We recently connected with Bummi Anderson and have shared our conversation below.

Bummi , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My daddy, Edward Anderson, is my first hero. He’s my hero because of his work in the Civil Rights Movement. He left his mother’s house at 16 or 17 to fight for civil rights and racial equality in America. He marched, was arrested, and risked his life.

What I learned from his work and sacrifice is anyone can make a difference and not every act comes with notoriety and fanfare. I have a lot of Daddy in me. One thing that stands out is my father’s work as a master printer for “The Movement.” He taught himself how to operate a printing press. Growing up, I didn’t see the connection between what he did and my life as a writer, but I guess being around all that ink and paper left an impression on me as a writer and my twin sister (RIP) as a visual artist.

Bummi , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a writer. Poetry is my first love, but I have written memoir and personal essays. Nonfiction is a huge part of my life. I am also a storyteller as it relates to what I have lived, learned, and experienced.

I have authored seven books. I also teach college English, and I have a podcast called, “Intersection,” which I do once or twice a month. I started doing a podcast called, “Community Conversations” in 2022. The conversations were centered around COVID. I lost my twin sister, Femi Nilaja Anderson, in March 2020 from COVID, so I became an advocate of educating others on the dangers and preventions surrounding COVID.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am driven to tell stories and to share what I lived with others. I hope to expand my mission into documentaries. There is just something about stories that I am drawn to intensely. I am intrigued with the lives of others as well, so for me, writing is a necessary tool to get stories out into the world.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn is not to be pressured into writing because others think that is what I should be doing. When my twin passed in 2020, I was told I should be writing about it or writing to heal or for therapy. I didn’t feel to do that. I had to unlearn other people’s expectations or advice. I concluded I am a writer, and I write when I am ready. I have my own creative process. So many people think I should just do it, but depending on how my creativity reveals itself, I am subject to creativity, timing, and the process.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @bummia
• Facebook: Bummi Niyonu Anderson
• Twitter: @BummiNAnderson

Image Credits
Credit: Femi Nilaja Anderson