
Exclusive: Meet Topeka K. Sam, The Black Woman Behind The Video That Led To The Trump Clemency

When Kim Kardashian-West recently became the face of prison reform activism, many of us watched the news and social feeds with a "Chile, bye," and a sigh of disbelief. Those who have been in the trenches fighting for years to right the wrongs against incarcerated people of color, scoffed at the headlines with some amused and others utterly disgusted and appalled.
Let's face it, few people think of Kim Kardashian as a top-of-mind beacon of change for black women behind bars.
Yet, when the reality star's visit to the White House and subsequent nail-in-the-coffin request to President Trump---a pariah among people of color both domestic and abroad---led to the release of Alice Marie Johnson, you couldn't help but salute. The second-eldest Kardashian sister used her influence beyond hawking makeup, celebrity, and extravagance to change the life of a grandmother who, after being convicted on a non-violent drug charge and serving 21 years, would have died in prison, away from the family and friends she had to leave behind.
According to reports, Kardashian was moved to get involved after seeing a Mic video on social media that detailed Johnson's story, but there's an even deeper story behind that---one that includes a tribe of women and men who have been working on Johnson's behalf long before Kardashian got her White House photo-op.
A major catalyst in this tribe is Topeka K. Sam, a formerly incarcerated activist. She worked with producers of the infamous video that led to it all, having built a personal relationship with Johnson that spans more than a year.
Topeka K. Sam
"That same morning [of the clemency granting], Ms. Alice and I were on the phone. We had no idea she would receive clemency that day. None. It was shortly after she and I got off the phone that she received that call from Kim Kardashian saying she'd be going home," Sam recalled during this exclusive interview with xoNecole.
When speaking with Sam about the experience and her role in it, I was privy to a wonderfully passionate, faith-filled woman of power whose candor and straightforward yet eloquent manner is intoxicatingly inspiring. Her drive to empower and assist women who seek to rebound and thrive post-prison is undeniable, and Johnson's case has thrust her into the spotlight.
"I am a woman of God, and I believe that when we walk in our purpose---when we walk in an anointing---and our steps are ordered, that's what happens. Ms. Alice [Johnson] is a woman of God. There were a lot of women of God who were surrounding Ms. Alice and her family. The woman who produced the Mic video is a woman of God," Sam added. "We were doing videos with Ms. Alice for years...and maybe we got [at most] 10,000 views---but it wasn't being shared in a way that [the Mic video was shared.] I heard [Kim Kardashian] talk about the universe, and people talk about their faith and how their spirit moves in different ways. For me, when she saw it, [I believe] she felt compelled to activate. And for whatever that's worth, she did it. As a woman of God, I understand that she was used in this by God."
"As a woman of God, I understand that she was used in this by God."
Sam recounted how the video that would change Johnson's life came about, and according to her account of it all, it's a perfect example of how one link can lead to another to form a chain of extraordinary action:
"I met Ms. Alice through Amy Povah, [founder of] CAN-DO [Foundation.] Amy received clemency from President Clinton [almost] 20 years ago as a first-time nonviolent drug offender...She highlighted 25 women and 25 men who she's vetted and worked with who are deserving of federal clemency. Ms. Alice was the number 1 person on her list," Sam said.
"I read her story three years ago and I said, 'I wanna help her.' ...I reached out to her case manager at the time, and asked if she could get permission to sit on these panels with us, and so she did. She Skyped in from prison, and we went to about 11 law schools around the country, [starting] February 2016. [That sparked more] panels… Google did a panel with [one of her] attorneys, Brittany Barnett, and #Cut50, and at that panel, Jake Horowitz [editor-at-large and co-founder of] Mic saw the video. [Entrepreneur and activist] Michael Skolnik reached out to me and connected me to Mic. I introduced them to Ms. Alice and I helped to facilitate the video that ended up getting 4 million views."
No one's a stranger to the shenanigans of the Trump administration, and for anybody who supports equality, freedom and basic human rights and respect, he is often seen as the antithesis of them all. Thus, holding confidence in him doing anything that benefits folk outside the golden 1%, for some, would be like waiting to meet Santa Clause.
