- 2 days ago
Celebrating your heritage is a growing effort as active users on social media and activist groups have utilized their platforms to spotlight, and empower underrepresented communities. In the entertainment industry, we've often seen similar images reach great heights of success, however, these panelists are fostering effortless representation by being themselves. In this conversation, guests will discuss what it means to be authentic and the pathway to discovering your cultural identity.
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00:00Up next, we have a few very talented young women who are making waves in the entertainment
00:08and fashion industry.
00:10Today, they're here to talk about why remaining authentic and taking pride in your culture
00:14identity are two of the most important keys to success, with a little help from partners
00:18at Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
00:20Here to get the convo started, please welcome the gorgeous Ms. Aoki Lee Simmons.
00:27Y'all know we grew up together, fun fact, fun fact.
00:40So I am, hi, hi Girls United Summit, I'm going to mess up, so if I do, please don't make
00:46it viral.
00:48I'm Aoki Lee Simmons, I'm a model, I think, and a Harvard senior, wrapping that up shortly.
00:55And I'm very excited to announce these amazing young women, we're going to be talking about
01:02cultural identity and how establishing that, we have to maintain our authenticity and our
01:07individuality.
01:08So today, I'm going to be joined by these amazing women, Alicia Pascual Pena.
01:14She's an actress, crap, I didn't say that.
01:19She's my lovely actress.
01:25We made best friends backstage, so.
01:26Yeah, we literally met 30 minutes ago and someone was like, oh, so how long have you
01:29known each other?
01:30I said 30 minutes.
01:3130 minutes.
01:32I said 30 minutes ago, I'm going to go recognize real.
01:33Um, comedic actress and entertainer, Jessie Wu.
01:35What's up sisters?
01:36Um, and actress Paige Audrey Marie Hurd.
01:52Hi guys.
01:53Or ladies.
01:54I stayed standing way too long, that was so awkward.
01:55I'm sorry.
01:56Okay.
01:57Okay.
01:58So we're started on questions and we have questions at the end too, so that'll be fun.
02:12Okay.
02:13So I think as all of us know, black women are not a monolith, we're not all the same,
02:18we're all very different, so I want to talk about some of the different layers involved
02:22when we think about our cultural identities and kind of how, where you come from, um, helps
02:28you identify and, um, place yourself in the world and your perception.
02:32Start with you.
02:33Yeah.
02:34Of course.
02:35Hi.
02:36I just have to say I'm happy to be here.
02:37Look at all these beautiful faces.
02:39Black women.
02:40Um, but, uh, to, yeah, just fine.
02:45God bless y'all.
02:46But, um, to answer the question, I think it's important to note that we aren't a monolith,
02:51we are multidimensional, we are soft, we are powerful, we are amazing, and our journeys
02:56all look different and there's power in collective.
02:58Um, I personally am Afro-Latina, I'm Dominican, my first language is Spanish.
03:03Uh, so all that goes to say I think I had a pretty interesting journey, um, in finding
03:09my truth in my blackness, but I'm so proud of it.
03:11I navigate the world as a black woman first and I am, yeah, absolutely.
03:17And I'm proud to know the power and the divinity that comes from being a black woman.
03:22Um, and in addition to that, understanding that I'm an intersectionality and I'm not always
03:27going to fit into people's boxes and that's okay.
03:29Yeah.
03:30So I'm always trying to see how I can continue to evolve and be powerful as a black woman
03:35that I am, but how I can also show up for my other black siblings and sisters, um, in
03:39a better way.
03:40Because even though I'm black, the experiences of my sisters who are dark skin with 4C hair
03:47is not the same as mine.
03:48So I'm asking myself how can I be truthful to myself and be a light and be empowering,
03:53but also love and elevate the voices of women within my community that don't have the same
03:59experiences.
04:00Yeah, I'm proud of every part of who I am, even if other people aren't comfortable with
04:03it.
04:04Period.
04:05Ditto.
04:06Period.
04:07I love it.
04:08I am so happy about being asked the questions.
04:11Um, Jessie.
04:12Well, um, you know, I'm Haitian, okay?
04:15And I think I've always made that very, very clear since the very beginning of my journey
04:22in 2017.
