Meet Keiani Taylor | Poet, Musician, Educator, Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Keiani Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Keiani, what principle do you value most?
To quote Frank Ocean’s mom, “Be yourself and know that that’s good enough.” I think it’s so important for everyone to be themselves. I make it a priority ensure that those around me feel comfortable being who they are. Once we are comfortable in that, it’s easy to know what your purpose and passion is in this lifetime. Pursuing your true passion, unapologetically, will make you want to wake up everyday and put your best self out there. This all stems from knowing who you are and being comfortable and confident in that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a spoken word poet and author. My content stems from my personal experiences as a Black woman and mother in America. I write to inspire the young creatives who look like me to be themselves and express themselves. I hope to make my peers feel seen and respected when I perform and write. I write to promote the healing of self and community.

I think what sets my poetry apart is my vulnerability. Every piece I write is an honest and vulnerable account of my experiences. Through telling my story, I realize how important it is to speak up so that others know they aren’t alone and they can triumph through whatever situations they are going through.

I got to where I am today by just writing! I wrote my first poem in the 5th grade. I wrote about a best friend of mine at the time who broke my heart. After I wrote it, I recited it to my mother. It was the first time she and I connected in our experiences. I was 10 and my mom was adult. She too had been hurt by a friend and I was able to put it into words that we both could relate to. I got addicted to that feeling of connecting with the community around me and I’ve been writing ever since!

Writing has always come easy to me. It gets difficult when topics come across my mind that trigger me. But I’ve found so much healing in pushing through those moments and writing it out. And the best part is that when I share, I help others heal too. That’s priceless. That’s something I never want to take for granted.

Along the way, I’ve learned your voice is your heartbeat. It’s your freedom. Nobody can tell your story better than you. If you don’t tell your story, people can silence you. People can fabricate truths that harm you or others. Speaking up about my experiences offers awareness to issues and opportunities for healing.

I want the world to know that they have just as much gold in their chest as I do. I want people to look at me and see THEMSELVES. I want them to know they too have a purpose, a voice, and a gift that the world needs. I want the world to know that God gave me the gift of words. And I plan to write until I’m in the grave. I’d write for free.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’d take my friends to a @soundonthehill event. Their events in my city are always filled with culture and art. Its a home for creatives to freely express themselves. They have all sorts of events.

I’d have to take them to go eat and drink at the dish. They have some of the best bar food in the city. We’d definitely have to hit Big Spring Park and walk around.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Pamela Taylor is one of my biggest support systems and inspiration. Her instagram is @pamelashamari

Website: queenkeiani.com

Instagram: @queenkeiani

Linkedin: Keiani Taylor

Twitter: @queenkeiani

Facebook: Queen Keiani

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsix5tqjqnEQoDQ13xgtWog

Image Credits
Malachi Byrd LexSoul B. Nicole