CHARLOTTE, N.C. — For Brian Ray, this July Fourth holiday symbolizes a new beginning, leaving his troubled past behind.
Ray was imprisoned in California for drug offenses. During his time in prison, he joined a skinhead group and got tattoos representing the gang. However, Ray never believed in the group’s ideology.
On Thursday night, Ray underwent a painful laser treatment to remove these tattoos and start afresh.
“That tattoo did not represent me. I wanted it gone,” Ray said.
Everyone has scars, but some are more visible than others.
“An iron cross with a swastika… I had ‘urban Viking skinhead’ tattooed across my back,” Ray explained.
Ray was in a dark place. Arrested for running drugs, he ended up serving a decade in prison. The experience took both a mental and physical toll on him.
“I got a tattoo in prison, and little did I know the guy who tattooed me was a skinhead,” Ray said.
Ray accepted the tattoos and the life of a skinhead, not out of belief, but for safety and status among inmates.
“For my safety and for wanting to have a ranking in the system… I ran with it,” he explained.
Once out of prison, Ray was ready to leave that life behind.
“I got away from the drug scene; I got away from all the hate,” Ray said.
He moved to the Carolinas and formed relationships his old friends would never approve of. But his past was still visible in his tattoos. It was time to erase that old life.
“It’s not the most pleasant experience, but I’m glad I’m getting it done,” he said.
Ray reached out to Project Exodus, a non-profit that helps people remove unwanted tattoos. The process is painful, but Ray feels it’s a price worth paying.
“We have many cases with clients, but nothing like this,” said Brandon Feely, who works with Essential Aesthetics and Laser.
Feely finds Ray’s transformation inspiring.
“My first reaction is like, ‘Man, I was really excited to make an impact like this; it’s pretty amazing,'” Feely said.
Ray is undergoing ten sessions of intense treatment to put his past behind him.
“I feel truly blessed with Brandon and everything they do for me,” Ray said.
Ray also hopes to have children in the future, wanting them never to experience the struggles he went through.