04:23I first went viral for a skit where I was talking about going to McDonalds and the ice cream
04:29machines not working.
04:30You know, I've always been proud to be Haitian.
04:33I was born in Montreal, Canada, so I'm actually Canadian by birth.
04:38Uh, you know, a lot of Haitians, they go to three places.
04:41They go to Miami, they go to New York, all right?
04:46And so I've always, um, so being Haitian has been something that was always instilled
04:53in me to be proud of.
04:54My mom, my grandmother, my aunt, they always instilled to me to be proud of where you are
05:01from.
05:02And, you know, I grew up in the 90s where it wasn't cool to be Haitian.
05:05You know, there's a lot of things that were said about Haitian people, child.
05:08We ain't gonna, you know, just Google it.
05:09I ain't gonna bring that up.
05:10Um, but one thing, whenever I would go home, people would say certain things about us, and
05:15I would go home, and my mom would be like, uh-uh, you are the first black republic.
05:21First free black people on this side of the world, you know?
05:25And she always instilled my history into me, and so I've always been proud.
05:29I'm black.
05:30I'm Haitian.
05:31I'm dark-skinned.
05:32I'm beautiful.
05:34You know, I carry that wherever I go.
05:36I'm never afraid to let people know where I come from.
05:39And I've been really blessed that whatever I do, whether it's, like, content creating,
05:46whether it's acting, whether it's singing, whether it's hosting, you know, I am always
05:52taking a moment to instill, to put that in there, just to slide that in there.
05:57If it's a Creole word, if it's a Creole saying, I always slide that in there because I never,
06:02I never want to forget where I'm from, and I never, ever want people to get it twisted.
06:07Like, I'm Haitian, baby.
06:09That's first and foremost.
06:10Everything else is an added bonus, you know?
06:13So, yeah.
06:14I identify as that.
06:15I identify as a Haitian black woman who's very, very proud of where she comes from.
06:20Yeah.
06:23I mean, I think they said everything I needed to say.
06:26No, I'm just kidding.
06:27I, too, am Afro-Latina, Puerto Rican and black, but I didn't even know I was half Puerto
06:32Rican until my mom was in her 30s because she didn't know her father.
06:36Yeah.
06:37So, growing up, people always used to say, and my mom hated it.
06:40My mom's fair-skinned, a little more fair than me.
06:42And they'd always be like, oh, you're so cute.
06:44Are you mixed?
06:45And, oh, she'd whip her head around.
06:46Why does she have to be mixed?
06:47Why can't she just be black?
06:49And so, I had a little bit of identity struggle growing up because I just didn't know, like,
06:53what I was.
06:54But I was okay just being black.
06:55That's all I knew.
06:56Yeah.
06:57But I am just really proud, really, really proud to be a black woman.
07:01I mean, you've got to look at the world and see everybody out here is trying to look like us.
07:07I mean, and that right there alone, it just gives me my power.
07:10You know what I mean?
07:11Yeah.
07:12I mean, there was a time where I was insecure, like, oh, my gosh, like, they're getting the
07:15jobs and they're getting this and they're getting that.
07:17But when I really sat in it and I was like, oh, no.
07:20Like, I never forget, I went with a friend of non-color to go to the doctor and the doctor
07:25looks at me.
07:26She's getting her lips done.
07:27He goes, who did yours?
07:28I was like, Jesus.
07:31So, right.
07:32So, I'm just proud to be black because we are what people want to look like.
07:36So, and we're beautiful.
07:43Very good answers.
07:44There's, like, no pressure.
07:45I'm just like, yes, you be smart, me be quiet.
07:48Jessie, I want to talk a little bit more about your experience kind of, I mean, going viral
07:53for, like, embracing your culture and being kind of authentic and what that was like and
07:58how being authentic has, like, played a deep role in your success.
08:01And any advice you have for other people who want to bring their authenticity into the
08:06spotlight and into the light?
08:09I mean, here's the thing, right?
08:12Sometimes, I think people don't consider us that have platforms what we have to see people
08:18say.
08:19Just the other day, I was, I left a comment under the White House Secretary's Instagram,
08:27and I told her how she's our ancestors' wildest dream.
