Writing My Wrongs : Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison

**In 1991, Shaka Senghor was sent to prison for second-degree murder. Today, he is a lecturer at universities, a leading voice on criminal justice reform, and an inspiration to thousands.****In life, it's not how you start that matters. It's how you finish.**Shaka Senghor was raised in a middle class neighborhood on Detroit’s east side during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. An honor roll student and a natural leader, he dreamed of becoming a doctor—but at age 11, his parents' marriage began to unravel, and the beatings from his mother worsened, sending him on a downward spiral that saw him run away from home, turn to drug dealing to survive, and end up in prison for murder at the age of 19, fuming with anger and despair. __Writing My Wrongs__is the story of what came next. During his nineteen-year incarceration, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement, Senghor discovered literature, meditation, self-examination, and the kindness of others—tools he used to confront the demons of his past, forgive the people who hurt him, and begin atoning for the wrongs he had committed. Upon his release at age thirty-eight, Senghor became an activist and mentor to young men and women facing circumstances like his. His work in the community and the courage to share his story led him to fellowships at the MIT Media Lab and the Kellogg Foundation and invitations to speak at events like TED and the Aspen Ideas Festival.In equal turns,__Writing My Wrongs__is a page-turning portrait of life in the shadow of poverty, violence, and fear; an unforgettable story of redemption, reminding us that our worst deeds don’t define us; and a compelling witness to our country’s need for rethinking its approach to crime, prison, and the men and women sent there.__From the Hardcover edition.__ In 1991, Shaka Senghor Was Sent To Prison For Second-degree Murder. Today, He Is A Lecturer At The University Of Michigan, A Leading Voice On Criminal Justice Reform, And An Inspiration To Thousands. In Life, It's Not How You Start That Matters. It's How You Finish. Shaka Senghor Was Raised In A Middle Class Neighborhood On Detroit's East Side During The Height Of The 1980s Crack Epidemic. An Honor Roll Student And A Natural Leader, He Dreamed Of Becoming A Doctor--but At Age 11, His Parents' Marriage Began To Unravel And The Beatings From His Mother Worsened, Sending Him On A Downward Spiral That Saw Him Run Away From Home, Turn To Drug Dealing To Survive, And End Up In Prison For Murder At The Age Of 19, Fuming With Anger And Despair. Writing My Wrongs Is The Story Of What Came Next. During His 19-year Incarceration, Seven Of Which Were Spent In Solitary Confinement, Senghor Discovered Literature, Meditation, And Self-examination, Tools That He Used To Confront The Demons Of His Past, Forgive The People Who Hurt Him, And Begin Atoning For The Wrongs He Had Committed. Upon His Release At Age 38, Senghor Became An Activist And Mentor To Young Men And Women Facing Circumstances Like His. His Work In The Community And The Courage To Share His Story Led Him To Fellowships At The Mit Media Lab And The Kellogg Foundation And Invitations To Speak At Events Like Ted And The Aspen Ideas Festival. Writing My Wrongs Is A Redemption Story Told Through A Stunningly Human Portrait Of What It's Like To Grow Up In The Gravitational Pull Of Poverty, Violence, Fear, And Hopelessness. It's An Unforgettable Tale Of Forgiveness And Hope, One That Reminds Us That Our Worst Deeds Don't Define Who We Are Or What We Can Contribute To The World. And It's A Lasting Testament To The Power Of Compassion, Prayer, And Unconditional Love, For Reaching Those Whom Society Has Forgotten-- In 1991, Shaka Senghor Was Sent To Prison For Second-degree Murder. Today, He Is A Lecturer At The University Of Michigan. In Life, It's Not How You Start That Matters. It's How You Finish. Shaka Senghor Was Raised In A Middle Class Neighborhood On Detroit's Eastside During The Height Of The 1980s Crack Epidemic. An Honor Roll Student And A Natural Leader, He Dreamed Of Becoming A Doctor--but At Age 11, His Parents' Marriage Began To Unravel And The Beatings From His Mother Worsened, Sending Him On A Downward Spiral That Saw Him Run Away From Home, Turn To Drug Dealing To Survive, And End Up In Prison For Murder At The Age Of 19, Fuming With Anger And Despair. Writing My Wrongs Is The Story Of What Came Next. During His 19-year Incarceration, Seven Of Which Were Spent In Solitary Confinement, Senghor Discovered Literature, Meditation, And Self-examination, Tools That He Used To Confront The Demons Of His Past, Forgive The People Who Hurt Him, And Begin Atoning For The Wrongs He Had Committed. Upon His Release At Age 38, Senghor Became An Activist And Mentor To Young Men And Women Facing Circumstances Like His. His Work In The Community And The Courage To Share His Story Led Him To Fellowships At The Mit Media Lab And The Kellogg Foundation And Invitations To Speak At Events Like Ted And The Aspen Ideas Festival. Writing My Wrongs Is A Redemption Story Told Through A Stunningly Human Portrait Of What It's Like To Grow Up In