Southfield (CW50) – Shaka Senghor is an author, who in life, before writing, found himself facing a 19-year prison sentence for murder. 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.
Senghor also uses the lessons he learned from other prisoners he considered mentors to help guide the younger generation of children across the country to find life paths different from his own. He works in schools across the country, teaching children life lessons and setting them on the right paths in life.
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His time writing in prison helped him publish books once he was released from prison. As a reformed felon, he had difficulty finding honest work, so he used his writing to create work for himself. His writing eventually led him to start writing memoirs about his life experiences.
Author Shaka Senghor with his son (Courtesy of Shaka Senghor)
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His latest book Letters to the Sons of Society, was an idea he had while writing letters to his sons in prison. The book 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 uncovers the toxic and misguided messages about masculinity, sanity, love, and success that boys learn from an early age.
Community Connect host Jackie Paige with author Shaka Senghor
Senghor joins Jackie Paige on Community connection to talk about his life story and what he hopes to accomplish in his writing as it relates to black men in America.
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look Community Connection, Saturday at 7 a.m. on CW50