08:29Right now, we have a Haitian who is the White House Secretary, okay?
08:33And not only is she Haitian, she's dark-skinned, she is LGBTQ, that's a big deal for us.
08:40And I left her that comment, and I had to see so many people come in and say, what are
08:46you proud of?
08:47Haitians are this, Haitians are that, Haitians are poor, Haitians, like, it's about to be
08:512023, the year of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and our Lord.
08:54And people still have all these stigmas about being Haitian, and so sometimes, it is a little
09:01hard to always be positive and always, like, turn the other cheek, especially right now
09:08where, you know, Google is free, books are free, you know, like, it's so much education
09:12out there.
09:13So when people actually reach for low-hanging fruit when it comes to my culture, it is very
09:21disappointing.
09:22However, I think I am going into, you know, I've grown a lot, and I'm going into a place
09:27where I just don't respond to certain things anymore, and I always try to shine a good light.
09:31Haiti, unfortunately, is always going through something.
09:36Like, I'm from a country that is always going through something, you know, imperialism, capitalism,
09:42all the isms, you know, have destroyed the land that is my ancestor's land.
09:49But, however, I feel that just as much as I've seen Haiti be attacked, it's just made me so strong.
09:59I feel like Haitian people are just some of the strongest people you'll ever come across.
10:03And I feel like that's been instilled in me.
10:05So, despite people's negative comments or, you know, things that people say about Haitians, or even things that people will come in my comments and say,
10:14I'm just so strong, and I'm able to look past it, and I'm able to look at myself and say, you know what, yeah, you say this, but if it wasn't because of my ancestors, I wouldn't be here.
10:23And just like how I left her that comment, I am my ancestors' wildest dreams.
10:27My ancestors freed themselves, okay?
10:31That's something that will never, ever be able to take it away from them and from me.
10:35And so now, because of what they did, I'm able to live the life that I live in our culture, being a doctor, nurse, engineer, you know, those are the careers you're supposed to choose.
10:47And everybody in my family, our nurses, doctors, like all of them.
10:51And I remember when it was me, I always told her, I ain't going to be cutting up nobody's arteries, okay?
10:56I ain't going to be doing none of that.
10:57And sometimes my grandma even, she told me, she's like, Jessie, do you understand, like, you do what you want to do?
11:04Like, that's not where we come from.
11:07Where we come from, you have to stick, you know, in a certain lane, in a certain path, and you've just done what you want to do.
11:13And I think I've done that because of my culture.
11:16They did what they wanted to do.
11:18They was like, yeah, no, we ain't going to do that no more.
11:20Slavery, we ain't doing that.
11:22So, yeah.
11:24So, yeah, I just feel like the experience itself, being Haitian and identifying as Haitian, it is not an easy experience.
11:32It's something that comes with a lot of tragedy.
11:34But I'm so blessed.
11:36I still feel so blessed because if it were not for my ancestors instilling that in me, instilling the hunger, the fight,
11:44I wouldn't be able to do what I do today.
11:46So, yeah.
11:52That was a phenomenal answer.
11:54I wish I had a notepad.
11:55I was like .
11:56That was good.
11:57Okay.
11:58Paige and Alicia, as Afro-Latina actresses, how do you guys feel like representation is going in the acting industry, in Hollywood?
12:07What's going well?
12:08What needs work?
12:09I'm going to start with Paige.
12:11That's a good question.
12:13That's a good one.
12:14That's a good one.
12:15No, no, no.
12:16Let's see.
12:17This is making me think.
12:19I mean, okay.
12:20So, for me, I feel like representation is going well because the shows that I've been able to be on, we have black cast.
12:27So, I get to see it all and it's beautiful.
12:30Where I think it can start to go better, hmm.
12:35I feel like there's just so many places, you know, it can get better.
12:38I feel like we can have so many more TV shows on primetime TV.
12:42I think that the shows that we do have, I'm not knocking the shows that I've been a part of, but I just don't think they have to be involving drugs.
12:50They don't have to be involving the crime.
12:53It doesn't have to be that, oh, we're successful because we're out here low-key killing people and getting Ricos for it.
