Tika Sumpter is a powerhouse talent–she's an NAACP nominated actress and producer, a children's book author (I Got It From My Momma) and podcast creator who's been steadily redefining what it means to move with ambition, grace and grit in Hollywood. We sit and talk about her journey, motherhood, marriage and building the life of her dreams.
Chapter 1: Who is Tika Sumpter and what are her achievements?
Calling all my sweeties to the forefront, I'm your host, Chris Renee Hazlitt, and this is the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show. Welcome to the Keep It Positive Sweetie Show, the place where we heal, grow, and learn together. This week's guest is the beautiful, multi-hyphenate talent, Tika Sumpter.
She's an NAACP-nominated producer, director, children's book author, and a podcast creator who's been steadily redefining what it means to move with ambition, grace, and grit in Hollywood.
We're talking about none other than Tika Sumter, a powerhouse talent who starred in a billion-dollar blockbuster like Sonic the Hedgehog 3, made her Sundance directorial debut with The Night Off, and is co-producing and starring in the new Amazon MGM rom-com in collaboration with Tyler Perry.
Oh, and did we mention that she's also releasing her first children's book, I Got It From My Mama, and creating an animated podcast for kids. In today's episode, we're talking about storytelling, motherhood, ambition, and the creative fire that drives one of Hollywood's most inspiring voices. Get ready for this conversation, guys, because you do not want to miss it.
Tika, thank you so much for coming.
I've been waiting for this. I've been waiting for my phone call. Unfortunately, I was like... Where she gonna call me?
You're like, when am I getting that call? Girl! You and Tyler both. I think I was getting a side eye from both of y'all for a while.
Kind of. I was like, oh, so who's on Keep It Punk?
Oh. And I still haven't been. You're like, why am I not on it?
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Chapter 2: What childhood experiences shaped Tika's career?
Thank you.
Yes. So take us back to Queens, New York. Oh, my God. Young Tika. Little Tika? Little Tika. I want to know, like, from the beginning...
I just honestly, like, I asked my mom, like, who was I? She was like, you were just observant. And I love to go outside, stay outside till the light came on. Literally, Tika! And he's like, I just climbed trees. Like, there was this...
crazy blackberry tree in my friend's yard which is so weird to have in like a concrete jungle right but it was huge we would climb in and just eat blackberries and we would go to each other's houses and like it was amazing like that block was like I lived there until I was like 10 years old I remember everybody's name you know it was like Top Cat like it's all these like new new
You know what I mean? Like all those names. You're like, are those real names? Yeah, no, those are real names. Like, well, they're fun names. You know what I mean? Like nicknames. But like, yeah, I would hang out. I got into my first fight on the block. Girl, I didn't want to fight. It was a surprise jumping. And I was like, what's happening? Like, no, a jump? Well, sort of.
It was like, I like came. My friend's like, Tika, come. And I was like, oh, okay. I'm like this little, like...
think of a little like eight-year-old nine-year-old like okay yeah you know and and i'm like they're like you gonna fight her and i remember the girl's name i ain't gonna say it but um they're like you gonna fight her and i was like fight like fight i was like i didn't fight right initiation right and so literally i had to fight this girl And all I know is, I don't know if it was an angel or God.
I don't know what it was. I blacked out. And I ended up like taking her and swirling her around. It felt like a cartoon. And then I threw her into a thorn bush. And then she was like, I'm done. I don't want to fight you. I was like...
If young teen could say period, it'd be period. Please don't fight me. I didn't want to do this anyway.
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Chapter 3: How did Tika Sumpter get into acting?
You're like, is anybody out here? No one? Because you hear these stories. I used to hear Natalie Portman was like picked out of a, you know, whatever.
And like all these people were picked out. And I was like. I have a football stadium.
Girl.
Somebody saw her on the Jumbotron, find that girl. I'm like. Girl. That is not my story.
That's not my story. That's not my story.
But I thought it was going to be. And that was okay. So, yeah. I mean, so I kept my job. And then I... So actually I opened Soho House, the first Soho House in New York. Shout out Soho, okay. Yeah, it was when no one understood what Soho House was. Or a private members club. Now everybody knows. It's a thing, yeah. And they were like, you have to be a member to get in.
And it was like, people, I'm talking, amazing people would walk in and the lady would be like, sorry, are you a member? And I'm like, that's, do you know who that is? That's, no, you have to let them in. She's like, sorry, but you can apply to be a member. And you're like, oh my God. So I worked there for a while and I opened the first one and then I walked out and quit.
And because I couldn't take, it was, There was a lot of entitlement going on there that I couldn't take anymore. I mean, people are great. People are great. But also people aren't great. Yeah.
