I chose to respond to trauma by hiding for 10 years behind a mask. Only after confronting my issues head-on could I unveil.
Moving With Fierce Urgency to Safeguard Generations
It is time for us all to move with the fierce urgency of now, aligning power with willingness and putting ourselves in position to change the world.
Three Things Men Have That Make a Good Mentor
No matter their station in life, men have time, talent and treasure to share. — The point between your present moment and your promise is your process, or, as I like to call it, your “between the dream” phase. When you embrace your process, you, too, embrace your progress. And once you embrace your progress, you…
How the Teen Killed by Chicago Police Could’ve Been Me
Richard Taylor remembers being a 19-year-old black man in Chicago who struggled with mental illness and often confronted his father.
What Happened in a Room Full of Leaders to Make Them Cry
Black male leaders from across America attended a national conference and were humanized like never before.
Approaching Domestic Violence With a Focus to Heal Victims
Discussions about domestic violence shouldn’t compare men and women’s pain, but rather aim to heal it.
Why You Should Embrace the Elevation in Your Life
If you can own the burden of building your dream then you deserve the blessings that come with it materializing.
How a Tech CEO Prevented My New Suicide Attempt
A conversation with a media executive made me appreciate my voice and the opportunity to share it.
What Separates Those Who Commit Suicide From Those Who Think About It
Those who commit suicide feel that life is not only working against them but will never get better; whereas, those who only think about it are able to find something worth living for.
How to Talk about Suicide if You Want to Save Lives
Break down the root cause of an individual’s depression, but avoid comparing generational struggles.
In Chicago, a Moment of Vulnerability and Healing Among Black Youth
400 Chicago high-schoolers, many of them struggling to see the value in their lives, are reminded by a millennial author that #BlackLivesMatter.
When Blacks Fight Against Community Violence and Why Media Ignores It
The media doesn’t deem grassroots activism newsworthy, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.
A Suicide Survivor on Why Sandra Bland Didn’t Take Her Own Life
A Chicago author who tried several times to kill himself explains why Sandra Bland didn’t commit suicide. — by Richard Taylor When I first heard the news about the arrest and alleged suicide of Ms. Sandra Bland, I thought to myself: “Not again; not another hashtag; not another black life that didn’t seem to matter…
How a Death to Gun Violence Inspired a Movement to Amplify Youth Voices
The murder of Hadiya Pendelton, who would’ve been 18 today, inspires a Chicago author to harness youth voices to solve gun violence.
What it Means to Starve Your Beast
Starving the beast requires denying temptation and embracing moments to be productive.
If Reverse Racism Were Real, Here’s What It’d Look Like
Imagine that on any given day a white person could be lynched or beaten to death, just because they’re white.