"Many people, who are in this work, believed that nothing would happen under this administration...We could either say we're not going to fight because this is an administration people don't believe is going to act---a racist administration that only cares about themselves and the rich," Sam said. "I don't agree with some of the things that have happened [during the Trump administration], but you put your personal feelings aside when you're fighting for people. For us, it's people over politics. We know God can use anyone. To me, despite what anybody says the agenda might be… I just believe that God is saying to believe in Me. It didn't matter to me that they wanted to call Kim Kardashian the new prison reform activist or whether I was acknowledged for having a small role in the bigger picture. What mattered to me is that Ms. Alice is home."
"What mattered to me is that Ms. Alice is home."
Sam's faith and self-reflection is what led to her own redemption and renewal. She was convicted on drug conspiracy charges in 2013, and has since used her experience to build prison reform awareness and a safe community of sisters who have overcome the challenges of transitioning into life after prison. Sam grew up in a two-parent household of entrepreneurs and was a college-educated professional and businesswoman when she was arrested.
"I ended up going to college in Baltimore, where I was exposed---off-campus---to different things--things I was not [previously] aware of. I started dating guys who were engaged in the street lifestyle and I got caught up in that. As a result, I ended up in federal prison. Prior to my incarceration, I was division chairperson for Amtrak's On-board Service Workers Union. I was also a business owner and I wanted to open another business," she said. "While I was in prison, I had friends, family, resources---had visits if not every week, every other week, whether I was in Virginia, Connecticut, or Illinois, and I knew that my experience was different because I had resources and support. The women I met did not have, for the most part, the support I did. I saw the injustices that were happening in the system, some things I experienced---and it was placed on me by God, that when I came home, I had to help women to have access to education, entrepreneurship opportunities, spiritual empowerment, and advocacy."
Upon her release, she got busy launching The Ladies of Hope Ministries (LOHM), and partnered with friend Vanee Sykes to found Hope House NYC, a safe space and resource for women and girls formerly incarcerated.
Topeka K. Samme & eve
And the adage that behind every successful woman is a tribe of women who have her back is not lost on Sam, as she pointedly noted that she got her early support from veterans advocating for women in and released from prison, including Susan Burton, founder of A New Way of Life.
Hope House NYC's first facility in the Bronx is now full, and Sam has expanded her reach by serving as Director of Dignity for #Cut50, a national initiative led by Van Jones. She's also served as a Justice-In-Education Scholar at Columbia University, a Soros Justice Advocacy Fellow working on Probation and Parole Accountability, and host of "Last Mile Second Chances" on Siriusxm Urban View.
"Everybody has a lane, and I'm good in mine. When Kim Kardashian is in her lane---she has over 100 million followers on social media---and her lane is that she has the privilege of not only being a white woman but having access… She can walk into the White House, set up a meeting with this man, and compel him enough to want to stroke his pen. She's saying now that this isn't the last time she wants to do that, [and] she'll be held accountable, and continue to move forward, push more people, and move in the spirit [as] she feels needed."
"Everybody has a lane, and I'm good in mine."
Sam continued, "Hopefully she gets some of her friends involved and more people to step up and take chances--[people] who have the access--- instead of saying they're more concerned about their brand. I'm excited because I know who God is. For me, this just speaks volumes to what God can do and what God has done."
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Patricia "Ms. Pat" Williams has always marched to the beat of her own brutally honest drum — and that’s exactly what makes her so magnetic to watch. Whether she’s making us laugh until we cry on The Ms. Pat Show or now laying down the law on her courtroom series Ms. Pat Settles It, the comedian-turned-judge proves time and again that there’s nobody quite like her. Unfiltered, hilarious, and real to the core, she’s made a name for herself by turning her life’s journey — including the pain — into purpose.
Now in her second season of Ms. Pat Settles It, airing on BET and BET+, she’s not only delivering verdicts — she’s dishing out life lessons in between the laughs. The show feels less like your typical courtroom drama and more like your outspoken auntie running a court session at the family cookout, complete with celebrity jurors, petty disputes, and a whole lot of real talk. xoNecole sat down with Ms. Pat to talk about her wildest cases, balancing motherhood and fame, and why sleeping in separate bedrooms might just be the key to joy.
CASE CLOSED, BUT MAKE IT CHAOS
If you’ve ever tuned in to Ms. Pat Settles It, you already know the episode titles alone deserve awards. But when we asked Ms. Pat which case stood out most, she didn’t even have to think twice. “There was this one woman — Shay — who got out of federal prison and was working for her old bunkmate. But the bunkmate didn’t want to pay her!” she says, chuckling. “That girl came in the courtroom like a firecracker.”
