Conversations with Taylor Curtis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Curtis. They and their team shared their story with us below:

Taylor “Mykal” Curtis was a child prodigy who, through God’s grace, learned how to read newspapers by the age of 3 and was homeschooled starting the first grade at the age of 4. She gave her life to Jesus at the age of 3 and a half and has been focused on honoring Him with her life since then. She started singing when she started speaking, dancing at age 4, and playing the piano at the age of 5. By the age of 13, Taylor began taking college classes as a freshman in high school. By the age of 16, she graduated high school and had ministered in dance openings for national names such as Marvin Sapp and Shirley Murdock. She had become an assistant in the Vessels of Honour Praise Dance Ministry. She graduated with her associate degree in liberal arts with a Psychology Emphasis by the age 18 and embarked in her solo artistry as she went off to complete her undergraduate career at The Ohio State University. Having gone from a girl gospel group (from the age 8-12) and an unsuccessful girl group start up (from the age 15-18), Taylor dawned the stage name MiShelle and started performing at The Ohio State University. She continued to minister through her own dance team, Vessels with a Vision, and singing in The Ohio State University’s African American Voices Choir. After overcoming a toxic relationship with her former producer, Taylor began using her middle name, “Michael,” as her stage name and performing in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio. After completing her bachelor’s degree in psychology at the age of 20, Taylor returned to her alma mater, Sinclair Community College, as a professor of psychology. As a young woman of color, Taylor faced many microaggressions, discrimination, and extreme racism. Yet, Taylor completed her master’s degree in psychology with an International Psychology Emphasis by the age of 22 and had begun her own self-care business as an independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay. Taylor reframed her name “Michael” as “Mykal” to mitigate the confusion on gender as a female artist. In 2016, Taylor (Mykal) joined the band “Freakquency” performing world music, fusing different sounds to unite the community one note at a time. By the age of 25, Taylor was recognized as the Youngest African American Female to be Tenured at an institution of higher education in the history of the United States, which is now commemorated on Dec 1st as Taylor Curtis Day. She is a professor of General Psychology, Social Psychology, Black Psychology, and Black Studies and the former Director of Black Studies at her previous institution of higher education. Additionally, Taylor was able to perform in dance at the 2019 Ohio Emmy Awards. During 2020, Taylor’s passion for holistic self-care grew beyond the beauty industry and into soul care through the Bible taking Mary Kay to the next level by joining her self-care product experience with a nonprofit she co-founded called Bronze Glow. After the social unrest of racism and police brutality in 2020, Taylor felt compelled and called to make a more impactful stance against racism within the institution, which was met with racism and backlash. Taylor left the institution of education riddled with structural racism to engage hands-on in the community as the YWCA Greater Cincinnati Senior Director of Racial Justice and Equity, working strategically to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Through this role, she is able to offer Justice, Antiracism, Cultural Competency, Liberation, and DEI (Diversity/Equity/Inclusion) training and consultation services, as well as engage in community programming, advocacy for policy change, and grassroots activism within the community. She became a solo artist again in 2023 and is currently working on her first solo music album, fusing different genres of music with her traditional thread of classical piano and a flare of spoken word, the art of the emcee, and singing. She is actively modeling and retraining for upcoming dance performances. Bronze Glow expanded in 2023 to include urban farming and holistic health tips and will be adding a podcast in 2024 called Bronze Glow Tea & G.R.I.T. to ” pour out the journey, refill our cups, process the grit and acknowledge the glow”. She is also a leader in The Gathering Space which is a global ministry without walls that focuses on discipleship and the journey with Jesus without the religion. 

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Racism and sexism have always been some of the most significant challenges I have faced. As a performing artist who doesn’t sell sex, it has always been difficult to negotiate the music industry without compromise, selling out, selling sex, or tolerating sexism or harassment. As a Black woman who shares Indigenous and Latina heritage, my ethnicity walks in the room before me and has always played a role in how I am perceived, expectations set for me, and how I am treated. I have been lied on, reported for doing my job, paid less, harassed, and poorly treated in almost every space. I have also fought countless health issues such as Stage IV endometriosis for 15 + years, spinal fracture and back issues due to a car accident, and additional trauma from abusive relationships. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I sing, write music & curriculum, dance, teach/train, and advocate. I am most known for centering everything I do on God, liberty, and justice for all. I am extremely known for antiracism work and my Racial Justice and Equity institute as well as music that promotes the same. I am most proud of the impact my Racial Justice and Equity institute has had with judges, lawyers, public health departments, higher education institutions, school districts, nonprofits, and corporate businesses. I am also most proud of the 3,000+ students that I have had the privilege of teaching and cultivating, who are now successful citizens contributing in many fields across the nation. 

What sets me apart is the Holy Spirit. My movements, strategies, vision, and implementation are all led by God, and my words, curriculums, songs, and impact are God-breathed. I attribute all success to Him, and in everything I do, I give Him the glory. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I have learned the secret of true identity. My identity is on who God says I am rather than who the world says I am. Every obstacle and struggle I have faced have communicated messages that say I am too outspoken, too angry about racism, too loud, too much woman, too this, or too that, and yet not enough. 

When I allowed the opinions of toxic men, sexism, racism, and the ugly pieces of society to determine my value and shape who I was, I was a lesser version of myself. However, when I only define myself by what God has said about me, I thrive. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.marykay.com/taylorMYKAL
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twix_sweetheart?igsh=YzVkODRmOTdmMw==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialMykalMusicPage?mibextid=ZbWKwL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-curtis-2a6b84106?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_app
• Twitter: https://x.com/Twix_SweetHeart?t=QLCu1Ai-ZwVnzRoC3Jjgjg&s=09
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/SingerofGod?fbclid=IwAR3kDAsXFjw7iwaCX1-KueBfJPKF9CoLaD6ULykYoBz2NIlt7WeNp8TDbWA
• Other: https://www.ywcacincinnati.org/whatwedo/trainings/

Image Credits
Sean Korey