12:58Like, it's just not good representation.
13:01So, I think that we can have shows like Black-ish or like This Is Us where they had the black family, which was beautiful.
13:08Imagine if they had their own show.
13:10You know what I mean?
13:11Something that moves you like that.
13:13And I'm just really proud to start seeing where we can be our own main characters and we don't always have to be the best friend.
13:22You know what I mean?
13:23But I do think that if we're going to have black shows on prime TV, we don't always have to incorporate people, white people.
13:32You know what I mean?
13:34Like, I don't know any other political way to say that.
13:36Say it with your chest, sis.
13:37I'm sorry.
13:38Say it with your chest.
13:39With white people.
13:40Yeah.
13:41Yeah.
13:42Say it with your chest.
13:43Yeah.
13:44But like, I just feel like, you know, we deserve that.
13:46And I definitely personally would like to see that more in film because I think that's where I struggle.
13:51You know, I started in movies.
13:52And I want to get back to film.
13:54I love TV, but film is like where I really thrive.
13:57And I just want to see more black movies.
13:59Yeah.
14:00You know?
14:01Like some feel-good rom-com movies.
14:04So that's where I think we can improve.
14:06Yeah.
14:07Great answer.
14:08Great answer.
14:09I love this question because I think it's really beautiful that we're starting to see
14:17people of different colors and different cultures on screen, but it's not enough.
14:23Progression is not perfection.
14:25And I'm going to keep it a buck because we have a family here, right?
14:30And I want to be a good steward of the platform that the Lord has blessed me with.
14:35Diversity on screen means nothing if you don't have people behind the camera telling the stories authentically.
14:41And it goes back.
14:45Yeah.
14:46It goes back to what Paige is saying.
14:49The simplest answer is more.
14:52When you have more stories told by black people, by Latin people, by Caribbean people, then one
14:58story doesn't speak for all of us because that does our community a disservice.
15:02So we can have stories talking about the hood, right, and lower socioeconomic status communities
15:07because those stories are still valid, right?
15:10You know, I'm a girl from the South Bronx.
15:12But you can also have elevated, empowering, enlightening stories about different forms of
15:18blackness and people in different journeys because we're not all living the same life.
15:22We all don't look the same.
15:23We all don't have the same stories.
15:25Yes, there is camaraderie in our collectiveness as a black diaspora, but the simplest way to answer
15:31that question is more.
15:33We need not only more actors on the screen, but we need more writers, more producers,
15:38more line producers, because those are the people cutting the checks and making the decisions.
15:41At the end of the day, I say lines, and I'm grateful to do that.
15:44I'm so privileged to do that, to be an artist and to say things that I think are important
15:49and uplift narratives, especially as an Afro-Latina.
15:52People ask me all the time in press, when was the first time you saw an Afro-Latina in a role?
15:56And I go, me.
15:59And that makes me sad.
16:02Like, like, yeah, like I was, girl, yeah, let's kiki right now.
16:07Let's kiki.
16:08So I was on a half hour comedy and we made history as two Dominicans leading the show.
16:12And that was by accident.
16:14You feel me?
16:15Like, so all of that goes to say that it's, it's a multitude of things that can change,
16:20but it's more people being validated and empowered in those roles.
16:24It can't just be actors because then it's just disingenuous diversity and tokenism.
16:28And you're commodifying our experience as black women.
16:31And I'm over that.
16:32You know, we are not a monolith.
16:34We are not a commodity.
16:36Like, I'm not finna perpetuate minstrelsy and stereotypes anymore.
16:40Y'all can't just use us for our bodies or our narratives that you want to steal.
16:44It's like what this summit is called.
16:45We are the blueprint.
16:46So I want to start seeing us in our fullness more and in our beauty.
16:49So when people say that, like, oh, you're the first Afro-Latina that I saw on screen.
16:53Or, you know, I was on a half hour comedy speaking Spanish and being black and in some box braids.
16:57And people are like, you're the only one.
16:58That's not a compliment to me.
17:00I want more people to have that mindset.
17:03No, because there should be more of us.
17:05Okay.
17:06And stories by us, for us.
