Shaka Senghor is an inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling books How To Be Free, Writing My Wrongs, and Letters to the Sons of Society. A sought-after resilience expert and recognized "Soul Igniter" in Oprah's inaugural SuperSoul 100, Senghor captivates and transforms audiences worldwide with his extraordinary journey from incarceration to influence. Through raw authenticity and profound insight, he shares not only his story but also the resilience practices that fueled his own remarkable transformation, showing that reinvention is not just possible—it is within everyone’s reach.
In How To Be Free, Senghor offers a roadmap for breaking free from the self-doubt, past narratives, and fear of failure he calls "Hidden Prisons." Drawing from lessons he learned during his 19 years in prison—including seven in solitary—he reveals the mindset and daily practices that transformed his life and can help anyone build their own foundation of freedom. Through journaling, meditation, mindfulness, and creative expression, he shows how to turn vision into action and step into full potential, from deepening relationships to achieving career success.
Listening to How To Be Free, audiences learn to transform setbacks into comebacks, discover sustainable joy, cultivate composure under pressure, turn vulnerability into strength, break cycles of grief and shame, protect their energy while supporting others, and create a personal blueprint to true freedom. Senghor provides both inspiration and practical steps, making real change feel possible, proving that freedom starts now.
With support from the Prison Creative Arts Project.
This project was made possible by a grant from the Arts Initiative at the University of Michigan.
Series presenting partners: Detroit PBS, ALL ARTS, and PBS Books. Media partner: Michigan Public.