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American Warlord: The Story of Chucky Taylor, American Teen Turned Torture Suspect

9/15/08, 1:42 pm EST

Chucky Taylor was an ordinary suburban teenager — until he went to live with his father, one of Africa’s most brutal dictators. How did a kid from Orlando end up as the first U.S. citizen on trial for torture abroad? Read part of Johnny Dwyer’s story from the new issue here.

A few weeks before we published “American Warlord,” Chucky Taylor, the article’s subject, sent us a song he recorded. We weren’t quite sure what to expect coming from someone accused of crimes ranging from electrocuting a victim’s genitals, summary executions and ordering beheadings — but nothing could’ve really prepared us for the ’80s electro-soul love rap we did receive.

Taylor sent us a letter with the track explaining his music. “Do I consider myself an artist? No! I feel like I have something to share and say and music is another avenue,” he wrote. After he fled the collapse of his father’s dictatorship in Liberia, Taylor recorded approximately 20 tracks at a studio called Eclipse Audio in Trinidad. He would later be arrested in Miami and indicted as the first person to be tried under a federal anti-torture statute.

“The album is a snap shot of my thoughts and feelings at that time prior to my arrest,” he wrote. “My fathers [sic] Presidency was the culmination of his goals and dreams not mine.”

Given the seriousness of the charges he faces, we’re wary to provide an open platform for Taylor to promote his music. But you can check out a sample from his track “Angel” here and judge for yourself.

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Comments

edwin | 9/15/2008, 2:45 pm EST

As an American born to Liberian perants i can relate to Chucky’s story.with all the wrongs commited in Liberia he should be held accountable for his actions but what will any young want to be scar-face do in a country without law.before you jump your guns and call me a chucky’s supporter,let it be known that my uncle was killed by these same guys for no reason whatsoever.
We (USA GOVERNMENT)SUPPORTED THIS WHOLE THING FROM THE START AND WE BEAR THE SAME CHARGES AS CHUCKIE AND THE LIKES OF Bush sr.John walker lynn walk from fighting for the talaban should chuckie,oops he’s black and we need to set an example.
No wounder why people hate us,we fuck things up and try to bleam others for our misdeeds

ZAN | 9/16/2008, 12:01 am EST

The Atlantic ocean seperate two acknowledged realities. One where people “fall in love” and buy “innocent objections of affections”. The other sees the death, has a hand in it. Sure, ‘all you need is love’. Did our extant necessity of this expression of love drive the industry, these men, to such brutal protection of profits?

030 DE-GAUL | 9/19/2008, 5:50 pm EST

Music may have been his gifted art but I think Chucky was caught up in a world far from or out of his ability to have made any changes in the deticted direction. Chucky was taught to shoot by his age group and later given responsibilities that I think he wasn’t ready to handle, regardless of the firepower the NPFL had at the time.For history and the facts, he did not create the ATU but only facilitated it with influence of finance from his father and then took over trusted charge of responsibility for protection. Anyone reasonable person would expect a lack of good judgement in the long run and so what is so suprising. Wasn’t the Attache of the US ambassy in Monrovia,who was in touch in terms of military coorporation with the rabel forces turned government, aware of his participation? Did they make any effort to invite him for hints on his country’s foreign policy on the issues? I wouldn’t expect anyone to let him go free without some judgement on the books, but it is only realistic that this is being taken too far on one end.

EK | 9/26/2008, 10:57 am EST

Edwin,

I too am an African born in the U.S.

And there is no excuse for what Chucky Taylor has done. There are plenty of wannabe thugs in every country who do NOT behead people, but their penises, or force them to lie in pits of fire ants.

He is a crime against humanity.

Delali | 10/31/2008, 3:25 pm EST

NO ONE SHOULD GIVE THIS MAN AN EXCUSE OR SYMPATHIZE with him and his entourage. There is no EXCUSE IN HELL!! How can anyone relate to his story? Did you (Edwin) beheaded people, burned poople? Keep in mind that those Criminals killed their own family memebers.
People died……my grandmother was beheaded, so were many innocent people, eps. kids.
So before any one starts to look for a government or an individual to blame, think twice….what message are we sending to those CRIMINALS.

Egon | 11/19/2008, 5:16 pm EST

chucky deserves to be confined and given treatment under the law. let him realize that we humans are gorvern by laws that portrays decency. let him face the full weight of the law!!!

someone | 11/21/2008, 2:08 am EST

I know this guy personally.. And initially, he comes off as a very intellegent, generous, funny, even sensitive individual (abeit head strong and overly confident at times).
I’m sure that many like me who have chatted and laughed with him for hours are in absolute disbelief at the details of his life in Liberia. I feel sick at my own mere ignorance to the facts, until now and wonder how I would have reacted had I known what I know now. Within this and other recent articles, lies a man who is a stranger to me. One I loathe. This man has the name and face of an old friend – a former friend – whom i will never set eyes on again and (honestly)will chose to forget.
From a psychological point of view, I agree with Edwin (whom commented before me) that it’s easy to see how a troubled ghetto youth put in that situation could come to abuse his power to the infinte degree – yet – in the same breath, i believe that it would greatly devalue the validity of his observations if he throws the race card as a reason for this trial – given the degree of wrong doings on Chucky’s behalf. These acts transcend all hues of pink and brown need to be answered for all the red that was shed during the time of his fascination with invincibility. .
The fact is – Chucky is now penniless and as a result has no more power and is of no more use or influence to ANYBODY. But he needs to face the music.This must happen. Vindication is inevitable. .

So while the story of Chucky brings bells and whistles to the situation, the real question still remains:’What now?’ West africa is still in a s*^t!


Some Body

P.S: And yes, ‘Edward’ is right when he says that the real influential people are happy to facilitate and witness ‘the young son’ take all the blows for all who had a hand in this.
Their time will come as well..

ffrereweugbcyh | 6/14/2009, 3:15 am EST

chvfhndbn

Lazo | 7/17/2009, 2:14 pm EST

As a Liberian I think CHuckie who publically killed his own car driver be prosecuted by the American Law even beyoun.

scOObY dOO(DaLLaS) | 7/23/2009, 11:10 am EST

wht he did was wrong but it shows how we can all go bad he’s my hero he showed wht one person can do just imagine if there was many people like him !!!!!!

Satan | 9/7/2009, 6:34 am EST

FUCK Chucky Taylor come burn in hell with me.

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