There is a specific kind of joy in watching a friend be truly seen by the world. Not just any friend, either, but one who helped free me from four decades of imprisonment when he was a Yale University law student. I recently had that experience while listening to Dwayne Betts sit down with Conan O’Brien on the latter’s wildly popular podcast. Talk about surprise! I’m a regular listener to the Conan O’Brien podcast and was amazed – and impressed – to hear Dwayne’s voice mix with Conan’s!
As someone who knows Dwayne, I've long been moved by his intellect and humanity. But hearing him share his mission of Freedom Reads with Conan felt like a milestone — not just for him, but for the millions of people who need to hear his message of radical hope. Who need to hear how he uplifts and transforms lives. Who need to hear how his own personal history is a story of redemption and inspiration.
For those who don’t know, Dwayne is the founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, a nonprofit organization dedicated to a simple but revolutionary idea: put classic and contemporary works of literature into men’s, women’s, and juvenile prisons across America.
Dwayne often speaks about how a single book, passed under a cell door, changed the trajectory of his life during his own time in a notorious maximum-security prison. Now, through Freedom Reads, he is installing beautiful bookshelves – handcrafted from cherry, walnut, and other fine woods – into cellblocks, ensuring that incarcerated individuals have access to the transformative power of the written word. The written word presented in bookshelves that add beauty to a space in dire need of an eye-pleasing aesthetic, as well as a measure of dignity.
Listening to Dwayne and Conan’s lively, animated conversation was a masterclass in the goodness of work solely carried out for the benefit of others. Conan, famous for his quick wit, was clearly moved by Dwayne's words, his mission, his presence.
I am more than proud to call Dwayne a friend, and even prouder to know the world is finally catching up to the brilliance and heart he has been sharing with us for years. If you, dear reader, have yet to listen to the episode, please do so, and then go and support Freedom Reads here: donate.freedomreads.org. Let’s do our best to help Dwayne get a book into the hands of those who need one.