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Oprah-endorsed author Shaka Senghor to speak to DeKalb students

Decatur Metro ATL

Oprah-endorsed author Shaka Senghor to speak to DeKalb students

Shaka Senghor and Oprah Winfrey. Photo provided by DeKalb County Schools.
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Shaka Senghor. Photo provided by DeKalb County Schools.

Shaka Senghor.
Photo provided by DeKalb County Schools.

An author who is getting major accolades for his book about turning his life around after spending 19 years in prison for second degree murder will speak to DeKalb County students on Tuesday, Mar. 29.

Shaka Senghor’s memoir “Writing My Wrongs” “is a redemption story told through a stunningly human portrait of what it’s like to grow up in the gravitational pull of poverty, violence, fear, and hopelessness,” as described on his website.

Oprah Winfrey interviewed him on her OWN Network. He told Winfrey about growing up in an abusive household and eventually turning to a life of crime.

Shaka Senghor and Oprah Winfrey. Photo provided by DeKalb County Schools.

Shaka Senghor and Oprah Winfrey.
Photo provided by DeKalb County Schools.

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Oprah said on Instagram that “Writing My Wrongs” is the one book you should read this month.

Senghor is now an activist for criminal justice reform. He’s recently been featured on “The Daily Show” and came to Decatur this month to speak at First Baptist Church of Decatur as part of the Georgia Center for the Book program.

Next week, he’ll speak at McNair High School first, then to students of MLK, Miller Grove, and Columbia High Schools at the DeKalb County Administrative and Instructional Complex in Stone Mountain.

A press release from the DeKalb County School District said, “Activist, teacher and mentor Shaka Senghor will present to DeKalb County School District students his life story and how he overcame impossible odds. As a teacher at the University of Michigan, MIT Media Lab Fellow, a current Fellow within the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network, Ford Man of Courage, TED Talks Presenter, author, and mentor, Shaka discusses the power of redemption, forgiveness and staying focused on moving forward to achieve positive goals.”

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Dena Mellick

Dena Mellick is the Associate Editor of Decaturish.com.

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