The New Normal

Our new normal is seeing our world in chaos. I saw a meme recently that said remember when the biggest problem we had was (First Lady) Michelle Obama's arms showing or that beige suit President Obama wore? We are in too deep, with no end in sight. We have turned a corner as a Nation to where there is no going back. For a lot of us realist and pessimist, we knew that racism was still alive, it's fires still being stoked, to use Cassanova Green's metaphor. But I wonder how those who thought racism was over, that the election of President Obama meant clear skies ahead, how are those people processing the images from Charlottesville, VA this weekend.

For those that don't know, a woman was killed and a man beaten almost to death while dozens of others were injured and two troopers lost their lives in the helicopter crash; all because white nationalist and Nazi's and white militia groups wanted to come out and try to scare and intimidate someone. They thought their tiki torches would instill fear in our hearts. They thought their chants would make us run for cover. Well, they were wrong.

The way to fight terrorism is to stand strong and not be afraid. Like dogs, they smell fear. Many of us are fighting terrorism in our own way and I applaud you all for the steps you are taking to not live in fear. To not let these images define how you interact with people. It sounds cliched and Martin Luther (the) Kingish to say but Love will always win. And I have hope, regardless of what it looks like, that what needs to come out of this treacherous time in our history, will be birthed. I have seen so much creativity as a result of these past few years of reinvigorated overt racism, I have seen a look in my sister and brothers eyes, I have seen co-workers standing up to their family for people that don't look like them, and I see interracial relationships around me persist, nevertheless.

I am determined to fight against this terrorism. I always wanted to live through the 60s so I could walk around with a big afro and a black leather jacket full of black power buttons yelling "Power to the People." Well, the 60s has descended among me, and I am left wondering how to make an impact. For right now, I am choosing one thing a day to do that is a counter-terrorism act.

Day One: I chose love;
Day two: I got on the treadmill;
Day Three: I got a massage and I'm going to therapy.
I will do everything I can to keep my mind strong and free and to show those around me what free living and loving looks like. I may not be the Martin or Malcolm of my generation, I'll leave that up to Maxine Waters, Shaun King and Kiese Laymon and other fearless leaders, but I will be that pebble in the pond. I will make waves, I will not be silenced. I will not fear. I will walk in faith, I will maintain my hope, and I will raise my children to believe in a world where they are loved and adored for who they are and they have the support they need to become the wonderful adults they are intended to become. We will rise on the ashes of everything those tiki torches intended to burn down. We will make it through this time: the new normal.

Deepak and Oprah- Day One

Who am I? A divine soul. I am the woman that my ancestors prayed to be. I am earth, brown and round and soft and fertile. I am an able and willing vessel for God to use for His Glory. I am God's Glory. I am the twinkle in God's smile. I am the sunlight after the rain. I have traveled through storms to give a glimpse of the harvest that comes afterwards. I am Cleopatra and Nefertiti. I am a Mountain beside a stream. I am the Koi fish in the pond. Longevity, crafty, witty, a survivalist and a survivor. I am an artist, sculptor, a co-pilot witnessing God's miracles. I am macaroni and cheese at Grandmama's house. I am sofisticated soul. I am an allegory within an algorithm. I am my own knight in shining armour. A night in my own shining arms. I am the hug after the skinned knee. I am everything. I am nothingness, stillness, infinite space. I am a paradoxical paradigm. I am magical madness. I am the sowet, the planter and the gatherer. I am the sift wind and the hurricane. I am a brick house. A lighthouse. A birdhouse. A Traphouse. A Greenhouse. A spaceship, a yatcht, a garden, a refuse, a blueprint. I am. I was. I will always be. You. 

Making of a Boss

I have learned so much about the business I'm in from past experiences.

1. Working at record companies in college taught me I didn't want to sign a contract as an unsigned author. I wanted to be in control of my product and image. This was '93, '94 before Jay-Z, Puffy and Master P made it grassroots. I saw how artists who were platinum owed the record company. I also saw how complex the contracts were. This influenced my decision to go to law school. 

2. Price Productions: my Dad ran a video and audio business in the 80s and 90s. He was very professional- business cards, T-shirts the whole 9. He videotaped weddings, graduations, and provided the sound system as well. I learned punctuality, presentation and word of mouth is your best marketing tool. 

3. Gal Ben Haim- he came to the US with very little and has built a successful locksmith business and property management company. He taught me to reinvest the money I make back in the business and to take calculated risks after the bills are paid. 

4. Mary Kay taught me God, family and buisness in that order. Also that making money can be fun and you need a team. 

5. Shatana Johnson taught me to always have a cash box with change and multiple ways people can buy your item and to always do everything in excellence. 

6. Kimya Jones taught me to be relentless. 

7. Iyanla Vanzant taught me that I could self-publish and make an impact.

8. Beyonce taught me the sneak move is the way to go! 

So I hope you are enjoying your Love Letters book! If not, order today www.tanikkaprice.com

Http://www.lulu.com/shop/tanikka-price/love-letter-black-girl-song-vol-i/paperback/product-23152996.html

Love Letters: From my heart to yours

Why is Love Letters so special? 

1. I wrote these letters for me- to help me deal with strong emotions I was struggling with... Some of the relationships got better after I wrote the letters, some got worse. But I found my voice and my power.

2. Love Letters was so intimate that the first time I released it in 2009, I did so under my rap name: Red Letter. It took some time but I finally merged Red Letter with Tanikka Price- put fear into perspective, got rid of the shame and guilt and here you have it. 

3. I asked God when I was goinv through to allow my pain to help others and that has truly happened. I loved seeing Amber Broadus' reaction to Love Letters. She knows me so well, knows all my stories, I've mentored, taught and life coached her- yet I could see how impactful my words were as she read them. It meant so much to watch her share my book on fb. 

4. Love Letters is proof that dreams do come true! I went to college as a future English Major. I couldn't wait to write my first book. My Freshman English Professor made copies of my paper and passed them out and proceeded to tell the class that this was an example of what NOT to do in Freshman English. I did not write creatively for 3 years. Perhaps Mr. Moore though he was giving me tough love but it crushed my Spirit. So this book has been 25 years in the birthing canal. All I had to do the whole time was PUSH! 

New Vision

Behold I will do a new thing and it will Spring forth. Today I dropped my new book, new website and started a new blog. I also just picked up my new glasses. The lenses are much more crisp than the old lenses I was wearing. This led me to think what is the difference between when I released my Love Letter book in 2009 and today? It's kind of like the difference between yesterday's lenses and todays.