A Tuesday Afternoon Sit Down with Maya Angelou and Toya Wright
Please welcome, the vibrant, American reality TV star, businesswoman, and author Antonia 'Toya' Wright!
And, the PHENOMENAL, author, poet, playwright, stage and screen performer, director, former nightclub singer, Maya Angelou!
And, the PHENOMENAL, author, poet, playwright, stage and screen performer, director, former nightclub singer, Maya Angelou!
This conversation shared the heart felt theme of positive, Black womanhood and defying the stereotype of inherent failure. We are more than our past.
The majority of this conversation excerpt will be celebratory toward Toya Wright, who is the author of Priceless Inspiration and her new novel How to Lose a Husband! When she first hit the hip hop scene, she was only know as Lil Wayne's babymama. But in her life Toya always fought to be more than just a baby mama. Her own mother abandoned her when she was young, but left her with written testimonies that now inspires women all over the world. Toya Wright has reclaimed her name through truth telling, being an amazing mother and human, and lastly by putting her happiness first and Maya Angelou is definitely affirming!
Here is a excerpt....
JOHNSON: It feels amazing to be the presence of two very pivotal Black women writers. Thank you! My first question has to be to Toya. What not only led you but inspired you to write your first fictional novel, How to Lose a Husband?
WRIGHT:
Well, Kayla. My husband and I were going through some rough times. Accepting my
new success as a businesswoman and author was really difficult for
him on top of other personal issues, which I definitely understand. “You see he’s acting out on Instagram.
How he chooses to deal with his stuff is how he chooses to. How I choose to
deal with mine is different. I’m hurt too. I decided to write a book called
“How To Lose A Husband" (Wendy Williams Interview). This is a fictional novel based off real situations. It’s
like a modern day Waiting to Exhale. The moral of my story is, you have to be whole
before you commit to being someone’s half. I was pumped by the feedback of my last book to
try something new, which turned out to be the extra push I needed to complete
this project. Art imitates life! *laughs*
ANGELOU
INTERJECTS: See, Ms. Antonia Wrights slays, because through her existence she
understands that “Image making is very important for every human being. It is
especially important for black American women in that we are, by being black, a
minority in the United States, and by being female, the less powerful of the
genders. So we have two areas we must address.” And she does that so truthfully
in her art. She challenged all stereotypes against her by putting herself at the forefront of
this necessary dialogue with men.
WRIGHT:
*blushes and warm smiles*
JOHNSON:
Ms. Angelou, what advice do you have for Toya and other Black women who are trying to heal through writing?
ANGELOU:
*laughs* Ahh, there is so much advice. Paracelsus once said, “The main reason for healing is love.” And if we want love which I know we all desperately want, "Take a day to heal from the lies you've told yourself and the ones that have been told to you.” The art form that healing manifests into is up to the human being. It may be poetry, prose, a song, or an essay, but the art will happen. Ain’t that right Ms. Toya?
WRIGHT:
*laughs and winks*
