The goal is simple: distribute one million free books
Book bans in prisons are growing and funding that provides literature to underserved populations is being slashed. That’s why we’re on a mission to distribute one million free copies of Composure to the people who it can help most. For every book purchased, a book will be donated to the prison system, ensuring that individuals in these environments have access to the transformative power of literature.
This initiative is a collaboration with organizations who are active in prisons and community stakeholders committed to public safety and reducing the high recidivism rate. We invite you to join us in helping break down barriers, offering lifelines of hope, and empowering individuals to rewrite their stories, one page at time.
Buy it. Give it. Read it. Live it.
Buy it. Give it. Read it. Live it.
Composure is a visual journey of quotes, inspirations, and guidance from Shaka. He takes the reader through an introspective exploration that’s provocative, painful, loving, humorous, and searingly honest. It’s an intimate, inspiring portrayal of a man once locked up—both internally and externally—on the journey towards freedom and success intended to help readers break free from thinking that holds them back.
Purchase an e today for only $2.19 and we’ll donate one in your honor.
“We must have the courage to write our own narratives that showcase the full spectrum of our humanity. Only then can we experience true freedom.”
THE NEED FOR CHANGE IN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES:
70% of banned books are educational or self-help
3 out of 5 incarcerated individuals are illiterate
People who gain literacy in prison have a 16% recidivism rate
70% of people in prisons read below a 4th grade level
Those who remain illiterate have a 70% chance of returning to prison
Only 6% of the people behind bars are receiving reading education
RESOURCES
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Banned Books Behind Bars
This story gives a fascinating insight into life in a women’s prison through the eyes of a writing teacher and her students – the inmates.
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Best Prison Books
The researched and ranked the best prison books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings.
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Justice 101: Does the First Amendment Apply in Prisons?
This program explored the intersection of prison journalism and First Amendment rights, specifically focusing on the question of whether the First Amendment applies in prisons.
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Books Banned in Your State’s Prisons
Over the past year, reporters for The Marshall Project asked every state prison system for book policies and lists of banned publications.
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Banned Book List in Michigan
Check out the full list of banned books, including Writing My Wrong: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison in Shaka’s home state of Michigan.
