Legendary activist Erica Ford sat down with Angie Martinez for a powerful conversation about her new book, The Peace Doctor Playbook, and the journey that led her to write it. As an OG in the fight against injustice, Ford has spent decades advocating for communities in need, and now, she’s using her wisdom to help others live with purpose.
Why She Wrote The Peace Doctor Playbook: For Ford, this book is more than just words on a page—it’s a blueprint for intentional living. “We gotta have a type of plan for life,” she told Angie, emphasizing that The Peace Doctor Playbook gives people real tools to navigate their journeys with purpose and direction. Her goal is to equip readers with the mindset and strategies to rise above life’s struggles and stay focused on peace and progress.
Health Struggles & Self-Care: In a previous interview with Angie, Ford opened up about dealing with mystery health issues. Now, she’s figured out the root cause—her blood cells were going into overdrive because she wasn’t taking care of herself. As someone constantly fighting for others, she had to learn that healing starts from within.
Sharing Wisdom & Fighting Injustice: Ford’s dedication to uplifting communities has been a lifelong mission. “We gotta have joy,” she told Angie. She refuses to feed into negative narratives, reminding people that “we were once slaves, and we will keep elevating through the BS.” Despite the obstacles, she remains committed to pushing for change and empowering others to do the same.
Her Nephew’s Incarceration & Bringing The Playbook to Prisons; Ford also spoke about a personal struggle—her nephew recently being sentenced to eight years in prison after making a bad decision. Instead of just watching from the sidelines, she sent him her book, encouraging him to be intentional with his time behind bars. Now, she’s working on getting The Peace Doctor Playbook into prisons nationwide to help incarcerated individuals transform their lives.
Blocked from Opening a Cannabis Storefront: Despite securing a license to open a cannabis storefront in New York City, Ford says she still hasn’t been able to establish her business. When Angie asked why, she didn’t hold back: “I may be blackballed… I might have pissed off a couple of people.” While she didn’t name names, it’s clear that even with all her contributions to the city, the system continues to create roadblocks for Black entrepreneurs.
Thoughts on Snoop, Rick Ross & Nelly Supporting Trump: When asked about the backlash against Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Nelly for aligning with Trump, Ford took a realistic stance. “They have their own self-interest… In the world, people don’t always make the right decision.” While she may not agree, she recognizes that everyone moves differently when it comes to their personal and business choices.
For those looking to tap into Ford’s wisdom, she’ll be signing copies of The Peace Doctor Playbook at Barnes & Noble in Manhattan on March 26. More details can be found at EricaFord.org.
With decades of activism under her belt, Erica Ford continues to lead, inspire, and fight for change—one page, one conversation, and one movement at a time.