Rodger L. Hilliard was born in Fayetteville NC in 1960, and moved with his parents to Philly when he was 5 years old. He joined the U.S. Air Force at the age of 17 and is presently nearing retirement. He grew up listening to Gil Scott-Heron, Nikki Giovanni and the Last Poets, therefore his writings are inspired mostly by them. After watching the Rodney King beating over and over on the television, he began to put his feelings down on paper, and he felt better. He's been writing every since.

Mr. Hilliard has compiled his writings and thoughts into a book titled "Mind Over Matters--Reflections From A Black Man", which he hopes to have published soon. He has had several of his poems published in The Charleston Chronicle, one of the oldest black owned newspapers in the south.

Mr. Hilliard currently resides in North Charleston, South Carolina with his lovely wife and two daughters where he continues to work in law enforcement.