Shaka Senghor on Incarceration, Identity, and the Gift of Literacy
Conversations with Tyler
Conversations with Tyler
4.8 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 20 November 2019
⏱️ 60 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
How do you survive seven years in solitary confinement? The gift of literacy is what saved Shaka Senghor. Reading, journaling, academic study, and writing books was a way to structure and survive an inhumane, mentally toxic environment. And after 19 years in total behind bars, he was finally able to apply that gift and create employment for himself as a writer and organizational leader upon rejoining society.
Shaka joined Tyler to discuss his book Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison, what it was like to return to society not knowing the difference between the internet and a Word document, entrepreneurialism and humor in prison, the unexpected challenges formerly incarcerated people face upon release, his ideas for helping Detroit, what he connects with in Eastern philosophy, how he’s celebrating the upcoming anniversary of his tenth year of freedom, and more.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
Recorded October 31st, 2019
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Conversations with Tyler is produced by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, |
| 0:08.3 | bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems. |
| 0:12.5 | Learn more at mercatis.org. |
| 0:15.2 | And for more conversations, including videos, transcripts, and upcoming dates, visit |
| 0:20.4 | ConversationsWithT Tyler.com. |
| 0:28.2 | Hello everyone. Today I'm honored to have with us Shaka Senkor, who is the author of a wonderful book, |
| 0:34.1 | called, Writing My Wrongs, Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison. |
| 0:39.6 | Shaka spent, I believe, 19 years in prison, seven years in solitary confinement, |
| 0:45.0 | and we'll be talking about his experience and his life and all things under the sun. |
| 0:49.6 | Shaka, welcome. |
| 0:50.7 | Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here. |
| 0:53.2 | I have so many questions for you because your world is one that's so far from mine, |
| 0:57.7 | me being the stereotypical nerdy white guy. |
| 1:01.1 | But let me start with one. |
| 1:02.7 | How does one best spend time in solitary confinement? |
| 1:05.9 | Like what do you actually do? |
| 1:07.6 | Wow, that's an interesting question. I mean, it depends on who you are. |
| 1:11.7 | That's one of the things. For me, I was really fortunate to be literate, |
| 1:17.7 | and so I took that opportunity to read a lot of books, |
| 1:21.3 | and really do a lot of introspection. |
| 1:23.7 | Unfortunately, the way solitary confinement is set up in America is really tragic. |
| 1:28.3 | It's a very barbaric and humane environment, |
... |
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