17:07So it makes me happy to be on this stage with fellow Afro-Latina, with a fellow Caribbean.
17:13And hopefully as I continue in this career.
17:15Girl, we cousins.
17:16You in Dominican Republic.
17:17I said, I told you.
17:18I said, I said my soul sister.
17:20Girl, we cousins, girl.
17:21Like, come on.
17:22Haitians, y'all deserve more of your respect.
17:24And Dominicans, stop being anti-black.
17:26From a Dominican.
17:27That's a different conversation for a different day.
17:30But I said, I said, where's the camera?
17:32I said what I said.
17:33Stop being Dominican and anti-black.
17:35I'm a black woman and we're free because of them.
17:37But anyways.
17:38Period.
17:39You keep talking, queen.
17:40Period.
17:41No, but can I add to what she said, too?
17:43I'm happy.
17:44I'm happy with everything you said and that last bit.
17:47Because we are one.
17:49I'll never forget I went viral during the pandemic.
17:52And I was like, uh, you know, Dominicans and Haitians that speak Spanish, right?
17:56But I, you know, people was knocking me for that.
17:58I'm like, we're literally one.
17:59We're one people.
18:00But also, I want to add to that.
18:02I want to add that we also need your support.
18:06You know, what Paige said she'd like, she would like to do.
18:10And we want to do these things, right?
18:12But unfortunately, what we want doesn't always pan out.
18:16Because the support sometimes is very performative.
18:19We need real support.
18:22Um, and also, uh, I want to speak to what you said, too.
18:26I don't want to perpetuate certain stereotypes.
18:28You talked about that, too.
18:29You know, I am someone, I was just speaking with Nisi Nash the other day.
18:33And I was telling her how, what I like about her.
18:35If you notice with Nisi, whatever project she does, almost every project she's in, she always includes a Haitian.
18:43I don't know if you guys have ever noticed that about her.
18:45But even in Claws, if you watched her in Claws, you know, Jimmy Jean-Louis was her love interest.
18:50Um, and even in the show that she has right now, uh, Fed Rookies, she had a Haitian cop that was just in the last episode.
18:57And I was telling her, I was like, I really appreciate that you do that because you're not even Haitian.
19:02You don't got to do that.
19:03And I was telling her just the difficulties that I've had.
19:06You know, I just started acting a year ago.
19:10And some of the auditions that I would get, I'm just like, yeah, I'm not about to be doing that.
19:14Like, yeah, I'm Haitian, but this is not all we're known for.
19:17First of all, y'all don't know nothing about no voodoo.
19:19So don't be coming to me telling me to go, giving me voodoo lines.
19:23Y'all don't know nothing about that.
19:24It ain't a herching person that wrote it.
19:26It's a white person.
19:27Yeah, so let's see what you're going to do voodoo.
19:29So, yeah, no, I'm not doing that .
19:33I'm sorry.
19:34I'm sorry, Essence.
19:36This is a safe place, right?
19:38Okay.
19:39But, yeah, just that.
19:40Like, I don't want to perpetuate certain stereotypes.
19:42And so I want to encourage you guys to, like, I'm pretty sure you guys are wanting
19:47into writing and producing.
19:50I recently wrote a pilot that is based on a Haitian family, and I found a production company
19:56that we're going to be shooting the pilot for at the top of the year.
19:59So I'm going to be looking for Haitian actors.
20:01I'm going to be looking for that.
20:02And I'm so excited to do it because the story is such a good story.
20:08And I know everybody always says that, but every person that I've had read the pilot
20:12has told me, this is a good story, and there's so many ways that you can do this.
20:17But I'm also very anxious because I don't want to let my community down.
20:23You know what I'm saying about Haitians?
20:26You cannot, you cannot misstep.
20:29And I'm pretty sure you guys feel the same way about your communities, too.
20:32But I don't want to misrepresent them.
20:34I want to tell those Haitian stories.
20:36We're not just, you know, in the hood, like you said.
20:40We're not all in poverty.
20:42There's so many of us who just are regular citizens, who have regular jobs,
20:46who still have stories to tell.
20:48But we need you guys' support.
20:50We need that.
20:51When you go online, the most talked about shows are the drug dealer shows,
20:57are the shows where black people are looking a fool and acting a fool.
