Tika Sumpter

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...

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

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

And I went home. So, but like, that was my, like, it was like, I didn't fight every day, but that was my first fight. The block was so amazing. And, um, yeah. And, and my house felt like we had a house and then I looked at it recently online and it's so tiny.

And I went home. So, but like, that was my, like, it was like, I didn't fight every day, but that was my first fight. The block was so amazing. And, um, yeah. And, and my house felt like we had a house and then I looked at it recently online and it's so tiny.

I thought I lived in a mansion. Yes. And it wasn't. It was not. Same. And I was like, that thing is so tiny. But it felt so mighty for me as a little girl. And for my mom and dad, you know, to buy a house during that time, which was crazy. not a lot of people were buying houses at a young age. So yeah, so that was my little time. And then I moved to Long Island when I was 10.

I thought I lived in a mansion. Yes. And it wasn't. It was not. Same. And I was like, that thing is so tiny. But it felt so mighty for me as a little girl. And for my mom and dad, you know, to buy a house during that time, which was crazy. not a lot of people were buying houses at a young age. So yeah, so that was my little time. And then I moved to Long Island when I was 10.

Well, people are like, girl, that's not New York. That's somewhere. Oh God, be quiet. I'm going to look at the camera. Be quiet.

Well, people are like, girl, that's not New York. That's somewhere. Oh God, be quiet. I'm going to look at the camera. Be quiet.

That's a good question. I remember in Queens on Saturday mornings watching shows, like cartoons. I remember The Cosby Show. I remember A Different World, like all those things as a kid. And I just remember, the one thought I do remember is I want to be in that thing. And that inside inside that yes, yeah, I don't know how it was it was just a little planted seed.

That's a good question. I remember in Queens on Saturday mornings watching shows, like cartoons. I remember The Cosby Show. I remember A Different World, like all those things as a kid. And I just remember, the one thought I do remember is I want to be in that thing. And that inside inside that yes, yeah, I don't know how it was it was just a little planted seed.