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How does a man end up on Death Row? What is it like to spend years waiting to die? In his raw and poignant memoir, Waiting to Die: One Man''s Journey on Death Row , Feltus Taylor, Jr., who was executed in Louisiana for murder, delves into his life''s traumas and wrong choices and discovers what made his life still worth living. This memoir is not only the story of a convicted murderer; it''s a portrait of a young man grappling with identity, self-worth, and an unforgiving world. Feltus Taylor, Jr., a young African American man from Louisiana, was raised in poverty, stigmatized and victimized throughout his life, constantly at the mercy of a deeply flawed justice system. Born in prison to a drug-addicted mother, Taylor was adopted at two, only to face a childhood marked by severe developmental disabilities, physical challenges, and relentless bullying. He fell into the underworld of drug runners, money troubles, and violence that landed him on Death Row. The early years on Louisiana State Penitentiary''s Death Row were bleak and lonely, yet Taylor embarked on a journey of personal redemption through writing and spiritual growth. Taylor''s story has the power to break rigid perceptions, challenge public opinion, and shed light on our country''s unequal and broken social and judicial systems.
List of contents
Acknowledgments by
Monique MorrisonForeword by
Sister Helen Prejean, Feltus Taylor Jr.'s first spiritual advisor while on Death RowNote on the Text by
Monique MorrisonIntroduction by
Monique MorrisonPrologue
Part I: On the Outside: 19 Years
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Part II: On the Inside: 10 years, 3 months, 10 days
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Part III: On the Outside: 9 months
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part IV: On the Inside: 9 years, 2 months, 10 days
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Afterword by
Dr. Cecil Guin, Feltus Taylor Jr.'s social workerAbout the Author
Index
About the author
Feltus Taylor, Jr. was an African American man born into poverty, who ultimately faced execution in Louisiana for his involvement in a violent crime in 1991. Taylor, Jr. spent nearly a decade on Angola, Louisiana State Penitentiary death row, a period marked by appeals and significant personal reflection. He was executed by lethal injection in 2000.Monique Morrison was born and raised in South Louisiana and is a proud graduate of Louisiana State University. A passionate storyteller with a deep love for true, compelling narratives, she brings over two decades of professional experience in the film and television industry, along with five years in publishing. Monique now splits her time between Bend, Oregon and Los Angeles, where she enjoys exploring the outdoors with her family and dogs.
