EP 30 | Defying the Odds: Reinventing life after Prison with Shaka Senghor

In 1991, Shaka Senghor entered prison for committing second-degree murder. Today, he’s a best-selling author, a lecturer at universities, and leading voice on criminal justice reform. Raised in a middle-class neighborhood on Detroit’s east side during the height of the 1980s crack epidemic, Shaka was an honor roll student and a natural leader who dreamed of becoming a doctor. But at age 11, his parents' marriage began to unravel. The beatings from his mother worsened, sending him on a downward spiral that saw him run away from home. On the streets, he quickly turned to drug dealing to survive, running crack houses and getting caught up in the hopelessness of the life that surrounded the epidemic. At 18, he was shot in an altercation in front of his home. By 19, he was in prison for murder, fuming with anger and despair. During his 19 years incarcerated—including seven in solitary confinement—Shaka began a journey of self-reflection, inspired by reading and writing as a means of understanding his past, his present, and his future potential. By embracing forgiveness, hope, and everything that’s possible when you refuse to be defined by your past, he’s become a leading voice on the potential inherent in us all when given support and a second chance.  In the decade since his release, he’s garnered awards and fellowships, lectured at universities, started and worked with nonprofits seeking to lift people up, visited the White House, been interviewed by Trevor Noah and Oprah Winfrey, given award-winning TED talks, and tirelessly worked to help create the personal and societal change we need for a more inspired, just, fulfilling future.   Key Takeaways: How Shaka found himself in prison at the young age of 19 Transferable skills formerly incarcerated folks can bring into the Tech world  What tech companies can do to have a positive impact on the US Criminal Justice System. How we reimagine our current education system 3 tips for protecting your mental health during challenging times Article: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/mar/30/shaka-senghor-interview-prison-reform-incarceration-book-writing-my-wrongs-cut50   Help us raise $2000 in scholarships for Black/African American students studying Computer Science or STEM by buying a t-shirt or donating directly here: https://www.bonfire.com/techunlocked/ We appreciate your support!!   Follow Tech Unlocked for updates and career tips: Twitter: https://twitter.com/techunlockedpod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/techunlockedpod/   Connect with Shaka: Twitter Website Instagram YouTube   Connect with Grace: Twitter: https://twitter.com/GraceMacjones LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gracemacjones   Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to our Podcast on iTunes and Spotify. Tag us @techunlockedpod on Instagram or Twitter too! Questions about sponsorship? Email us [email protected]