Feature Poet: Taylor Mali (by Madison Landry)

Taylor Mali, born on March 28, 1965, is a poet, teacher, author, and voice-over artist. Originally from New York and known to be a proud WASP (White Anglo-Saxon Protestant), Mali attained his Bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College and his Master’s from Kansas State University. Mali then began teaching in 1990. For over nine years, Mali’s subjects ranged from English to History to Math to SAT preparatory classes. He is known to be an avid advocate and defender of this profession, especially through his various works. This includes one of his most popular books entitled What Teachers Make: in Praise of the Greatest Job in the World. Mali is also the author of various books from 2002 to 2014, including Bouquet of Red Flags, The Last Time As We Are, and What Learning Leaves. In the year 2000, Mali started a twelve-year “Quest for One Thousand Teachers” which was fully accomplished in April 2012. Through this challenge, Mali established “one thousand new teachers through ‘poetry, persuasion, and perseverance.” He marked this triumph by cutting and donating twelve inches of his hair to the American Cancer Society. In addition, the New York Foundation for the Arts Grant helped Mali to begin his “one-man show about poetry, teaching, and math” in 2001 called Teacher! Teacher! This show won “best solo performance at the 2001 Comedy Arts Festival.”  Mali is also credited as the former president of Poetry Slam, Inc. and has been the National Poetry Slam Champion a whopping total of four times. He has also appeared on Def Jam Poetry, SlamNation, and Slam Planet. These days, Mali is solely dedicated to his family (his wife and son) as well as his spoken word and voiceover career. Mali travels the country for performances, workshops, and narrations.

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