Books
Meet Forlanda Anderson at Alkebu-Lan Images Bookstore
NASHVILLE PRIDE — Forlanda D. Anderson is an author and motivational speaker born.
By Nashville Pride
Forlanda D. Anderson is an author and motivational speaker born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She will be at Nashville’s Alkebu-Lan Images Bookstore to sign copies of her two books and meet with interested people on Sunday, March 17 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm. Her two current titles are “Empowering Women through the Storm” and “Bully Me Not.”
Ms. Anderson says she is “a down south God fearing woman with intentions to inspire women in today’s society to be all that they can be and to wear their crowns despite difficult challenges, hardships, and the ways of society.” Her goal is “to motivate other’s to become fearless and to empower women to become the best version of themselves by promoting self-love and self-confidence while living their best lives and cultivating their purpose.”
She strives to make a difference by creating a generation of strong and courageous women who aren’t afraid to go after every dream and goal that they have set for their lives. Her hope is for women to wake up each day knowing that their life has a wonderful purpose waiting to be fulfilled. Women are queens, and leaders. Women, are magic.
“If you are looking for someone who speaks on the struggles of the world today, someone who has a passion for helping people, someone who isn’t afraid to speak up for our people and someone who not only speaks the truth but also writes to lift peoples spirits,” says one of her staunch supporters. “She is doing what most young black women are afraid to do, which is speak up and be free from the hurt and pain we have encountered. Learn to adapt and lift ourselves up instead of being scared and blaming the world for our pain. The world is cold but we must learn to empower and be great people we know we can be. She is your go-to!”
In her book Empowering Women through the Storm ($12.95 + $3.99 shipping), Storms can come at any time and on any day. They can invade your life with no prior notice. They can turn a good day into a terrible day and can change you for the better or worse. Everyone experiences storms at some point in their lives, whether in youth or old age. Storms are inevitable. What we do when those storms arise will mean the difference between a promising future and a miserable one. We all have our own challenges to face in life, but who says we must face them alone? When women come together to uplift each other, it changes the lives of them all. Women are powerful. Women are the change that the world has been looking for. Women are life.
In her book Bully Me Not ($8.95 + $3.99 shipping), India is known for her big personality and her amazing creativity. With her many friends, she likes to create new games. But when she ran into a slight problem at school, she had to use her personality, creativity, and self-love to solve it. And if you’re anything like India, you won’t let anything keep you down. India took a stand like never before, and she couldn’t be more proud of herself. Dive into the life of India where you can learn how she used her self-love to conquer one of the biggest roadblocks of a new school year.
Get in touch with Ms. Anderson for book signings and speaking engagements; email her at: anderson.forlanda@gmail.com Note that you can purchase copies of her book without paying for the shipping at the book signing or in person at the bookstore anytime, located at 2721 Jefferson Street, Nashville TN 37208. Call 615.321.4111 for store hours.
This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.
Activism
Learning Life’s Lessons
Since his release over five years ago, Richard has committed himself to making a difference, particularly by reaching out to women and families who lack the presence of a father or husband. He knows he cannot undo the years lost behind prison walls, but he is determined to use his past to build a better future for others. His story mirrors that of many who have walked a similar path. Yet, it remains uniquely his own – a testament to the power of change, resilience, and the belief that even from tragedy, something good can emerge.

“California’s three-strike laws gave me 2 life sentences for drug possession. After serving 28 years, mostly in solitary confinement, I am free to lead a movement to get the formerly incarcerated to give back.”
By Richard Johnson
I have written this book in hopes of being able to help others from not traveling down the path that leads to imprisonment or a cemetery. At the very beginning of writing this book, it began as a message to my son Fati Yero Gaidi, who was only two years old at the time that I was given two life sentences in prison for drug possession, under the newly implemented three-strikes-you-out law. The more that I wrote, the book began to evolve beyond its intended purpose for my son; it became something that any and everyone could utilize on their separate journeys through life challenges that we encounter. The book helped me put my thoughts, reasoning, perceptions, and views on display, while opening doors that, for the most part, were closed. The book can be purchased via Amazon. Learning life lessons.
About the Author
By Post staff
Richard “Razor” Johnson, 74, is a man whose life journey is marked by hard-earned wisdom, redemption, and an unshakable commitment to guiding the next generation. Once sentenced to life under California’s Three Strikes Law, he was released through what he calls nothing short of divine intervention. His time behind bars, particularly in Pelican Bay State Prison, gave him a new raw and unfiltered understanding of life’s hardest truths.
With the realization that time is precious and the future is shaped by the lessons we learn, Richard writes with urgency and purpose. His book—a 300-page labor of love—is dedicated to young men who may not have a father to teach them the meaning of life’s most important words. Through definitions filled with wisdom, experience, and deep personal insight, he offers direction to those who find themselves lost, just as he once was.
Since his release over five years ago, Richard has committed himself to making a difference, particularly by reaching out to women and families who lack the presence of a father or husband. He knows he cannot undo the years lost behind prison walls, but he is determined to use his past to build a better future for others. His story mirrors that of many who have walked a similar path. Yet, it remains uniquely his own – a testament to the power of change, resilience, and the belief that even from tragedy, something good can emerge.
His words are not just lessons; they are a call to action. He hopes that by investing in young minds with wisdom and insight, they will be better equipped to navigate life’s trials, learn from their mistakes, and find their path to success. Richard “Razor” Johnson writes not just to be heard, but to help – because he knows firsthand that sometimes guidance can make all the difference.
Post publishers Paul and Gay Cobb visited Johnson in San Quentin and attended his graduation while he was in prison. He became a columnist with the Post News Group and has continued his advocacy for the formerly incarcerated by urging them to “give something back”. Johnson says he will be speaking at prisons, colleges, and media outlets to help organize voter registration and community service projects.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 11 – 17, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 11 – 17, 2025

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Activism
Oakland Post: Week of June 4 – 10, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of June 4-10, 2025

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