Shaka Senghor is a leading voice in criminal justice reform, The
Director of Innovation and Strategy at Cut50, Consulting Producer
for the OWN docuseries RELEASED, and President/Creative Director of
Mind Blown Media. His memoir, Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and
Redemption in an American Prison, was released in March 2016 and
debuted on The New York Times Bestseller List as well as The
Washington Post Best Seller List. An unforgettable tale of
forgiveness and second chances, Writing My Wrongs reminds us that
our worst deeds don't define who we are or what we can contribute
to the world. Shaka's story has inspired thousands and serves as a
powerful testament to the power of hope, compassion and
unconditional love.
Shaka is a former 2013 MIT Media Lab Director's Fellow, and a
former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation's Community Leadership Network. He has taught at the
University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around
the world. Shaka's TED Talk, which he delivered at TED's 30th
Anniversary Conference, received a standing ovation and has been
viewed more than 1.3 million times; TED later featured his talk in
its 'Year in Ideas' roundup, a collection of the most powerful TED
Talks of 2014.
Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2012 Black
Male Engagement (BMe) Leadership Award, the 2015 Manchester
University Innovator of the Year Award, the 2016 Ford Man of
Courage Award, and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award. He was
recently recognized by OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) as a 'Soul
Igniter' in the inaugural class of the SuperSoul 100, a dynamic
group of trailblazers whose vision and life's work are bringing a
higher level of consciousness to the world around them and
encouraging others to do the same. Shaka is a 2016 Ebony Magazine
Power 100 Honouree for his leadership and positive impact on the
black community. He is also the 2017 recipient of GLIDE's Rev.
Cecil Williams Legacy Award.
Shaka has been a guest on CNN, CBS This Morning, The Daily Show
with Trevor Noah, Good Day New York, NewsOne Now with Roland
Martin, FOX Good Day D.C., and C-SPAN's After Words. He has also
been a guest on numerous radio programs, including The Breakfast
Club, All Things Considered, The Lenny Lopate Show, The Maggie
Linton Show, and Power 105.1 with Angie Martinez.
“[A] harrowing [portrait] of life behind bars . . . Gritty,
visceral . . . Senghor writes about the process of atonement and
the possibility of redemption, and talks of his efforts to work for
prison reforms that might turn a system designed to warehouse into
one aimed at rehabilitation.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York
Times
“My first glance at the person on the book's cover—a dreadlocked,
tattooed, heavyset black male—left me skeptical. Full of judgment.
Why should I be interested in the story of a murderer? But as
[Senghor's] words unfolded, so did my understanding—of what it
means to fall short, to go astray, to lose your way . .
. His story touched my soul.”—O: The Oprah Magazine
“[A] powerful memoir.”—The Washingtonian
“No one has forced us to look at the core questions about humanity
and our broken criminal justice system with more authenticity and
clarity than Senghor . . . If Senghor’s tale is any
indication, redemption, mercy and grace aren’t just emotional
ideals or spiritual buzzwords. They are the sharp, effective tools
that can be used to rebuild lives and communities, one person at a
time.”—Erica Williams Simon, Time
“Probably the most important book I've read in the past few years .
. . Few people, sadly, come out on the end of two decades of hard
time and find their way back to the life Shaka is now leading.
Here, he tells us why that is, and why it doesn't have to stay that
way.”—Shaun King, New York Daily News
“Extraordinary . . . You will reconsider everything you’ve ever
thought about poverty, the prison industrial complex and the
connection between the two.”—Essence
“[An] inspiring book that gives hope for those who believe in the
redemption of the incarcerated.”—Publishers Weekly
“A necessary reminder of the deep humanity, vulnerability and
potential that lies within each one of us, including those we view
as 'thugs' or 'criminals'. Shaka's story illustrates that if
we muster the courage to love those who do not yet love themselves,
a new world is possible.”—Michelle Alexander, bestselling author of
The New Jim Crow
“Shaka Senghor's terrific and inspiring book affirms that we are
all more than the worst thing we've ever done. This beautiful
and compelling story of recovery and redemption offers all of us
powerful truths and precious insights as we seek recovery from
decades of over-incarceration and excessive punishment.”—Bryan
Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, bestselling
author of Just Mercy
“A profound story of neglect, violence, discovery, redemption and
inspiration. Consistently touching and surprising, Writing My
Wrongs is, ultimately, deeply hopeful. Prepare to have your
preconceptions shattered.”—J.J. Abrams, director, writer, producer
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