This dissertation addresses the unequal incarceration of African-Americans and Mexican Americans in the United States. It examines the historical foundations of the construction of race to create criminality toward African-Americans. The legacy of the prison industrial complex perpetuating and prolonging further criminalization to enslave people of African descent in the U.S. today. Through this lens, the study examines how college students of color, who were formerly incarcerated, can be resilient to achieve their college degrees. The research reveals through laws, customs, and policies enacted in America that the U.S. Justice System has played a significant role in disparities of injustice towards people of African descent. Information obtained by interviews of the participants and scholarly material demonstrates a duality of justice and unresolved inequalities after many decades of pseudo-achievements granted to people of color. The information gathered displays a synopsis of the reality encountered by African-Americans, past and present, within the judicial and education system. It also unveils the deep wounds of being made to be inferior created by racism, manifested in the lives of African-Americans and all people of color as they attempt to achieve higher education despite having a prior criminal record. [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/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]