I know what you mean.
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Chapter 4: What challenges did Tika face in her early career?
The cost of living.
Just the life in New York.
The roommates. Yes. Just... It's rough. I mean, partying is fun. I did go out a lot in New York. That was fun. But what was not fun was, like, when is this going to happen? Like, when is this dream actually going to work? You know, that was placed in my mind when I was such a little kid. Right. You know? And I'm walking down the street crying. A lady's like, are you okay?
I'm like, I did have a boyfriend at the time. He was great. And he was a little older than me. And he was like, look, I got you. That was the first time that I had somebody to fall on in my life. They like, I'll take care of you. Wow. But then like literally a week later, I booked one life to live. Literally, literally one summer they're like,
They're, you got the part, you know, for one life to live. And I was like, what? So I was like, so you don't need to take care of me. I can take care of myself. I'm so independent. Okay, girl. But like, yeah. So that journey to even my first job was such, I would not change it for the world.
Same. Yeah, no, you can't. I think those, the moments that happen in between landing what we would say your first big job are so vital.
Vital.
Oh, my God.
Vital.
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Chapter 5: What was Tika's breakthrough role?
Yeah. See if I can. You know if you want me or not. Come on. Yeah. Do you just want me to beg? Sometimes that is what they want, yeah.
Yeah, no, but yeah, I think that there are so many auditions that I haven't gotten that I've wanted. But I literally believe what is for me really is for me.
Yeah, no, for sure.
Every time I've missed out on something, And whatever happened with that thing, I'm like, that's why.
That's why. Baby, yes. You know what I mean?
Yes. Or every time I think I missed out on something, I'm like, ooh, thank God.
Because there's some shows that I had auditioned for, and I'm like, dang, I really wanted that. And then the show ain't here. Ain't in here. Like, Cancer at the first season. And the guy's like, I'm protecting you. I'm trying to let you know. What I have for you is for you, and it's going to have some longevity to it, so just hold on. Just hold on. Just relax. Yeah.
And that reminds me of like when, you know, Tyler, Tyler, Tyler Perry. Tyler Perry, yes. You know, he always is like, you didn't want to do the hey. I heard that.
I heard that. And I'm like, that's not true. I heard that Oprah had to call you. She did call me, and she's like, I don't do this.
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Chapter 6: How did Tika's friendship with Tyler Perry impact her career?
Ma'am.
Because when this movie comes out, everybody want to go there. No. It's so beautiful. The fact that they built a replica... of where we went. Literally, I went and cried. He was like, I want you to come see it and see what you think. I was like, I just started crying. I was like, this is not real. He was like, it's real. It's your dream. Ma'am, it's your dream.
You're going to make me cry.
And I was crying. Because that's him.
That's him. And then when we went there, I was like, this is that. Yeah, this is it. Yeah, this is it. And he was like, happy. All right. He's like, this is your thing. This is your thing, Tika. And from the producing standpoint, there's music in it that Brisha sings. I had to be in the studio with her picking music. He's like, you're producing your thing. Like you, this is your movie, Tika.
He's like, I'm in charge of the directing stuff. Like, he's like, but I want you, you can, I was like, he's like, this is, what do you want? I tell everybody to go to you. And I was like- Isn't that beautiful?
To have a black man, the giant that Tyler is, say, it's in your hands. I'm giving you, this is you. I'm not, because most people try to come, a lot, even studios, they'll come in and you'll have this amazing idea. And then by the end of the, you're like- It's not your idea.
This was not what I, what?
This is not what we started with. Yes. Yeah. Wow. You know, and I don't mind being flexible and, you know, you gotta be flexible, but- He is a person who, when he says he's gonna do it, he does it. And he does it in a good manner of time. It's not like, let's do this for five years, 10 years.
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Chapter 7: What is Tika's new project about?
Of course. Darling. Darling.
I have to see it.
I cannot. You will be at the premiere.
Yes. And maybe a few like screenings. You know how you like send it like before it comes out. Oh, you know you. I need that exclusive.
You got that exclusive. Sneak peek. I like it. You know you will be. That's amazing.
So Tyler has been a part of your life. For a long time. For a long time and for a lot of amazing monuments and milestones in your life. Yes. Speaking of, you met your husband. I remember it was the wrap party. I'm sure it already kind of happened. I remember. I said, there's something going on here.
I know. And she's sitting next to him a little too long. Yeah. Y'all a little too close.
I was like, let's not, like, let's just, you know. It was not, it was not. We weren't giving private.
It was like, we're not together. It was like, we go together real bad.
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