J. S. Russell is a poet, writer, educator and returned citizen who has self-published six books of poetry and two children’s books while incarcerated. His work has been published by NYU’s Review of Law and Social Change digital publication The Harbinger and PEN America. J. S. Russell’s work shines light on the experiences, insights and reflection of an incarcerated black man. He brings awareness to the power of words by emphasizing that he wrote his freedom.