Freedom Reads
@freedomreads.bsky.social
Countering with literature what prison does to the spirit. Freedom begins with a book.
➡️ freedomreads.org
➡️ freedomreads.org
Reposted by Freedom Reads
“Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s ‘Chain-Gang All-Stars’ was awarded the second annual Inside Literary Prize, the first-ever U.S.-based literary award to be judged by currently incarcerated people.”
Read more: jlusa.org/2025/08/01...
#ChainGangAllStars #InsideLiteraryPrize @freedomreads.bsky.social
Read more: jlusa.org/2025/08/01...
#ChainGangAllStars #InsideLiteraryPrize @freedomreads.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
“Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s ‘Chain-Gang All-Stars’ was awarded the second annual Inside Literary Prize, the first-ever U.S.-based literary award to be judged by currently incarcerated people.”
Read more: jlusa.org/2025/08/01...
#ChainGangAllStars #InsideLiteraryPrize @freedomreads.bsky.social
Read more: jlusa.org/2025/08/01...
#ChainGangAllStars #InsideLiteraryPrize @freedomreads.bsky.social
This edition is dedicated to the Inside Literary Prize !
Don’t miss it—read at link: freedomreads.org/news/newslet...
Don’t miss it—read at link: freedomreads.org/news/newslet...
August 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This edition is dedicated to the Inside Literary Prize !
Don’t miss it—read at link: freedomreads.org/news/newslet...
Don’t miss it—read at link: freedomreads.org/news/newslet...
Watch this opening from the Inside Literary Prize ceremony, where @dwaynebetts reflects on the power of books—and the readers behind bars who chose Chain-Gang All-Stars by @king_nk as this year’s winner.
Full video at the link: youtu.be/ouzt3USAbjk
#insideliteraryprize
Full video at the link: youtu.be/ouzt3USAbjk
#insideliteraryprize
July 29, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Watch this opening from the Inside Literary Prize ceremony, where @dwaynebetts reflects on the power of books—and the readers behind bars who chose Chain-Gang All-Stars by @king_nk as this year’s winner.
Full video at the link: youtu.be/ouzt3USAbjk
#insideliteraryprize
Full video at the link: youtu.be/ouzt3USAbjk
#insideliteraryprize
And the book is! 🥁
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
I hope you all had a fun week learning more about our Freedom Library books. The five books we discussed this week are all a part of the 500 book collection.
Have a beautiful weekend!
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
I hope you all had a fun week learning more about our Freedom Library books. The five books we discussed this week are all a part of the 500 book collection.
Have a beautiful weekend!
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And the book is! 🥁
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
I hope you all had a fun week learning more about our Freedom Library books. The five books we discussed this week are all a part of the 500 book collection.
Have a beautiful weekend!
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin.
I hope you all had a fun week learning more about our Freedom Library books. The five books we discussed this week are all a part of the 500 book collection.
Have a beautiful weekend!
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Final Day! And it has been such a blast sharing these clues with you all.
Can you guess where this quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Can you guess where this quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Final Day! And it has been such a blast sharing these clues with you all.
Can you guess where this quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Can you guess where this quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
And the book is! 🥁
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus!
Got it right? You love your French existentialists! 💯
Final quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus!
Got it right? You love your French existentialists! 💯
Final quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 24, 2025 at 8:52 PM
And the book is! 🥁
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus!
Got it right? You love your French existentialists! 💯
Final quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus!
Got it right? You love your French existentialists! 💯
Final quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Day 4! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library.
Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library.
Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Day 4! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library.
Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library.
Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
And the book is! 🥁
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou!
Got it right? You love Maya Angelou as much as we do! 🎉
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou!
Got it right? You love Maya Angelou as much as we do! 🎉
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
And the book is! 🥁
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou!
Got it right? You love Maya Angelou as much as we do! 🎉
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou!
Got it right? You love Maya Angelou as much as we do! 🎉
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Day 2! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Day 2! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
And the book is! 🥁
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry!
Got it right? Give yourself a high five! 🙏
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry!
Got it right? Give yourself a high five! 🙏
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 22, 2025 at 9:00 PM
And the book is! 🥁
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry!
Got it right? Give yourself a high five! 🙏
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry!
Got it right? Give yourself a high five! 🙏
New quote drops tomorrow. Same time. Same game.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
Day 2! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
July 22, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Day 2! And we have another clue!
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
All week long we’re sharing powerful quotes from books in our Freedom Library. Can you guess where the quote comes from?
Share your guesses below!
Answer will be revealed by 5pm.
