Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

"The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there." Viola Davis, Best Actress Emmy 2015 Last, night Viola Davis won the coveted Emmy for Best Actress. She is the first African American actress to ever win such an honor. And yes, this is 2015. In fact, last night was a history of firsts. 3 Black actresses took home an Emmy in 3 separate categories. It was a time for celebration, yet my heart was saddened by the shade and disdain that covered the faces of the audience members, and I realized that Ms. Davis' words were not expected and the sentiment was not wide spread. And that we have such a long way to go still until all women of color are represented (Indigenous Americans, African Americans, West Indians, Africans, Asians, and Latino/Hispanics) This is when I realized that her words are a lightening rod for all Black women of color in this business that we call show bizness. We ne...

As a single parent actress, dating and being in a relationship are something that I dabble in every now and then. At times, you meet a person who really excites you and then you quickly realize it was all potential and very little reality in the picture. There are other moments that someone sweeps you off your feet and treats you like a partner just to drift away or even worse rob you blind of your sanity and funds, which at first you were sharing equally (funny how that quickly turns around).  Then there are times that someone re-enters your life with a promise and a dream, but they are not quite in the position to make it a reality. Yet, when you are bright enough to realize that and break it off or simply return to the friendship zone, you are cut off.  And all of this makes me simply want to leave dating and relationships alone because it is exhausting trying to take care of someone's feelings when they don't actually give a rats ass about yours. Now this may sound like ...

You know the drill. You enter the audition space and you slay it! You take over the room and you have a great time. The director strikes up a conversation with you, and the casting agent asks if you would be available the next day IF they called you back. And you walk out of the room elated just knowing that you will be there tomorrow. Then you come home and sit and wait. And wait. And wait. And nothing. So after years of doing this, why did this rejection make me eat an entire bowl of vanilla ice cream with two chocolate chunk cookies? Rejection and no response is what comes with this life. It is always there. This one hurt because I simply needed confirmation that I am on the right path. Because lately, I have not been so sure. I have confided in a few friends, but this blog is the place where I am the most honest and the most transparent. I share because I know that I am not alone. This actor’s life is not for the meek and it comes with no guarantees. And when you are stret...