Confessions of a Single Parent (Actress)

Dating used to be fun. When people actually communicated in person instead of texting, sexting, or swiping yes or no on an app. I used to get very excited about the prospect of a new experience and leaving disappointment in my rear-view mirror. Today, I find I have to actually take breaks or hiatuses each time it just doesn't work out...once again...for whatever reason. Just like an adult, I examine my side of it and compare and contrast what was said and what was actually done. Then I forgive myself and move past it. But, today I am realizing that I may no longer be able to handle rejection in my personal and professional life. Imagine entering a room of strangers once or twice a week, knowing that each time is an opportunity to be rejected or not considered. Then imagine the act of you rejecting others and you also being rejected for all kinds of reasons. And that is the reason that my breaks get a bit longer each time because my capacity for healing is growing mor...

I have had two moments, one before Thanksgiving, and one today to remind me that I am on the right path. I was sitting waiting to be seen for a small TV role when a man who worked at the office walked by in all of his CEO glory. I turned to the actress next to me and jokingly said, "At times I feel as if I chose the wrong career path." She quickly turned to me and replied, "I came from corporate and WE are in the best career. One where WE are actually chosen for who we really are." The next time was today. I had an audition and noticed that some of my peers were getting callback times and of course that feeling of rejection started to sink in, despite feeling joyous for my fellow audition buddies and fully understanding that I have booked gigs without the thrill of a callback. Then I remembered that when I got the email for the audition appointment I had $10 to my name. And before I knew it, thanks to the magic of the PayPal MasterCard, I had a train ticket. My dear...

Last week, a white male shooter fired into a crowd of peaceful #BlackLivesMatter protesters. A video was released showing what everyone already knew about the shooting death of Laquan McDonald; an  incident that occurred last year but resulted in the Magnificent Mile being shut down over the Thanksgiving holiday and a first degree murder charge for the police officer in question. These continuous murders of Black males and females that are unarmed at the hands of the police grow each day and week. Many continue to forego jail time and some are even still working. It is easy to get angry by countering each murder with the innocent Black bystanders that are shot and killed in Chicago by other Blacks. No one ever provides the number of arrests usually attached to Black on Black crime. Nor the fact that we spend more on Blacks and Latinos in prison then we do when they are being educated in the public school system. In other words, Black shooters will see the inside of a jail. I am...

Have you ever thought, "If I could just win the lottery, I would be set." Or, "If I could just book a national commercial or tour I could pay of my student loans or really save." Or, "If I could just get proper representation, I would be alright." All of us have had these thoughts run through our minds once or twice. But, this Lottery Ticket Mentality becomes a problem when you literally forget that work is involved in order to reach your goals. Work needs to happen in order for any success to manifest. If you have been sitting in the same spot for many years, the problem is not the missing "lottery ticket"  or that you have been bamboozled the problem is you. If you have the same 3 songs in your musical theatre audition book that you had 10 years ago or the same monologue than it is definitely and unequivocally YOU! When folks say, "You are so lucky that this and that has happened in your life," I want to slap the taste out of their ...

The idea of fear has been a constant conversation during the past few weeks. The fear of the unknown. Fear of crossing the right path. Fear of starting a new relationship. Fear of forgiveness. Or simply the fear that is constantly fueled by fear. How does one conquer fear once and for all? I truly believe that fear never leaves us. We simply find a way to make sure that it does not handicap us or stop us from achieving our greatest potential. When you feel stagnant or simply immobile. Stuck at a job that you despise or never truly discovered what you want to be when you grow up, that is usually a symptom of fear. In my life fear has served as a motivator. When I am the most afraid that is a sure sign that I am on the right path. The path that will take the most risk and will reap the greater harvest. When dealing with fear you must locate a belief system. Without God and my spiritual development, fear would absorb my very essence until I disappeared. When you don't believe in a...

"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 ...