The Gravitational Pull Of Poverty, Violence, Fear, And Hopelessness. It's An Unforgettable Tale Of Forgiveness And Hope, One That Reminds Us That Our Worst Deeds Don't Define Who We Are Or What We Can Contribute To The World. And It's A Lasting Testament To The Power Of Compassion, Prayer, And Unconditional Love-- From Back Of Book Shaka Senghor Was Raised In A Middle Class Neighborhood On Detroit's East Side During The Height Of The 1980s Crack Epidemic. An Honor Roll Student And A Natural Leader, He Dreamed Of Becoming A Doctor -- But At Age 11, His Parents' Marriage Began To Unravel And The Beatings From His Mother Worsened, Sending Him On A Downward Spiral That Saw Him Run Away From Home, Turn To Drug Dealing To Survive, And End Up In Prison For Murder At The Age Of 19, Fuming With Anger And Despair. Writing My Wrongs Is The Story Of What Came Next. During His 19-year Incarceration, Seven Of Which Were Spent In Solitary Confinement, Senghor Discovered Literature, Meditation, And Self-examination, Tools That He Used To Confront The Demons Of His Past, Forgive The People Who Hurt Him, And Begin Atoning For The Wrongs He Had Committed. Upon His Release At Age 38, Senghor Became An Activist And Mentor To Young Men And Women Facing Circumstances Like His. His Work In The Community And The Courage To Share His Story Led Him To Fellowships At The Mit Media Lab And The Kellogg Foundation And Invitations To Speak At Events Like Ted And The Aspen Ideas Festival. Shaka Senghor. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 267-268). NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An “extraordinary, unforgettable” (Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow ) memoir of redemption and second chances amidst America’s mass incarceration epidemic, from a member of Oprah’s SuperSoul 100 Shaka Senghor was raised in a middle-class neighborhood on Detroit’s east side during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. An honor roll student and a natural leader, he dreamed of becoming a doctor—but at age eleven, his parents’ marriage began to unravel, and beatings from his mother worsened, which sent him on a downward spiral. He ran away from home, turned to drug dealing to survive, and ended up in prison for murder at the age of nineteen, full of anger and despair. Writing My Wrongs is the story of what came next. During his nineteen-year incarceration, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement, Senghor discovered literature, meditation, self-examination, and the kindness of others—tools he used to confront the demons of his past, forgive the people who hurt him, and begin atoning for the wrongs he had committed. Upon his release at age thirty-eight, Senghor became an activist and mentor to young men and women facing circumstances like his. His work in the community and the courage to share his story led him to fellowships at the MIT Media Lab and the Kellogg Foundation and invitations to speak at events like TED and the Aspen Ideas Festival. In equal turns, Writing My Wrongs is a page-turning portrait of life in the shadow of poverty, violence, and fear; an unforgettable story of redemption; and a compelling witness to our country’s need for rethinking its approach to crime, prison, and the men and women sent there. New York Times Bestseller A memoir of redemption, reform, and second chances amidst America's mass incarceration epidemic. Shaka Senghor was raised in a middle class neighborhood on Detroit’s east side during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic. An honor roll student and a natural leader, he dreamed of becoming a doctor—but at age 11, his parents' marriage began to unravel, and the beatings from his mother worsened, sending him on a downward spiral that saw him run away from home, turn to drug dealing to survive, and end up in prison for murder at the age of 19, fuming with anger and despair. Writing My Wrongs is the story of what came next. During his nineteen-year incarceration, seven of which were spent in solitary confinement, Senghor discovered literature, meditation, self-examination, and the kindness of others—tools he used to confront the demons of his past, forgive the people who hurt him, and begin atoning for the wrongs he had committed. Upon his release at age thirty-eight, Senghor became an activist and mentor to young men and women facing circumstances like his. His work in the community and the courage to share his story led him to fellowships at the MIT Media Lab and the Kellogg Foundation and invitations to speak at events like TED and the Aspen Ideas Festival. In equal turns, Writing My Wrongs is a page-turning portrait of life in the shadow of poverty, violence, and fear; an unforgettable story of redemption, reminding us that our worst deeds don’t define us; and a compelling witness to our country’s need for rethinking its approach to crime, prison, and the men and women sent there A former prisoner, TED mentor, and criminal justice reform advocate traces his coming of age at the height of Detroit's crack epidemic and his nineteen years in prison before he was motivated to help at-risk youth and raise awareness about America's system of mass incarceration