In the Media

Highlights of Freedom Reads and its work in the media.

To reach incarcerated individuals, this book had to bend the rules of design
Fast Company by Zachary Petit March 17, 2023

James Goggin and Forest Young discuss the design features of Redaction, a book by poet Reginald Dwayne Betts and painter Titus Kaphar, that invite the reader to interact in a real way with the question of mass incarceration in America.

Freedom Reads sets up 'micro-libraries' at Windham prison
The Forecaster by Mikayla Patel March 15, 2023

Freedom Reads opened eight Freedom Libraries in Maine this week at the Maine Correctional Center in Windham, the Women's Center, and the Southern Maine Women's Reentry Center.

Freedom Reads empowers incarcerated people
California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation by Terri Hardi March 14, 2023

Freedom Reads opened libraries at Valley State Prison and Central California Women's Facility, bringing books and beauty to the people inside.

Glimpses of Prison Life, Through TikTok and TV
Vice News & The Marshall Project by Lawrence Bartley & Donald Washington, Jr. March 9, 2023

The work of Freedom Reads is featured in episode six of Inside Story, exploring the everyday lives of those currently and formerly incarcerated.

Reginald Dwayne Betts and Titus Kaphar's 'Redaction'
WNYC by Alison Stewart February 28, 2023

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO and poet Reginald Dwayne Betts and artist Titus Kaphar discuss their book, Redaction, and the collision of art and poetry in the realm of mass incarceration in America.

11 new books to read right now.
Literary Hub by Katie Yee February 28, 2023

Redaction, a book of poetry by Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts in collaboration with artist Titus Kaphar, was featured on Literary Hub’s books to read list.

New book 'Redaction' humanizes redacted lawsuits through portraits and poems
NPR by Juana Summers February 28, 2023

Artist Titus Kaphar and poet Reginald Dwayne Betts discuss their new, interactive art book, Redaction.

BIN Exclusive: Reginald Dwayne Betts Talks Power Of Literature
Black Information Network by Esther Dillard February 23, 2023

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts discusses how the literature in Freedom Libraries can help the lives of those currently incarcerated.

Titus Kaphar and Dwayne Betts team up to turn art project into book
Good Morning America by Michael Strahan February 23, 2023

Michael Strahan chats with artist Titus Kaphar and poet and Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwyane Betts on their recent art book, Redaction.

At Rikers Island, New York's brutal jail, a kaleidoscope of suffering
The Washington Post by Reginald Dwayne Betts February 22, 2023

Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts reviews Rikers: An Oral History, which gives an account of the jail from the perspective of the incarcerated people, employees, and officials who live and work there.

“Felon” Solo Show, Related Events Highlight Need for Reading in Prisons
Town Topics by Wendy Greenberg February 22, 2023

An overview of FELON: An American Washi Tale, a solo show by Freedom Reads Founder & CEO Reginald Dwayne Betts, and the importance of books in prison.

An acclaimed CT poet was incarcerated as a teen. Now Reginald Dwyane Betts is helping those confined in a Connecticut youth prison to read
Hartford Courant by Susan Dunne February 21, 2023

Freedom Reads opened three Freedom Libraries at the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire, CT accompanied by Freedom Reads Founder Reginald Dwayne Betts’ spoken word performance of his acclaimed book, Felon.