Shakasenghor

Yes — Shaka Senghor spent nearly 19 years incarcerated in Michigan prisons after being convicted of second-degree murder at the age of 19, including years spent in solitary confinement. That experience became the foundation of his memoir, his public speaking, and his entire advocacy identity.

Shaka Senghor was born James White Jr. in Detroit, Michigan. He adopted the name Shaka Senghor while incarcerated as part of a process of cultural reconnection and personal reinvention, and it is the name under which all of his books, organizations, and public work are known.

Writing My Wrongs is Shaka Senghor's memoir recounting his path from a turbulent Detroit upbringing through a murder conviction and nearly two decades of incarceration to redemption through reading, writing, and self-examination. It became widely celebrated as one of the most compelling firsthand accounts of transformation inside the American prison system and is regularly used in educational and criminal justice reform settings.

Yes, Shaka Senghor delivered a TED Talk in which he shared his personal story of committing a violent crime at 19, enduring years in solitary confinement, and ultimately finding redemption through literature and empathy. The talk is widely viewed and frequently cited alongside his memoir as the best starting point for understanding his story.

Yes, Shaka Senghor has been affiliated with the MIT Media Lab, where he served in an advocacy-focused role. His presence there was widely noted as a striking example of the distance his post-incarceration journey had taken him — from solitary confinement in a Michigan prison to one of the world's leading research institutions.

Yes, Shaka Senghor appeared on Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday, where he discussed his memoir and his journey through the prison system. The appearance significantly broadened his audience and introduced his story of redemption to millions of viewers beyond the criminal justice and literary communities.

The Detroit Writing Room is a writing coaching and community organization Senghor created to support aspiring writers in Detroit through one-on-one coaching, workshops, and literary events. It reflects his core belief — forged during his own incarceration — that literacy and storytelling are tools for personal and community transformation.

The Shaka Senghor Literary Lounge is a recurring event series he hosts that brings Detroit-area writers, readers, and community members together around books, storytelling, and conversation. It functions as a community gathering space tied to his broader mission of championing Detroit writers and making literary culture locally accessible.

Shaka Senghor Inc. is the company through which he manages his speaking engagements, consulting, and advocacy work — he identifies himself publicly as its President. It serves as the umbrella for his efforts in criminal justice reform, literacy advocacy, and leadership development aimed at individuals who have experienced trauma or incarceration.

How to Be Free is a central concept across Senghor's platform, referring to his philosophy of emotional, psychological, and social liberation — particularly for people who have lived through trauma, incarceration, or systemic oppression. He uses the phrase consistently in his content and hashtags to connect his personal story to a broader message about human potential and inner transformation.