Tony Farmer, Director of Development

A seasoned business leader and entrepreneur with three decades of experience in the legal, corporate and public sector, Tony Farmer joined the Inkandescent Group, LLC in 2018 to develop new business opportunities.

He will be expanding Inkandescent Publishing to reach authors around the globe, and also grow the national and international market for the company’s speakers bureau, Inkandescent Speakers.

A certified life coach, Tony founded Full Armour Coaching to help clients overcome personal and professional barriers. His vast network throughout the country is testimony to his success as a relationship builder and connector.

Tony has a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Maryland, University College and a Masters degree in Public Administration from George Mason University. He is also a skilled facilitator and passionate public speaker.

A native of Washington D.C., Tony resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and two daughters.

What's Going On?

By Tony Farmer
Director of Development, The Inkandescent Group, LLC
July 2020

On May 21, 1971 singer and songwriter Marvin Gaye released his eleventh album entitled What’s Going On. In 1985, writers on British music weekly the NME voted it best album of all time. In 2004, the album’s title track was ranked number four on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. A 1999 critics’ poll conducted by British newspaper The Guardian named it the “Greatest Album of the 20th Century.” In 1997, What’s Going On was named the 17th greatest album of all time in a poll conducted in the United Kingdom by HMV Group.

What is less known about the album are the personal trauma’s that Marvin Gaye was dealing with at the time. He had recently lost his good friend and song partner Tammi Terrell to cancer. He was reading letters from his brother who was serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. In addition, there was social unrest across the country as the civil rights movement fought for equality. One of Gaye’s good friends had witnessed a clash between police officers and protesters that history refers to as Bloody Thursday.

He was cautioned by his record label that the song was too controversial. They tried to impress upon him that he was an artist, not an activist. We know how that played out.

Fast forward to nearly 50 years later. “What’s Going On” is as relevant as ever because the issues that plague our communities are the same.

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Quiet Rage

By Tony Farmer
Director of Development, The Inkandescent Group, LLC
June 2020

Since the tragic death of George Floyd at the hand of the Minnesota Police Officers, I have been struggling.

I’ve been trying to get my head wrapped around how I feel. I’ve had conversations with people who are seeking explanations as to why it happened. Others want to know how it has impacted the Black Community. Some need comfort and consolation to help them cope with watching a video depicting the loss of a man’s life. The fact is that I just haven’t taken the time to focus on out how I feel until now.

I started digging through memories, recalling situations, scenarios and experiences that I have suppressed. I swept past the fake smiles that I’ve worn, the artificial pleasantries exchanged and the micro-insults endured.

Soon my skin felt warm, my muscles tensed, my heart became heavy.

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