On August 5, 2022, NBA star and author Carmelo Anthony came to speak with members of our Youth Book Club, a program that brings literature and poetry writing to teens incarcerated as adults. He opened the session with a discussion of his memoir Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised, which chronicles his life growing up in Baltimore, Maryland. After years of keeping his past experiences guarded, Anthony reveals the struggles of his childhood and the stress of keeping your emotions buried. His upbringing in Baltimore and his journey onwards is a story dedicated to those who see themselves in his experiences, especially youth trying to make their voices heard. Carmelo Anthony’s memoir tells his story, one he said is meant especially for the youth seated around him.
While attending the Book Club, Anthony took part in a Q&A led by Free Minds Co-Founder and Book Club Manager Kelli. Anthony discussed his journey with books and his own experiences with writing, and the young men in attendance asked questions about previous challenges and Anthony’s evolution as a person since. He told those around him about the patterns of self-deprecating thought that had followed him throughout his career, making him question his worth as a player and person. In high school, he remembered incidents of what he now recognizes as racism, as he was criticized and ultimately made to transfer schools because he wore his hair in braids.
Throughout all of these experiences, he emphasized the therapeutic effects of writing, and its role in allowing him to express the thoughts he believed to be too inappropriate or inconvenient to tell. Anthony also spoke about his philanthropic efforts to expand schools and build recreation homes, drawing attention to the books written by those incarcerated and the lack of promotion and outreach they get. The environment was friendly, and the focus on healing and uplifting voices helped the Book Club members feel comfortable sharing their own perspectives and experiences.
Members were invited to share their own poetry, and even though they were shy at first, Anthony’s genuine encouragement helped them come out of their shells. It can feel vulnerable to share your own writing, and he was incredibly supportive of each of the young men in attendance. He listened with eager ears as the members shared their stories, and his compassion helped them build their confidence. He even signed members’ poetry, expressing gratitude for their willingness to share. The sense of community he helped to foster in that environment is sure to be remembered by everyone for years to come. The magnitude of someone like Carmelo Anthony coming to speak to this community provided such an incredible force of solidarity and kinship. Thank you to the Maya Angelou Academy and DC Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, and of course to Carmelo Anthony, for making this happen. If you’d like to read more about Anthony’s visit to our Youth Book Club, check out the Baltimore Sun’s article “‘Do I deserve this?’ After doubt and depression, NBA star Carmelo Anthony of Baltimore is finding the answers”.