follow, others to lead. This man is a leader. As-salaamu Alaikum.

This guy knew God had and has PURPOSE for his LIFE!!

This brother is such a great inspiration!😀

Mr. Martin, thank you so much for letting him talk. Many interviewers would cut him off to say their two pieces. Thank you for letting him expound. He is a master storyteller and you a great interviewer.

You see the emotions in his eyes change as soon as he says his number?🙏👁

“Who are, They, Them and Those”- Ali Siddiq

F60541! Five years ago I served a 12 year sentence in the California Department of Corrections. He's speaking truth.

This needs way more airplay.

You’re on to something... something big is going to happen soon with all the right WOKE souls we’re gonna change the world on a large scale.... I’m calling it into my reality that someone who has power to make major change will see this comment and reach out me... it’s burning inside me to get out what I know and spread it.. very inspirational. Thank you for wisdom. ⭐️

I could listen to him ALL DAY!!! A real one INDEED and THE GREATEST STORYTELLER/COMEDIAN FASHO!! SHOUTOUT HOUSTON🤘🏾💯❤️‼️

I don't even know what my favorite part of this video is because it's just that good. This was SOOOO GOOD!!

The first time I say Ali special this year (2022) and I've been checking his video. His stories are his real life and I respect him as a person and comedian because of that fact.

I absolutely love this guy! I've only just recently discovered his stand-up and his background and I think he is hilarious. This was such a great interview!

This is a really important conversation and I'm really glad to see it being had with 2 intelligent people who could have a little fun but still emphasize how important it really is. Great interviews.

I have loved Ali Siddiq since the first time I heard him speak. He is truly a messenger and truly knows his assignment in compliance. God bless him and Thank you, Roland Martin for this beautiful platform.

This is an incredible interview. Ali’s story is so interesting and inspiring.

HOW is Ali Siddiq not bigger right now? He is SO FUNNY and has an amazing story. He was able to speak to SEVERAL UNITS and evoke change so much so that an entirely other ethnicity offered to join them. THAT is powerful AF!! I have never been to prison and I have never been to jail but I do have family that has been to both places and came back fk'd up worse than when they went in. OLD PEOPLE ARE KEY. They can keep us (any poor black and brown person, yes black people need to unite but all minorities need to just have some compassion and understand it's about solidarity) from repeating the same mistakes. They can help us identify the traps and pitfalls that they got stuck in. I freakin love Ali!!

Ali ppl NEED to hear your story my friend... loved what you said about meek mill ( a lot of ppl won't).

Every school, kid programs and jail programs need to watch this. Deep

Love Ali could listen to this dude talk all day!!

All I can say is wow! Rise Brothers!

"You still got light in your eyes." Praise God

I’m not a fan of Roland but this is Ali Siddiq!!!! 💕💕💕

I'm just aquainting myself with this brother and I want to know more about him. A potential legend right here

I cry every time I watch this. I pray Ali forgets that number and be free of that.

I love listening to this man. He’s not a comedian to me anymore, he’s a prophet. He is the voice of us who have had to serve our debt to society. No matter the background we came from. Once your an inmate that’s all you will ever be in the systems eyes. Thank you sincerely brother for everything you do for us fans and especially the convicts watching. I pray love and prosperity for you family and your future.

THANK YOU MR. MARTIN THANK YOU VERY MUCH

Ali, you are a true blessing! Please continue to do what you do, you are an inspiration to so many.

I remember washing clothes on a Saturday in New Orleans at a laundromat. That was around the corner from the St. Thomas Projects. A older guy looked at me and said you are different from these other guys in this neighborhood. I have been watching you and you got that glow in your eyes, and you know something that they don't. Now what you need to do is start sharing that information with the rest of these guys. I am not one to listen to just anybody but you know when somebody is coming from a deep place. That neighborhood was crime and drug infested, with crackheads and high unemployment. Grown men would always be begging for money. So I took the old guys advice and started telling folks little things here and there, and how to make money. That was when Temporary Services had started popping up everywhere. I told some guys to go there and they could work and earn money because begging for small amounts of change was nothing for a grown man. I talked to a guy that used to date a sister of a friend. Now this guy was hooked on crack, but talked to him about how he used to be. And that he could live like that again, he actually stopped using drugs and started working again. I am just now realizing why I was put in that neighborhood. I even had a lady friend tell me that people light up when they see you. So being an older guy myself, now I never miss an opportunity to lend advice to a young person. Today I encounter a lot of young ladies that be crying and stressing about young men. I tell them to stay strong and be patient. That if a guy doesn't treat you right then he is not the man for you. And that you will find someone much better that will love and respect the woman that you are just be patient. Because most young men and some ladies too don't even recognize a good thing when they see it anyway. They are too caught up in your body type, or material things. Because we don't live with stuff, we live with people, and it is very important who they are,and how they treat us.

