We recently had the chance to connect with Maurice Ford and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maurice , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ince breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Publishing my second book has brought me a deep sense of joy and fulfillment. It’s a reminder that my story—once filled with pain and struggle—now carries purpose. Each page represents growth, healing, and the power of transformation. Knowing that my words can inspire others on their journey brings me peace, pride, and a renewed sense of meaning. This second book isn’t just a project—it’s proof that I’ve turned my past into power.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Maurice Burnette Ford, and I’m the author of 5 Times a Slave—a powerful story rooted in my own journey from trauma and incarceration to healing and purpose. Through my books, public speaking, and my brand 5 Times a Slave LLC, I help others understand how childhood trauma can shape our lives—and how we can take the remote back and switch the channel on our future. What makes my work unique is that it’s not just a story—it’s lived truth. I’ve been there, and now I use my platform to educate, inspire, and empower others who are ready to break cycles and build something better. Right now, I’m focused on sharing this message across prisons, recovery centers, and communities through books, film, and live events.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that believed survival was enough has served its purpose—and it’s time to let it go. That version of me hustled, fought, and endured just to make it through. But I’m not in survival mode anymore. I’m building, creating, and living with purpose now. That old mindset—the one rooted in fear, pain, and reaction—got me this far, but it can’t take me where I’m going. It’s time to release the weight of who I had to be… so I can fully become who I was meant to be.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: You were never broken—just wounded, and every scar is proof that you survived what was meant to destroy you. Keep going. Everything you’re searching for—love, peace, purpose—already lives inside you. You’re not a mistake. You’re a miracle in progress.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe that strength meant showing no weakness—keeping everything bottled up, never crying, never asking for help. I thought vulnerability made you soft or easy to break. But now I know that real strength is found in honesty, in healing, and in being brave enough to feel. That old belief kept me locked in survival mode. It was a shield, not freedom. Letting go of it is what made room for real growth, real love, and real peace.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I turned pain into purpose—and that I didn’t just survive, I helped others survive too. That I broke cycles, told the truth, and used my story to free others from shame and silence. I hope they say I was real, that I loved hard, spoke boldly, and left a legacy that outlived the mistakes of my past. That I showed people—especially the ones who felt forgotten—that it’s never too late to change the channel and rewrite your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://5timesaslave.com
- Instagram: @ author ___ maurice __ford
- Twitter: @Maurice86746046
- Facebook: Maurice 5 times a slave Ford
- Youtube: @mauriceford6277
