READ SHAKA’S BEST-SELLING MESSAGES OF HOPE, TRANSFORMATION, AND THE POWER OF REDEMPTION

While incarcerated, reading and writing helped Shaka understand his past and begin his transformation. He shares what he’s learned by writing openly and honestly, communicating the importance of self understanding and second chances.

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ABOUT LETTERS TO THE SONS OF SOCIETY

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Letters to the Sons of Society invites men on a journey of honesty and healing through a collection of beautifully written letters to Shaka’s sons Jay and Sekou. Throughout the book, Senghor traces his journey as a Black man in America and unpacks the toxic and misguided messages about masculinity, mental health, love, and success that boys learn from an early age. It serves as a soulful examination of the bond between father and sons, and a touchstone for anyone seeking a kinder, more just world.

 
 

What people are saying about Letters to the Sons of Society

Testimonials

“Letters to the Sons of Society is a visceral and visual journey for the ages. These beautifully written letters are intimate, transparent, and vulnerable. Shaka Senghor’s writing provides the perfect roadmap for us to remove the barriers and obstacles against our true feelings.”

KENYA BARRIS, CREATOR OF BLACK-ISH

“If we are going to heal our nation, we need to listen to voices like Shaka Senghor, who tells his truth about his amazing journey from incarceration to liberation, which means a lot more than just physical bars. Letters to the Sons of Society hits hard.”

REGINALD HUDLIN, PRODUCER & DIRECTOR

“Shaka Senghor takes us on an awe-inspiring and liberatory journey that transcends words. His latest literary work, cast in letters to his sons, leads us through a depth of unmatched vulnerability and allows us the gift of seeing who we have the opportunity to become.”

ANGELA RYE, CEO OF IMPACT STRATEGIES & POLITICAL ANALYST

 

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WRITING MY WRONGS: LIFE, DEATH, AND REDEMPTION IN AN AMERICAN PRISON

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.

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“A profound story of neglect, violence, discovery, redemption and inspiration….Prepare to have your preconceptions shattered.”
— J. J. Abrams

PRAISE FOR WRITING MY WRONGS

Testimonials

“Shaka Senghor’s terrific and inspiring book affirms that we are all more than the worst thing we’ve 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 & BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF JUST MERCY

“A harrowing portrait of life behind bars […] 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

“If you’ve wondered what makes it possible for good people to do terrible things, and what a man can endure to reach redemption, then you must read this book. Shaka Senghor’s story is told with brutal self-assessment and tender attention to what makes profound change—in a person, in our communities—not only possible but imperative. In this unforgettable memoir, Shaka takes us from the streets of Detroit into solitary confinement in prison, and against all odds, home safely and successfully to a family and community that needs him.”

PIPER KERMAN, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK: MY YEAR IN A WOMEN'S PRISON

“Writing My Wrongs is an extraordinary, unforgettable book. It's 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, PROFESSOR OF LAW AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY & BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE NEW JIM CROW

Writing My Wrongs Curriculum Guide

A curriculum guide and resource for anyone interested in using Writing My Wrongs in their classrooms and communities. It encourages young men and women to think deeply about their own experiences and challenges them to process their emotions in a healthy way.

View the guide