Davida Swisa James

Davida is a native of Philadelphia. The author has lived in New York City, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, the California Mojave High Desert and currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband, Robelto. Her son, David Hudson Obayuwana, is a screenwriter.

Davida’s most recent title is “Hamilton Heights and Sugar Hill” is being released April 2, 2024 by Fordham University Press and currently available for Hardcover pre-order. The literary historical nonfiction book details the 400 year history of this landmark West Harlem neighborhood that was home to Alexander Hamilton, Norman Rockwell, George Gershwin, Thurgood Marshall, Duke Ellington and Paul Robeson, among others.

Davida is a UCLA alumna (English), and attended Penn State Dickinson Law in Carlisle, PA. The author is an award-winning short story author (The Caribbean Writer; Vol. 14), for her short story “The Commute” that is included in her short story-poetry collection “Life in Brief.”

Davida boasts an eighteen-year career in arts management for performing arts centers, has served as a public relations director and freelance journalist. She runs her LLC, Fortuna Business Collective, which specializes in writing/editing and helping nonprofits apply for their 501c3 tax-exempt status.