21:01You know, there's a show on Amazon that came out last holiday season.
21:07It did really, really good, and they just gave them the second season.
21:09It is based on a Hispanic family.
21:12I think they're Cuban.
21:13They almost didn't get a second season.
21:15And people were online, like, tweeting about it, and then they got their second season.
21:19You know, so we need the people.
21:21Y'all really have more power than you think you do.
21:25Them hashtags, you guys getting online, talking about what you want to see,
21:28they're paying attention to that.
21:30So if you guys want to see more, you know, Dominican families, Puerto Rican families,
21:36where they don't have to lean on Caucasian actors to anchor the show.
21:40We need y'all.
21:42We need y'all.
21:43And so I want to encourage you guys to be our voices, too.
21:53Wow.
21:54Great, like, conversation, guys.
21:56I will be the Twitter fingers behind your season.
21:58Don't worry.
21:59Like, it will just be me.
22:00I'll be all 500 tweets a day.
22:02I'm there.
22:03This is a great question that I want to hear the answer to from all of you guys,
22:07because there's a producer of this event in the front, and she's like,
22:11move your hair.
22:12And I'm like, no, I'm nervous.
22:13Like, I'm trying.
22:14Literally, I have not looked straight out once.
22:16I'm like, anyway, yes, so interesting.
22:19So was there a time in your journeys when you guys were not as confident as you are now,
22:25as eloquent as you are now, as brave as you are now?
22:29And kind of how did you overcome that, you know, in your teens?
22:34This is for me.
22:35It's for me mostly.
22:36I'm asking.
22:38I'll start.
22:40I'm going to be honest with you.
22:41I'm still working on it.
22:42I just turned 30.
22:43I don't have it all figured out.
22:45I, yeah, it's true.
22:47How are you 30 looking 16?
22:48It's true.
22:49I know.
22:50Girl, what?
22:51I know.
22:52I know, I know, I know.
22:53Where was I the other day?
22:54The guy was like, oh, the doctor.
22:56And I was like, yeah, I'm 30.
22:58And he's like, what?
22:5914.
23:00Right.
23:01I was like, thanks.
23:02I'm out of here.
23:04No, but I'm always going to be honest.
23:06I'm still figuring it out.
23:08Like, I'm definitely not as worried these days.
23:13But there was a time, like, I've been doing this for a very long time.
23:17And so I watched a lot of people, you know, I watched people that were new to the game come in and just take off on their careers.
23:25I watched people I grew up with take off.
23:27I watched people I grew up with stop the industry.
23:30Like, it's very, it's a very rough industry.
23:34Like, I just got to a point where I just don't even look at it.
23:37I don't even like Instagram anymore.
23:39If I could delete it, I would, but I can't.
23:41I'm not allowed to right now.
23:42But like, the comments, the, and let's, you know what, let me not even go into people who have something to say.
23:49Let me just go into the job.
23:51To always go and audition every day, every year, and hear no, no, no, no, no, no.
23:58At some point, that's hard to go home and leave that there.
24:00Because you're like, okay, what is it that is not working?
24:04Yeah, and what are you looking for that I just can't give you?
24:09No, and then you see the project and you're like, nah, you know d*** well I could have booked that.
24:13Okay.
24:14Nah, y'all know d*** well I could have booked that wrong.
24:16There was a point in my teens, any movie and any show you watched, I auditioned for it.
24:20Yeah.
24:21And there was only a few that I was like, wow, yeah, she did that.
24:24Yeah, she did that.
24:25She did that.
24:26She got that.
24:27But then there was other ones I was like.
24:28Oh, no.
24:29Yeah, yeah.
24:30So like, it's just, it's definitely, I think, no matter how old you get, I think it's always just gonna be a rollercoaster.
24:37At least for me.
24:39Just kind of seeing what people have to say.
24:42You kind of always have to be on.
24:44You have to have these answers.
24:45Like, I'm even up here in my head as you guys are talking like, oh, get off the stage, get off the stage.
24:49Get off the stage, you are not.
24:50Like, you know what I mean?
24:51Because I don't have very in-depth answers.
