Reggie D. Ford
I feel like I became friends with Reggie before he even knew who I was.
That sounds creepy. Let me explain.
Reggie is currently one of Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30, and as one of members of the review committee for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Tennessee chapter, I had the privilege of reviewing Reggie’s application for this year’s program. I was instantly drawn to him based on his merit and community building, but the biggest pull was the fact that he had written a book (authors are drawn to other authors like fish to water, let me tell you). And not just any book, of course, but an incredibly raw and honest autobiography titled Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction - Breaking The Curse of Intergenerational Trauma as a Black Man in America. Before even finishing reviewing his application, I purchased his book. And, before he had even been notified that he had been selected as one of Nashville’s Top 30 Under 30, I had finished reading it. In his autobiography Reggie is incredibly transparent recounting his childhood and young adulthood, so I felt like, for a stranger, I knew an unusual amount of intimate details about his life before I had even looked him in the eye and shook his hand.
It felt like a relief when I finally got a chance to introduce myself, in person, and fill him in on how I had been following his journey since I read through his application. It’s been great to get to know Reggie and connect with him as a fellow author, share in that journey with someone who lives local (all of my other author friends are, sadly, virtual), and establish a friendship with someone that I’m very glad my children will be able to look up to as a role model in life.
Reggie’s book, PTSD, is a memoir and autobiography. Birthed through his dedicated journal entries written during some of his most difficult chapters of his life, PTSD gives a new perspective toward mental health and awareness (especially amongst Black American men) and shines a hopeful light toward a future where the journey of turning pain into peace is normalized and accepted.
When we sat down to talk, it was not even 24-hours after the Uvalde massacre. You can hear the sorrow and exhaustion in both of our voices. I am grateful we still sat down to speak, though, because it provided a mutually vulnerable environment where we could really dive in and process through some tough stuff.
Reggie is an inspiration, and his autobiography is a gift. No matter who you are or which walk of life you hail from, you will find something relatable and resonating within the pages of PTSD. Purchase a copy, give our interview a listen, and follow Reggie on his socials! Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube
You can visit his website at https://www.reggiedford.com
