From Solitary Confinement to Library Builder: One Man's Journey Through Literature

Reginald Dwayne Betts found himself trapped in solitary confinement at just 17 years old, feeling the weight of isolation and despair. It was a simple plea for a book that changed everything; someone delivered him *The Black Poets* by Dudley Randall. This contraband book became a lifeline, igniting Betts’s passion for reading and writing and ultimately guiding him toward higher education. Fast forward to today, and Betts has launched Freedom Reads, a nonprofit that has opened over 550 prison libraries across the country, filled with books aimed at offering hope and a path to education.

Betts’s story is not just about finding joy in literature but also about giving back and creating opportunities for others. His nonprofit has distributed more than 275,000 books to inmates, proving that education can be a powerful tool for rehabilitation. It’s hard to ignore the striking transformation from prisoner to advocate; Betts’s belief that “freedom begins with a book” resonates deeply. Who would have thought that a little book could pave the way for so much change?