305: Shaka Senghor | Writing My Wrongs

Reentry

Shaka Senghor describes the overwhelming experience of reentering society after 19 years in prison. He shares how simple choices, like selecting food from a menu, became daunting tasks due to the sheer number of options available. Shaka emphasizes the importance of therapy and self-reflection in unpacking his prison experiences and rebuilding his life.

Prison reinforces everything negative that you know about yourself.

--- Shaka Senghor

He also highlights the need to rewire his thinking to break free from the negative influences of prison culture 1.

   

Entrepreneurship

Shaka's entrepreneurial spirit was honed in prison, where he learned valuable business skills. He explains how prisoners often become exceptional entrepreneurs due to their need to innovate and survive in a challenging environment. Shaka recounts how he applied these skills to his ventures after his release, emphasizing the transferable nature of these abilities.

A lot of the men and women inside are exceptional entrepreneurs, exceptional artists, exceptional musicians.

--- Shaka Senghor

He also discusses the high margins in prison commerce and the importance of networking and innovation in both the drug trade and legitimate business 2 3.