24:54I'm pretty like here, but I know what I'm thinking.
24:57I just can't always get it out.
24:59But I'm just working on it.
25:00And I just want to say, I say that to say, that it's okay if you're still working on it.
25:04I think that sometimes we come to these summits and panels and we're looking for like, okay, well, this is how I can just finally be confident and just flourish.
25:13It's okay if there's days that you don't have those days.
25:16I mean, I got dressed up today.
25:18I'm feeling good.
25:19When I got into Atlanta yesterday, I looked like a little gremlin.
25:21And I was just like, I just want to go to bed.
25:23So there's always going to be on and off days.
25:25But I'm grateful for my team, my support.
25:28And I'm really like, my faith is strong.
25:31So really, that kind of keeps me going.
25:34And that, I feel like that's what helps me keep overcoming whatever insecurity or whatever, like, blockage I'm having at the moment is just resulting back in what matters and God.
25:45Because what he says is real.
25:47What anybody else says is not.
25:50And his timing is perfect, you know?
25:52So, yeah.
25:54Amen.
25:55Amen.
25:56Whoo, child.
25:58Whoo.
25:59Okay.
26:00Well, most people don't know, but I started in the industry at three years old.
26:06And I started professionally acting when I was nine.
26:10So I've been signed by an agent since before I could properly talk.
26:15And all of that goes to say, just to rush through them chapters, I didn't get my first series regular till I was 21 years old.
26:23So a lot of people will ask me and go, how long have you been acting?
26:26I go, that's a different question.
26:27How long have I been working or how long have I been acting?
26:30And I say that to say it's a testament to the fact that we all navigate a industry that is not based on talent.
26:42Oh, good.
26:44It isn't.
26:45It just isn't.
26:46That's why I always get really perplexed and taken aback when people are so full of themselves.
26:51Because I'm like, baby, there was a certain place that you needed to be in, a certain door that needed to happen, a certain favor.
26:57You know, what's for you is for you.
26:59And what God has for you, nobody can keep it from you.
27:01That's biblical.
27:02And it keeps me from going insane.
27:05Yeah.
27:06But you know, I just started working, which is insane to say, but I'm so transparent about that.
27:12Because I think we need to be honest about our journeys.
27:14I did not just get here yesterday.
27:17I've been auditioning like an insane amount.
27:20I went over six, seven years of auditioning and not booking one job.
27:25Calling up my agent in New York and saying, baby, I'm leaving.
27:28I'm at college right now, a double major with three minimum wage jobs.
27:33I can't do this.
27:34And she asked me, she said, are you stopping because you don't love it anymore?
27:37Are you stopping because you're tired?
27:38And I said, I'm stopping because I'm tired.
27:40And she said, okay, this conversation never happened.
27:42That was about five years ago.
27:44And now I'm a girl who's producing a podcast and has led a Netflix movie.
27:49And has done two seasons of critically acclaimed television.
27:56And I say all that because it has nothing to do with me.
27:58I have worked hard and I've been due diligent.
28:00But it has to do with my persistence, my community, my culture, my tribe,
28:05and understanding that I know whose I am and whose I answer to.
28:09And that's God.
28:11Like, I say it all the time, I literally changed the way I prayed.
28:14I grew up as, Alicia, habla ingle.
28:17I grew up.
28:18I grew up.
28:19I grew up as a kid saying, like, Lord, let me get this job, right?
28:23Because when you're a kid, you just want every job that you go out for.
28:25Like, because it's hard.
28:26We live in a really superficial world.
28:29We have, debatably, the most superficial job on the planet.
28:32I won't book a job because I'm not the right height.
28:34I'm not the right hair texture.
28:37The right skin zone.
28:39Miss white girl in all these jobs.
28:41That's.
28:42You feel me?
28:43Like, you know, when I started this industry, people were like, do you want to change your
28:46name so you can be a little bit more ethnically ambiguous?
28:48I heard that at nine years old.
28:49Damn.
28:50Do you want to start straining your hair a little bit more?
28:52And I did.
28:53So, all of this goes to say, it's not easy.
28:57It is a continuous journey.
28:58Nobody is perfect.
29:00But live in your truth.
