Rivers Taylor
Rivers Taylor is an educator, minister, and active community member. The son of a Black minister and Black business owners, Taylor had grown up in Hampton Roads amidst the civil rights movement. He was born in Newport News in 1951 and attended local schools in Hampton. He attended Hampton’s Phenix High School for two years before the school’s name was changed to Pembroke High School. He graduated from Pembroke High School in 1969. After graduation, he attended Norfolk State College (now University), worked at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, served in Vietnam, taught at local public schools, and served as pastor at Bethlehem Judah Ministries, Newport News. He is presently a mentor in the RISE program in Hampton and Newport News and works to spread awareness of Black history with Project 1619.
-Interview and biographical information recorded in 2021.