Ersula K. Odom is CEO of Sula Too LLC, a legacy writer, the author and co-author of several books including African Americans of Tampa and her poetic memoir – At Sula’s Feet. She is a motivational speaker, creates legacy walls, and portrays Mary McLeod Bethune as a one-person show. As founder of Sula Too, LLC she has published books for clients from Georgia to California. She was raised in Georgia, graduated from Eckerd College and is deeply rooted in Tampa with business, family, and friends.
Recent commendations: Signed copy of Congressional Record of Dr. Bethune’s decision to place her stature in Statuary Hall in DC presented to her by U.S. Senator Bill Nelson. Performance written about in the Wall Street Journal. She received separate commendations from Tampa City Council Commendation for her roles as co-founder of Fortune Friends and as member of the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Economic Impact of Cultural Arts.
As a motivational speaker, Ms. Odom has the uncommon ability to relate to multi-generational and multi-cultural audiences by sharing experiences from such areas as rural living, college life, Fortune 500 corporate management, spirituality, being a mother, entrepreneurship, sales, and genealogy to publishing books.
Today, the title of her performance is “Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Comes to Life.” Dr Bethune “comes to life” during the 1950’s to share her thoughts regarding her life’s story. She will then answer questions. After Dr. Bethune leaves the stage, Ersula will answer questions regarding her research and personal journey. www.sulatoo.com . She also leads black history walking tours of Tampa for the Tampa Bay History Center.
1. How and/or when did you get you hooked on history?
My earliest memory is crawling under my grandmother’s bed and retrieving a box full of wonder. A “Have a Tampa” cigar box full of old photos, letters, stamps and a lot of my grandmother’s sister’s hair. I have been hooked on such things since that moment.
2. What role does history play or has it played in your personal life?
I am my family’s historian. The go to person for the family tree and keeper of the memories
I authored my first book At Sula’s Feet which is rooted in those memories. Life lessons learned at my grandmother’s feet. I remembered and wrote about the wit and wisdom that made my childhood sweet.
And I formed a publishing company to help others tell their stories.
3. How is/How was history a part of your professional life/career?
Publishing company focus
I formed a publishing company to help others tell their stories. Everyone has at least one story that circle around their head and exits far too many times to the same people. Sula Too Publishing helps these people release the stories to the universe in search of those who may need them.
4. Why is studying/knowing history important?
History shortens the time and path to informed decisions.
5. What is your favorite period or aspect of history to learn about and why?
Post slavery through 1950s because I know these people. They were my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were bits of me.
6. How did you start telling the African -American story of Tampa and Florida?
I was a reporter and then editor for The Weekly Challenger News which led to my writing, photographing and collecting local stories.
I was approached by Arcadia Publishing to write a book. Accepting this opportunity set me on the joyous journey of wandering through 15,000 archived photos and going house to house in searching to the names of the faces I held in my hands.
7. Why is telling local African-American history so important ?
It is now so timely. The students are ready. Lessons can be learned that will help make sense of the world we live in.
History is the key to understanding humanity, life situations and people.
History aids in “predicting the future”
No comments:
Post a Comment