BOOK DESCRIPTION
In Reggie Ford’s bold reassessment of the Black experience in America, he demonstrates that a new understanding of PTSD is required. PTSD, Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction, as Ford defines it, underlines the darkness of mental health illnesses and behaviors that impact young Black men and have plagued Black Americans for generations.
But his reassessment is not doom and gloom. Instead, Ford implores that we turn pain into peace. His uplifting message shows that by realizing, accepting, and treating mental health with grace, kindness, and appreciation of the backgrounds of those needing support, we can reduce the significant impact of PTSD and other mental conditions on not just Black, but all people.
Ford uses his own traumatic experiences to inform his call to action. He takes his impoverished and scarred childhood and turns it into a life of promise and abundance. His memoir shines a light on the intergenerational impact of unaddressed mental health issues, showing how the power of a familial network can help or severely harm an individual’s battle with mental health illnesses. He writes searingly of the overwhelming odds and systemic racism that must be overcome by Black Americans in order to reach the heights he has scaled. Ford’s own heartbreaking story is yet an optimistic one, intended to show that mental health has a real and demonstrable effect on Black Americans, but that it can be overcome.
PTSD places one man’s experiences in the realm of the broad sociopolitical issues that affect so many Americans. Ford emphasizes that the trauma of society creates situations of mental health issues and behaviors that hold back so many. But he also believes there is room for hope, that his own experiences of overcoming so many hardships and difficulties offer a path for others to follow. Immense suffering, Ford believes, can lead to improbable success.
PRAISE FOR PTSD
“Reggie Ford has written a brilliant account of his personal journey from pain to peace. But more than just the fascinating story of one young man’s battles with the generational traumas associated with racism and poverty in America, PTSD is a primer on just how deeply embedded those traumas are in our society and the factors that perpetuate them. Reggie writes with equal honesty and introspection when recounting his family’s encounters with addiction, abuse, teen pregnancy, gun violence and homelessness as he does when exposing prejudice, tokenism, and white privilege. At one level, this is an important book about persevering through dysfunction. At another, it is a well-sourced call to understand and solve the larger mental health, criminal justice, educational, and wealth inequalities facing the country.”
— Andrew Maraniss, New York Times bestselling author of STRONG INSIDE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
REGGIE D. FORD is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, mental health advocate, and social activist. A first-generation college graduate of Vanderbilt University, he runs RoseCrete Wealth Management and speaks to audiences about financial empowerment, overall wellness, and the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility. Ford lives in Nashville, TN, with his wife Katie and their Rottweiler, Rosie.
December 10, 2021
Southern Soul Live Stream with Calvin Baldwin
Like many others in his East Nashville neighborhood, Reggie could have been a victim of the streets. While crime, violence and poverty were second nature for many, Reggie knew in his heart he was destined for more.
To get through traumatic experiences, most people make the mistake of normalizing their trauma. When they do this, they turn a blind-eye to the problem and allow for the cycle of abuse to continue. For most of his life, Reggie lived this way. It wasn’t until the year when Reggie hit rock bottom that he began to truly understand the importance of mental health. Along his healing journey, Reggie had to understand trauma on both personal and generational levels. Knowing where his trauma was originating was the key to jumpstarting the healing process and beginning to break his generational trauma.
November 16, 2021
2021 Goodwill Impact Breakfast Keynote Speaker
Hear from Reggie D. Ford, who grew up in east Nashville to a single mom and a dad continually entangled in the justice system. Reggie was a natural student and was recruited to participate in Backfield in Motion where Joe C. Davis became a close friend and mentor. Reggie attended Montgomery Bell Academy where he was a distinguished scholar. Recruited by Harvard, Reggie chose to stay close to his family who needed him, accepting an offer from Vanderbilt, from which he also graduated with honors. He pursued an accounting degree from the Owen School and is now a wealth advisor, entrepreneur, yoga instructor and best-selling author of P.T.S.D.: Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction. He is an inspiration.
November 11, 2021
WHAT'S THE H.Y.P.E. Podcast with Jeff Pope and Andre Hal
On this week’s episode we have Vanderbilt University Alum, author and wealth manager Reggie Ford. On this episode we talk about what it was like for him growing up in Nashville, Tennessee and some of the challenges he faced early on. He spoke about how being able to play in Vanderbilt University stadium in little league planted the seed that he could possibly play for that team one day. He went on to share how he was able to attend a prestigious high school and all of the success the football team had during his time there. We also spoke about the lack of knowledge he had about the recruiting process and ultimately how he turned down opportunities to play for Ivy League schools to stay at home and attend Vanderbilt University. Finally we discussed his time at Vandy, why he decided to working in wealth management and how his personal battle with PTSD lead to writing his first book.
CONTACT
To contact the author for speaking engagements, media inquiries, or general questions, please complete the form below:
Ella Wenthom Books
1109 Woodland Street, #68001 Nashville, TN 37206
