Walking Away from ME: The Journey of Askari Hinton

In this raw and powerful autobiography, Walking Away from ME, Askari Hinton shares his deeply personal journey from a troubled childhood in Oakland and Shreveport to becoming a man shaped by both love and adversity. Born to a military father from Monroe, Louisiana, and a mother from Shreveport, Askari’s life is a collision of two worlds—California’s chaotic streets and Louisiana’s rich but hard-edged Southern roots.

The story unfolds with Askari’s early experiences witnessing family struggles, violence, and addiction in Crosstown, a vibrant neighborhood in Shreveport, and his attempts to navigate these turbulent waters. It explores the deep bond between Askari and his grandmother, a spiritual guide who instilled in him the values of faith and resilience, and his journey through the tough lessons of street life, family trauma, and incarceration.

As the book delves deeper into Askari's teenage years, it captures the heartbreaking moments that led him into the Louisiana prison system at the age of 17. Through moments of violence, survival, and eventual spiritual awakening, Askari emerges from prison with a renewed sense of purpose.

At the heart of the narrative is Askari’s relationship with the women who raised him, particularly his grandmother in Monroe, whose wisdom, tough love, and unshakeable faith drive the transformation of his life. With her guidance and the legacy of the iconic Blue Goose Bar—a blues sanctuary run by his great-grandmother—Askari channels his energy into creating the Blue Goose Blues Foundation, hoping to uplift his family and honor the legacy of his roots.

Equal parts heartbreaking, inspiring, and deeply reflective, Walking Away from ME is a story of survival, forgiveness, and the long, difficult road to personal redemption. It explores the complexities of faith, family, and the choices we make—often the wrong ones—on the way to finding ourselves. Through humor, raw honesty, and a determination to thrive against all odds, Askari’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and transformation, even in the face of lifelong struggles.