#freedomreads #freedomlibrary #books #quotes #fun
🎙️ Podcast Week: Injustice & the Letter from Birmingham Jail
At 16, @dwaynebetts was sentenced to 9 years. He cried reading Dr. King’s letter.
On @EconTalker, he reflects on that moment—and how words behind bars can spark freedom.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/i...
#mlk #podcast
At 16, @dwaynebetts was sentenced to 9 years. He cried reading Dr. King’s letter.
On @EconTalker, he reflects on that moment—and how words behind bars can spark freedom.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/i...
#mlk #podcast
July 18, 2025 at 4:52 PM
🎙️ Podcast Week: Injustice & the Letter from Birmingham Jail
At 16, @dwaynebetts was sentenced to 9 years. He cried reading Dr. King’s letter.
On @EconTalker, he reflects on that moment—and how words behind bars can spark freedom.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/i...
#mlk #podcast
At 16, @dwaynebetts was sentenced to 9 years. He cried reading Dr. King’s letter.
On @EconTalker, he reflects on that moment—and how words behind bars can spark freedom.
🎧 podcasts.apple.com/hk/podcast/i...
#mlk #podcast
🎙️ Podcast Week: Reading Dostoevsky Behind Bars
In this @Freakonomics episode, @dwaynebetts joins Steven Levitt to talk Dostoevsky, prison, and the power of literature to transform lives.
📚 Listen: freakonomics.com/podcast/read...
In this @Freakonomics episode, @dwaynebetts joins Steven Levitt to talk Dostoevsky, prison, and the power of literature to transform lives.
📚 Listen: freakonomics.com/podcast/read...
July 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
🎙️ Podcast Week: Reading Dostoevsky Behind Bars
In this @Freakonomics episode, @dwaynebetts joins Steven Levitt to talk Dostoevsky, prison, and the power of literature to transform lives.
📚 Listen: freakonomics.com/podcast/read...
In this @Freakonomics episode, @dwaynebetts joins Steven Levitt to talk Dostoevsky, prison, and the power of literature to transform lives.
📚 Listen: freakonomics.com/podcast/read...
🎙️ Throwback! @dwaynebetts on how one book changed his life—from solitary to Yale Law—and why he now builds prison libraries.
📚 “Dwayne Betts Is Proof That a Book Can Change Your Life”
🔗 open.spotify.com/episode/2TAV...
📚 “Dwayne Betts Is Proof That a Book Can Change Your Life”
🔗 open.spotify.com/episode/2TAV...
July 16, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🎙️ Throwback! @dwaynebetts on how one book changed his life—from solitary to Yale Law—and why he now builds prison libraries.
📚 “Dwayne Betts Is Proof That a Book Can Change Your Life”
🔗 open.spotify.com/episode/2TAV...
📚 “Dwayne Betts Is Proof That a Book Can Change Your Life”
🔗 open.spotify.com/episode/2TAV...
In this episode of @BNBuzz #PouredOver, @dwaynebetts joins @miwamesser to talk life, poetry, and the journey to founding Freedom Reads.
A soulful convo on storytelling, forgiveness & how books set us free.
📚 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bso9...
A soulful convo on storytelling, forgiveness & how books set us free.
📚 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bso9...
July 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
In this episode of @BNBuzz #PouredOver, @dwaynebetts joins @miwamesser to talk life, poetry, and the journey to founding Freedom Reads.
A soulful convo on storytelling, forgiveness & how books set us free.
📚 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bso9...
A soulful convo on storytelling, forgiveness & how books set us free.
📚 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bso9...
Still reflecting on last week’s historic moment — @king_nk won the 2nd Inside Literary Prize. His speech moved us all.
Listen to his Freedom Takes episode — brilliant, necessary, and keeps the convo going.
open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Listen to his Freedom Takes episode — brilliant, necessary, and keeps the convo going.
open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
July 14, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Still reflecting on last week’s historic moment — @king_nk won the 2nd Inside Literary Prize. His speech moved us all.
Listen to his Freedom Takes episode — brilliant, necessary, and keeps the convo going.
open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Listen to his Freedom Takes episode — brilliant, necessary, and keeps the convo going.
open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes continues!
@dwaynebetts & Steven Parkhurst talk with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about Chain-Gang All-Stars & the power of forgiveness. Nana is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow & 2023 NBA finalist.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#InsideLiteraryPrize #podcast
@dwaynebetts & Steven Parkhurst talk with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about Chain-Gang All-Stars & the power of forgiveness. Nana is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow & 2023 NBA finalist.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#InsideLiteraryPrize #podcast
July 11, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes continues!
