Big Think Incarcerated for 19 years. Here’s how he found freedom | Shaka Senghor
Sep 13, 2025
Shaka Senghor, an author, speaker, and activist, shares his incredible journey from a 19-year prison sentence to becoming an advocate for change. He opens up about the traumas that haunted him before incarceration and how he transformed his cell into a space for growth. Senghor reveals three pivotal moments that changed his life: discovering literature, finding forgiveness through a victim's family, and embracing fatherhood. Freedom, for him, is now about emotional vulnerability and deep connections, showcasing that true liberty starts from within.
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Trauma Shaped a Predetermined Path
- Shaka Senghor recounts early trauma: running away, joining the crack trade, being shot at 17, and losing a friend to murder.
- He says these events locked him into a narrative that expected only prison or an early death.
A Moment That Led To Two Decades Inside
- At 19 Shaka fired four fatal shots in a triggered moment and was convicted of second-degree murder.
- He spent 19 years incarcerated, including seven years in solitary confinement.
How Solitary Dims Freedom
- Solitary confinement can dehumanize and shrink a person's sense of self and freedom.
- Shaka notes the walls felt tighter and the door smaller as his light of freedom dimmed.
