A single book changed the life of a teenager in prison — and sparked a large-scale project. At 17, Reginald Betts found himself in solitary confinement in Virginia. There, he was given the poetry collection Black Poets, which became the catalyst for his transformation. Today, at 45, he is a Yale graduate, a lawyer, a poet, and one of the most active advocates for the rights of incarcerated people in the United States. In 2020, he founded the Freedom Reads initiative to create libraries directly inside prisons.
Over five years, more than 550 such libraries have appeared across the country, containing more than 275,000 carefully selected books. Each library is more than just books; it is a thoughtfully designed space for reading and conversation. According to incarcerated people, they restore a sense of human worth, faith in change, and help them find their path through books.
Freedom Reads shows that even in harsh conditions, a person can begin again. In this context, reading is not entertainment, but a tool for reflection, rehabilitation, and freedom.
