Reginald

I'm a client, you know?

Yeah.

This is like, I feel like I just, I carry books around with me everywhere.

To be like, I just don't talk about this.

I got a book in my bag, you know?

We tell people that we keep books because books are the talisman that would have kept us safe when we chose to pick up pistols.

Books were the talisman that would have kept us safe instead of the pistols that caused more harm.

Now, I mean, I was just talking to somebody a few minutes ago about ADHD.

And one of the real blessings in my life is that I have horrible ADHD, which means I've never had a plan in my life.

And the reality is you go to prison at 16.

If you're a person that operates on a plan, you might have a hard time.

I have literally never had a plan.

I've kind of just moved through this world.

With a hope and a desire to be better than I was when I committed that crime and a curiosity and an openness.

And so, you know, I ended up in law school because I was struggling to get jobs that would support me.

And I ended up representing friends of mine and I got five people out of prison that I did time with because once I went to law school, they were like, well, Dwayne, you're a lawyer.

Can you can you help with my case?

I started Freedom Reads because a friend and a supporter who also works for the Mellon Foundation had asked me, what would I do for people in prison if money wasn't an issue?

And I said, we put millions of people in prison.

I will put a million books in prison.