welcome to booktv s fiction edition. you ve written 50 fiction books. let s start with devil in a blue dress, the book that launched a series who is easy rawlins? guest: a kind of every man for the black community in the middle of the twentieth century. his whole view of himself has changed. he came back to southern texas and realized he could no longer live there because of what he has learned and he and thousands of others, from texas and louisiana moved to los angeles. what we do is follow him as a kind of unofficial detective. what he does is reveals what life was like in parts of los angeles that haven t been talked about. host: how did you come up with the name? guest: i was writing a story and there was a voice speaking first-person talking about a party he was given and how he was trying to raise money to pay his rent and a woman he was in love with who was in love with another guy and mouse comes in and looks at the person who is talking and says hey, e the
middle of the 20th century. is been to world war. and to his whole view of himself in this world of community of potential has changed. he came back to southern texas and realized he could no on another because of what is born. and he and thousands of others southern black people from texas and louisiana have moved to los angeles. and we follow him as this kind of unofficial detective. he reveals what life is like in parts of los angeles had not been talked about. host: how did you come up with name. i was writing a story and a voice was speaking first-person, and i was talking about this party that he was given and talking about how he was trying to pay money to raise his rent. and then he was talking about this woman who is in love with but she was in love with this other guy and then mouse comes in and looks at the person who is talking aces hey how you doing. and that s where he came from. host: what voices he supposed to represent. walter: what he represents is now the
about you, starting with who is shaka senghor. i have many titles, the most important being a father. but i m a writer, mentor, and i m the cofounder of beyond prisons.org. and you wrote this book that remind me in some ways of the autobiography of malcolm x because it s the story about a journaly, and journey to redemption. so, i have a friend, brian stevenson, who says that we shouldn t judge people by the worst things they ever did. i want to get your reaction to that idea, but as part of your journey, tell us about the worst thing that you have ever done. that s a big part of the book. guest: yeah. i totally agree. i have had an opportunity to meet him a couple of times, and got a chance to talk to him a few times. i really high lie respect host: he represents people a famous death penalty lawyer, won the macarthur genius award. guest: yeah. for me, the worst thing i ever done was committing murder in 1991. i shot and and caused a man s death, and by far one
discusses his life in prison and afterwards in his book writing my wrongs: life, death and redemption in an american prison. he was sent to 40 years in prison at the age of 18 for second degree murder. he is interviewed by professor butler. much respect my brother. this book, writing my wrongs: life, death and redemption in an american prison, is everything. it is visionary, it is beautifully written, and it is even funny. so i just want to know everything about you starting with who is shaka senghor. guest: so, i mean i wear many titles, the most important is being a father to an amazing toddler. i am a writer, mentor, a strategy and innovation, and i am the cofounder of beyo beyondprivilege.org. host: and you wrote this book that reminded me in some ways of the autobiography of malcolm x. it is a story about a journey to redemption. i have a friend, brian stevenson, who says that we should not judge people by the worst thing they ever did. so i want to get your re
particular to him as he is the co-director and co-producer of the 2019 documentary film bam chicago black arts movement and he is completing an edited reader about chicago and black arts. he is author of black people are my business toni k bombards practices of liberation and editor of conversations with toni cade bambara. his interest extend to sports and popular culture and those interest are reflected in the book ballers of the new school race and sports in america. so everyone, please welcome brother to bd lewis. thank you so much for that wonderful introduction. this year s theme is the beautiful struggle. struggle black writers lighting the way and i think using this theme as well as our the theme for our panel, our participants will engage in a will take on the theme of how black writers have in their understanding of continuous struggle for justice and the need to address aspiration issues and challenges that affect the black community have been a voice of strength an