It’s moments like those that remind viewers Ms. Pat isn’t just bringing the laughs — she’s giving people a platform, even if it’s a little messy. And if her court ever gets turned into a real-life franchise, we need Shay on the promo posters immediately.
WHEN THE CELEBS SHOW OUT
It’s already hard enough to get a word in with Ms. Pat running the show, but throw in a celebrity jury featuring Tamar Braxton, Ray J, TS Madison, and Karlous Miller? Whew. “I don’t even try to control them,” she laughs. “Thank God we have something called editing.” According to her, behind the scenes, things get wild — but that chaos is part of the magic. “People only see the cut-down version. What you don’t see is all of us losing it in real time.”
Still, Ms. Pat makes it work. The courtroom becomes a stage, but also a safe space for guests and jurors to show up as their full, unfiltered selves. “It was a wild season,” she explains. Let’s be honest — if your jury looks like a BET Awards afterparty, you might as well let it rock.
IF FAMILY COURT WAS REALLY A THING
Ms. Pat might wear the robe on screen, but at home, she’s still managing her own wild bunch. When asked what kind of case her kids would bring into her courtroom, she burst into laughter. “Oh, they’d be suing my oldest son for eating their food,” she says. “You know how you have that one roommate that eats up everybody’s food? I can see my oldest son getting sued for that..”
And let’s face it, we’ve all either been that sibling or have one. Ms. Pat says moments like that — the everyday family squabbles and real-life irritations — are what make her courtroom show so relatable.
THE VERDICT SHE WISHES SHE COULD REWRITE
Ms. Pat is known for keeping it real, even when the conversation turns serious. When asked if there was one “verdict” in her real life she’d change, she pauses for a second before answering. “I wish I had graduated high school,” she admits. “All my kids went to prom and I took all of their high school diplomas.”
“I wish I had graduated high school,” she admits. “All my kids went to prom and I took all of their high school diplomas.”
It’s a rite of passage in most Black households — your diploma doesn’t really belong to you, it lives at your mama or grandma’s house like a family heirloom.
HOW SHE STAYS GROUNDED
Between filming TV shows, headlining comedy tours, and running a household, Ms. Pat makes it very clear: she will find time to rest. “People swear I don’t sleep, but I do — I just knock out early and wake up early,” she shares. “And sometimes, I’ll just sit in my car.” She’s also a big fan of solo naps and mini getaways when things get overwhelming.
But one of her favorite forms of self-care? Separate bedrooms. “Me and my husband don’t sleep in the same room. That way, when I don’t feel like being bothered, I go to my space,” she laughs. She’s also found a new love for facials. “They’re addicting! I don’t need a lot — just sleep, a facial, and a little quiet.” Honestly? That’s a self-care routine we can get behind.
FROM PAIN TO PURPOSE
Ms. Pat’s story is one that’s deeply rooted in resilience — and she’s always been transparent about how her journey shaped her. Her advice to other Black women trying to turn their pain into purpose? Speak up. “You have to tell your story,” she says. “Because once you tell your story, you realize you’re not the only person that’s been through that situation.”
She adds that sharing your truth can be one of the most powerful things you do. “When you give a voice to pain so many other people who have that pain gravitate to you,” she says. “To heal, you have to speak out loud about it. What you keep inside is what eats you up.” Coming from someone who built an entire brand on truth-telling? We believe her.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR MS. PAT?
While Ms. Pat’s got her hands full with Ms. Pat Settles It and her comedy show, she hints there’s much more to come. “I got some stuff poppin’ that I can’t even talk about yet,” she teases. “But just know, like Kendrick [Lamar] said, we about to step out and show ‘em something.” That multi-genre deal with BET and Paramount is clearly working in her favor — and she’s not slowing down anytime soon.
She says one of her proudest moments in this chapter of her career is seeing things she once dreamed of finally come to life. “In this business, you never know what’s gonna work or what’s gonna stick. But now I’m working with a network that really understands me — and that’s special,” she says. “I feel seen. And I’m just getting started.”
Whether she’s in the courtroom cracking jokes or catching up on rest in her own sanctuary, Ms. Pat is living proof that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of authenticity. She’s rewriting the rules in real time — on her terms, in her voice, and for her people. As she continues to turn pain into purpose, laughter into legacy, and everyday mess into must-see TV, one thing’s clear: Ms. Pat is in her prime. And we’re lucky enough to watch it unfold.
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