@dwaynebetts & Steven Parkhurst talk with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about Chain-Gang All-Stars & the power of forgiveness. Nana is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow & 2023 NBA finalist.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#InsideLiteraryPrize #podcast
@dwaynebetts & Steven Parkhurst talk with Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah about Chain-Gang All-Stars & the power of forgiveness. Nana is a 2025 Guggenheim Fellow & 2023 NBA finalist.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/5vSD...
#InsideLiteraryPrize #podcast
Congratulating Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah for winning the Inside Literary Prize 2025!
#freedomreads #insideliteraryprize
#freedomreads #insideliteraryprize
July 11, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Congratulating Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah for winning the Inside Literary Prize 2025!
#freedomreads #insideliteraryprize
#freedomreads #insideliteraryprize
Welcome to Season 2 of The Freedom Takes! 🎙️
In this episode, @dwaynebetts and Allie Salazar Gonzalez talk with Paul Harding about This Other Eden—a 2023 Booker Prize finalist.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/74FL...
✨
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
In this episode, @dwaynebetts and Allie Salazar Gonzalez talk with Paul Harding about This Other Eden—a 2023 Booker Prize finalist.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/74FL...
✨
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
July 9, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Welcome to Season 2 of The Freedom Takes! 🎙️
In this episode, @dwaynebetts and Allie Salazar Gonzalez talk with Paul Harding about This Other Eden—a 2023 Booker Prize finalist.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/74FL...
✨
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
In this episode, @dwaynebetts and Allie Salazar Gonzalez talk with Paul Harding about This Other Eden—a 2023 Booker Prize finalist.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/74FL...
✨
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes is here!
First up: Astrid Roemer joins us to talk On a Woman’s Madness, feminism, & the power of words. Her novel was longlisted for the 2025 Int’l Booker & translated by Lucy Scott.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ybe... #FreedomReads
First up: Astrid Roemer joins us to talk On a Woman’s Madness, feminism, & the power of words. Her novel was longlisted for the 2025 Int’l Booker & translated by Lucy Scott.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ybe... #FreedomReads
July 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes is here!
First up: Astrid Roemer joins us to talk On a Woman’s Madness, feminism, & the power of words. Her novel was longlisted for the 2025 Int’l Booker & translated by Lucy Scott.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ybe... #FreedomReads
First up: Astrid Roemer joins us to talk On a Woman’s Madness, feminism, & the power of words. Her novel was longlisted for the 2025 Int’l Booker & translated by Lucy Scott.
Listen now: open.spotify.com/episode/3Ybe... #FreedomReads
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes is here! @dwaynebetts & David Perez sit down with Justin Torres, author of Blackouts, winner of the 2023 National Book Award to talk rehumanization, storytelling & survival.
Listen now @ open.spotify.com/episode/2w2c...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Listen now @ open.spotify.com/episode/2w2c...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
July 7, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Season 2 of The Freedom Takes is here! @dwaynebetts & David Perez sit down with Justin Torres, author of Blackouts, winner of the 2023 National Book Award to talk rehumanization, storytelling & survival.
Listen now @ open.spotify.com/episode/2w2c...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
Listen now @ open.spotify.com/episode/2w2c...
#FreedomReads #InsideLiteraryPrize
On July 4th, we reflect on freedom—who it has included, and who it’s left behind.
At Freedom Reads, we build prison libraries because freedom begins with access: to books, to beauty, to dignity.
#freedomreads #july4th #freedom
At Freedom Reads, we build prison libraries because freedom begins with access: to books, to beauty, to dignity.
#freedomreads #july4th #freedom
July 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
On July 4th, we reflect on freedom—who it has included, and who it’s left behind.
At Freedom Reads, we build prison libraries because freedom begins with access: to books, to beauty, to dignity.
#freedomreads #july4th #freedom
At Freedom Reads, we build prison libraries because freedom begins with access: to books, to beauty, to dignity.
#freedomreads #july4th #freedom
Freedom Reads showed up at #ALA2025!
Grateful for powerful convos, book lovers, & connecting with our board member Dr. Carla Hayden — a true champion for books & freedom. 📚💬
#FreedomReads #BooksChangeLives
Grateful for powerful convos, book lovers, & connecting with our board member Dr. Carla Hayden — a true champion for books & freedom. 📚💬
#FreedomReads #BooksChangeLives
July 2, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Freedom Reads showed up at #ALA2025!
Grateful for powerful convos, book lovers, & connecting with our board member Dr. Carla Hayden — a true champion for books & freedom. 📚💬
#FreedomReads #BooksChangeLives
Grateful for powerful convos, book lovers, & connecting with our board member Dr. Carla Hayden — a true champion for books & freedom. 📚💬
#FreedomReads #BooksChangeLives