It damn near killed me hearing him talk about that fucking number. Never been and don't EVER want to go to prison. I joined the military to put myself out of a dark path. Glad to see this man where he is now.

My heart just sank when you said "15 years" at 19. I can only hope you got out early for Good Behavior. You are such a hilarious street smart intellectual. Blessings Brother ❤️

I could Listen to this man and his wisdom for hours. Every time I hear him talk my respect deepens. I found him through his comedy, but his conversation helps me grow as a person!

WOW! LOVE HIS TRANSPARENCY!!!

🫡 Total Homage and Respect to you! I'm officially a fan of your excellence, authenticity, transparency, and Comedy, Ali Siddiq! 🤜🏾🔥💯❤️💯🔥🤛🏾

This whole interview had my heart laughing and crying at the same time!!!

I watched Mexican got on boots and been watching this guy for four days. Can’t get enough. We speak the same language.

I just discovered this guy today. He's awesome

Ali Siddiq for president.

I love this Needs to b on national tv often Help people think I love the way he speaks

The "tough on crime" is very important to study

I would NEVER kick my son out the house at 18.... so sad

Everyday I find another reason to love and support ali siddiq I've shown my mom newly 75 years young my 65 year young aunt down to my children 27,20,,18,13,9 all of his interviews and stand up my favorite comedy since he graced the 85south show I cried laughed and listened to his every word lord have I grown

Love Roland & Ali! Saw this back when it originally aired, powerful! This type of honesty is life changing! Brilliant brothers here!!!❤️🤗❤️🤗❤️

He is so inspirational.

What a powerful, impactful interview with Ali. I Love him as a comedian but enjoyed him sharing his life experiences.💯💯😇

Ali Siddiq is a star. He's funny and therefore a great comedian. But he's bigger than that. He's smart. And he's conscious. It's so easy to respect him and he deserves it.

I love to hear Ali talk that talk. I could listen to him and DL Huguley alllllllll day! Just truth speakers and justice carriers. Realistic, hilarious, practical, and knowledgeable!!!!! Love Ali Siddiq❤

One of the realist men I love listening to him speak! He providing life experience at his expense !

I need Part 2 of this interview ASAP

No sé por qué, pero este comediante me hace reír mucho pero también me hace reflexionar y me contagia con unas ganas de ser mejor persona y de tratar mejor al prójimo. 👏👏👏👏👏👏

I didn't know about this brother but now I know. "You still got light in your eyes" ! Man..

Fantastic interview. Ali is a is an awesome human being. Learned so much.

Only time in my life I've ever voted was for Barack Obama's first election. I've never considered myself a voter but I subscribed to this channel and now I want to vote more because of the inspiration of the brother Ali Siddiq 💯❌💯 💪

This man's story has encouraged me to get back in my bible.

I thoroughly enjoyed that interview!! You've got a fan for life right here Ali!

The more I learn about him the more I believe that there is hope for our young men!! And the fact that his comedy is based off true events makes him even more gifted at what he does ❤️💜

Man this guy deep. I can't get enough of his comedy. Watching this makes me even more convinced of his genius. He was literally discussing the same stories he shares in his comedy... And was able to give an entirely different message!! Same words almost! Now that's deep af You are an inspiration Ali

Wow this is amazing I love hearing him share his story 🤔🤗

Ali is the man.

Ali is such a fascinating person. I enjoy listening to him and what he has to say. Wise man..

One of the deepest insights of what prison life can do to someone. Respect. Awesome interview

I can listen to this man talk all day. No matter how he's coming at it, there is wisdom and truth to be gleaned from his words. The more I learn about Ali Siddiq, the more I admire the man.

Wow, i relate. I learned about voting and politics in prison too, I also was 19 when i went in.

I can listen to this brother stories all day

Much respect for what this man did in prison. Many blessings. Wow.

I’m entranced by this man. Thanks for posting.

This is a great story of not allowing the super hard knocks, knock you out. Thanks for sharing this. A very similar thing happened to Malcolm X in prison. He came out with determination and purpose. This is why we can't stop encouraging ourselves or our children.

Hey, I appreciate your encouragement of others for the betterment of themselves. I also appreciate the older generation of doing the same for you. Thank you for sharing some of your life stories sir.

I got made respect for this man! Well said sir.

Ali was helping with prison reform from the inside, that’s inspiring.

Love his stories! 👋 Im glad he is doing what he love!