Meet Nakia Booker | Author/Art & Music Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nakia Booker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nakia, why did you pursue a creative career? 
The arts has always been in my life since I was a kid. When I was younger I
would write songs, draw, and put on programs for my family. My grandmother was a hairdresser and seamstress so she was my influence for the love of fashion. My dad, grandfather, and uncles kept the music going in the house and that’s how I fell in love with
music. My grandfather and the Girl Scouts also exposed me to the arts and theatre.

After college, I got off track and got caught up in the real world of work.
My new collaborative book, MMXX: The Black Artivism Capsule is my way of finding my way back as a full-time creative.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a new book that is available for preorder called MMXX: The Black Artivism Capsule. This coffee table book is a capsule collection of art, poetry, photography, and activism that focuses on the historic moment of 2020 civil unrest. It celebrates the essential work of Black artists during the pandemic.

The vision of MMXX was curated during a time of civil unrest – during the 2020 worldwide pandemic. It was during this time I took to social media and some of my followers because it was something special about their art that drew me to their work. Working on the book has taught me patience and has given me the confidence to curate more projects. Only challenge was staying focus to complete the book. The motivation and purpose behind it was to capture this current moment through the eyes of artists and to display Black Joy as a source of healing and resistance.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When someone is visiting I want to show them the not so tourist spots. I’m still discovering new places myself. Some of my favorite spots to eat are TWO Urban Licks and Apres Diem. For drinking, Chido & Padre’s has great cocktails and the food is next level good. My favorite hang spot is the City Winery because I love live music. I think Inman Park and Little Five Points are cute spots for boutique shopping and eating. For the late night wind down, I like the Highland Cigar Co. for a glass of wine

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would never have been able to start this book if it weren’t for God putting it inside my spirit. All the artists that are apart of this project. My publisher, Kameisha Jerae Hodge of Sovereign Noir Publishing for all her support. My support and mentorship from very successful women that held my hand from the beginning of this process, so thank you to Dr. Angela Anderson, Dr. Artangela Henry, Dr. Tonya Dennis, Candace Morgan, Sherlaender Phillips and Jacqueline Powers.

Website: blackartivism.co

Instagram: blackartivism

Image Credits
Mike D. Mikedshotme.com @miked.shotme-IG