Defying the Odds: Black Single Mom Put God First
Tayler Mack raises two athletic children to be the best they can be
“I had to trust life, since I was young enough to believe that life loved the person who dared to live it.”-The Heart of a Woman, Maya Angelou
By Kenneth Miller | Publisher
The first week of school did not end precisely like Tayler Mack planned it.
Mack, 35, is a single Black mother of King Drew Magnet High School senior flag football standout Alaysia Harris was attending the Golden Eagles opening varsity football game at LA Southwest College on Aug. 21.
King Drew played host to San Pedro, so Alaysia wanted to be there in support of her fellow classmates and peers.
If nothing else it was supposed to be an exciting evening, and hundreds showed up for what was potentially the Los Angeles City Section Game of the Week.
It turned out to be anything but, as apparent fights caused mass hysteria and chaos sending students, parents and administrators into a frenzy as they ran for their lives across the football field, through the bleachers in search of safety. The game was cancelled.
Moments prior to the unfortunate turn of events, I had inquired to Cameron Lee, assistant coach for the girl flag football team for a possible feature idea.
At that moment, there stood Alaysia, thus I had my subject and soon thereafter Mack and her 11 year old son Kali Jones appeared. The stars had aligned for the feature I sought.
ONE FOR ALL-From left Kali Jones, Tayler Mack and Alaysia Harris at SoFi Stadium. (Mack Family Photo)
However, none of us could have prepared for what transpired.
Her bleached blonde short wavy hair illuminating the smooth chocolate skin, Mack stood calm amid the storm, grasping Kali close to her and keeping Alaysia within arm’s reach.
Much like a lion in the wild safari, Mack protected her precious children.
Tayler Mack falls in a very auspicious category of being one of 47 percent of the Black single mothers in America, the largest population of single mothers in the country.
More staggering is an estimated 25 percent of all Black households are maintained by a woman with no spouse present, according to Micro Trends.
By many measures, the odds are stacked against the Tayler Mack’s of the world, but this is one mother who is not just defying odds, but beating them.
She is raising two very successful children.
In 2025 Alaysia was chosen to the second team for All Marine League and she ranks in the top 135 nationally in one statistical category according to Max Preps.
“Alaysia’s first introduction to sports is from one of her grandmother that is in our village whose name is Lady Smith. Alaysia was 6 when she started to play softball. She’s played till she was 14 then took on dancing for a while. Then in high school she started her football interest,” Mack explained to South Bay Black Journal.
She says her son Kali also began playing T-ball around six as well. However, basketball attracted his attention and he fell in love with the sport by the time he was 8. Now he’s on a traveling AAU team.
“Lady Smith also was instrumental in introducing my son to sports I am thankful for her,” Mack added.
She can see the significance that sports play in their lives.
“I can see sports showing them the other side of discipline, with others as well as myself. Although of course there’s always things to work on. I do see growth in both as the years go by. Seeing them with their friends and interacting is a true joy, learning leadership skills. Seeing their sportsmanship separately and how they support each other as well has been a true joy to see. We have been through some things these past couple years so them playing their sports has really been a blessing in our lives,” Mack elaborated.
Her son hails his mother as his role model.
MVP-Kali Jones displays some of his honors from the Crenshaw Family YMCA. (Mac Family Photo)
“My mother Tayler why? Because she has done everything for me. My mother is someone who is trying to having fun with us. My mother is hard working. she tells me to do my best not to only act like a baby and I agree with that. But at the end of the day. She is my mother and I love her,” said Kali.
Mack is a single parent and explains it has been tough.
“It has definitely been a rocky transition for me for the past year and a half coming out of 10 year marriage. I can definitely say one challenge has been splitting my time between my two. Especially when they both have games or just something to do the same day. Having the discipline and then be the fun parent definitely has its challenges as a single parent mentally,” she stated.
However, Mack credits God with being the foundation of their home.
“God in the center of our home. Also, we take time to understand each other and being able to actually learn to apologize when necessary. We all need to be more considerate of one’s feelings. I’m thankful. Alaysia and Kali are the ONLY reason why I kept/keep going. Their love has been my benefits.”
The 11-year old Kali is a 6th grade student at Kelso Elementary in Inglewood and with Alaysia some nine miles away in Watts attending King Drew, Mack has to carefully manage her time between work and her children.
Kali also considers his favorite teacher Mrs. Lara Thompson also being a role model.
“She helped me a lot. I got principal’s honor roll. She encourages my singing my dancing my math and my reading. Also, she helped me win the Inglewood Unified School District math field day competition third place. And I couldn’t manage all of that without of her. And that’s why I consider Mrs. Thompson as a role model.”
Four games into the flag football season have come and gone for Alysia, and the season is off to a rocky start (1-3) for the athlete who plays multiple positions on the team.
Inspired by her brother her main focus right now is keeping her grades up as she makes plans for college.
“My most important person is my brother, he keeps me going and gives me a reason to be a role model for him by listening to him without judgement, sticking up for him when needed, supporting him, and showing him guidance,” Alaysia eloquently stated.
Her Mema, grandmother is her role model. “Because she always finds faith in me. She never shows weakness and always showed me how strong she was while facing physical and mental battles and push me to be my best self. And she always reminded me of my favorite scripture which is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”
The 17 year old has proven to be more than an accomplished athlete, thanks to the doting love and caring for her mother Tayler Mack.
The weekend is approaching, and after another long day of school, practices and games, the kids must eat and choosing between Kali’s favorite dish of King Crab and Alaysia’s choice of soul food or pasta is a debate within itself.
It is a welcome and pleasant debate to have, after all Kali has completed his chores of cleaning his room and the living room and his sister Alaysia has washed the dishes, done her laundry and cleaned the bathroom.
It is a constant and familiar routine, much like the routine of Tayler going to choir practice and taking the kids to church every Sunday.
You know the saying? A family stays prays together, stays together.
