Meet Norma Davis

We recently connected with Norma Davis and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Norma , thank you so much for making time for us today. Let’s jump right into a question so many in our community are looking for answers to – how to overcome creativity blocks, writer’s block, etc. We’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have.

I overcame and beat creativity blocks through tears, anger, and then happiness once I completed it. I had stored the memories of my military experience in my mental database for over three decades and it was time to be released. At times It would take me days to finish a thought because the pain was too much to bear or cope with. I would then cry and push through the experience to get my words down on paper. I knew deep down that if I didn’t finish my memoir I would never be able to release the trauma completely so I persevered and pushed through the pain. Many times I would think of the funny experiences and that would help me mentally to deal with the pain I once held on to. Being sexually assaulted by a male service member with the help of a female service member with the setup left me broken for a very long time. I couldn’t trust females or males and it left me feeling hopeless and suicidal. for a very long time. Once I completed my memoir I found it to be very therapeutic and it helped me to release a lot of pain that had built up inside of me for a very long time.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Norma migrated to Brooklyn with her mother to Cypress Hills Projects. Norma attended Intermediate school James Peter Sinnott (I.S. 218) and Erasmus Hall Academy of the Arts. Norma graduated at 17, and after not listening to my mother about attending LaGuardia Community College, She joined the US Army a day after her nineteenth birthday. After serving my country, I returned to higher education majoring in communication media. I learned how to produce television shows, write scripts, and operate production equipment.'” What sets me apart from the rest is that I’m a seasoned woman with experience in this diverse world. I can assimilate once I’ve learned the rules and the ways of my surroundings. What I’m most proud of is my memoir, Surviving the Military. I had been out of the Army for over thirty years, in mental therapy, and I still could remember serving like it was yesterday. After I wrote my memoir it was as though I released all the pain while I held onto the bittersweetness of the good times. I want the young people to know that they will find their way if enlisting in the military, working at a fast-food restaurant, or collecting bottles and cans, you need to get up every day and be consistent with what you desire. If you need to feed your belly every day, then focus on just surviving one day at a time.”

My son, Mr. Lloyds Elite, and I run the Swilley Classic Basketball tournament annually for the youths in the New York Tri-State Area. After my mother died from Congestive Heart Failure we wanted to do something for the children and our communities.” We want to save lives one jump shot at a time.”

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

As an only child, all I had was my imagination to keep me company, I would create stories that I wanted to see happen in my world, even if I never had the chance to tell them on or off-screen. Now that I’ve written my first book and learned to write books to movies, I feel there is no stopping my creative juices from flowing.

As an independent filmmaker, the most rewarding was seeing the look on my cast’s faces when they received Screen Actors Guild credit for starring in my short film, Handle Your Business, the movie,llc starring Kene Holliday and Jack Knight.

I donate a percentage of sales of my book to the Swilley Classic Foundation because it concerns the health of our children. We provide healthy foods, discipline, and love for the children. The most rewarding was writing my memoir and the screenplay.
My advice is to never ignore your heart because it will always lead the way when it comes to your passion in life.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Surviving the Military: a memoir has bee the most important role in my mental development. This book helped me to release a lot of pain while continuing to enjoy the experiences of visiting Germany, France, and several beautiful countries that some teenagers will never get a chance to see up close and personal. Though the trauma of being assaulted with the help of a female service member may sometimes creep into my nightmares, I’m thankful I finally released it through my creativity.

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Image Credits

Madison Photography

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