29:02And be proud of what makes you different and what makes you unique.
29:05And step into that power.
29:08But I'm still evolving.
29:09I'm a baby still.
29:10I'm 23.
29:11God is still doing amazing things.
29:13And I take pride that I want to live in light and leave everything that I've come to better
29:17than I came to it.
29:19And be a light.
29:20And that's what I take peace in and take solace in.
29:22Because there's so much that I can't control.
29:24And at the end of the day, I can go to bed at night knowing that I do my best work and
29:27I'm striving to be a good person.
29:29All that other shit.
29:30The followers.
29:31The jobs you didn't get.
29:32In the long run, don't matter.
29:34You feel me?
29:35Like, I want to be able to look myself in the mirror.
29:37And I can do that right now.
29:38And I'm so blessed for every little opportunity that comes.
29:41And even just being here with y'all.
29:42Seeing these beautiful faces.
29:43I'm moved.
29:44Because this is where our power is.
29:45Yeah.
29:46I'll just say real quickly.
29:48I think for me, I like that you guys talked about the work aspect too.
29:53I think that as an actress, I'm kind of being reintroduced to things like colorism and
30:02racism and futurism.
30:04And when I say reintroduced, I'm saying that because it's not that I've never experienced
30:08it.
30:09On a different level.
30:10But it's like on another level.
30:11It's like, well, this role is for a pretty.
30:15Like, sometimes in the descriptions, it will say, pretty.
30:19And kind of being told that you're not pretty because you don't have a certain tone or you
30:26don't have certain features.
30:28That's a little hard for me.
30:29That's a lot of hard for me.
30:31And I think it's different from like...
30:32That's the craziest thing I've ever heard in my whole life.
30:34Yeah.
30:35She walked in and I was like, pretty.
30:36Yeah.
30:37Yeah.
30:38It still happens like right now, even when you're auditioning.
30:41So I think that that's something I deal with.
30:43But again, deep down inside, I know I'm a beautiful woman, you know, but in the industry,
30:47sometimes everybody has their own standards.
30:50So it makes you feel like, so I ain't pretty.
30:53What the?
30:54My mama lied to me.
30:55My parents lied to me when they said I was pretty.
30:57You know, so that is something I'm currently dealing with.
30:59Yeah.
31:00Yeah.
31:05Those were phenomenal answers.
31:07And I bet people have more questions for you guys on those answers and everything else
31:11in your amazing lives and careers.
31:13So if you have any questions, you can come up to the mic, I think.
31:18We time for two.
31:19Sorry.
31:20Two bomb questions.
31:21Yes.
31:22Raise your hand if you have a bomb question.
31:24Hi, love.
31:25Hello.
31:26Hi, guys.
31:28My name is Skylar Monet.
31:30I am a Clark Atlanta sophomore business major.
31:33Period.
31:34Period.
31:35Well, all right.
31:37And I am a creative as well.
31:39I sing, I write, I act, model, do it all.
31:42Period.
31:43But I wanted to ask you, what advice would you give to young creatives trying to impact
31:49and disrupt this industry?
31:52Disrupt it.
31:53Disrupt.
31:54Turn shit up.
31:55Turn shit up.
31:56Yeah.
31:57Um.
31:58Did I just have like a Nikki moment?
32:00What was that?
32:01I was just like, ah.
32:02Okay.
32:03Um.
32:04My mom's gonna call me about that one.
32:06Um.
32:07Um.
32:08Be okay with that not everything is for you.
32:12And also take pride in being a multi-hyphenate.
32:14Um.
32:15It's a pleasure to meet you.
32:16Um.
32:17And you said that you did multiple things.
32:18And I think like throughout my journey, I've dealt with it and I will continue to deal with
32:22it.
32:23You have an issue with me wanting to show up as many things and not fitting into their
32:28box.
32:29Um.
32:30So I empower you and I implore you to lean into that.
32:33The things that scare you, lean into it.
32:35Understand that certain doors closing, um.
32:38Um.
32:39Is not just redirection.
32:40It's not just rejection.
32:41It's redirection.
32:42Like.
32:43Um.
32:44Like.
32:45Although it hurts in the moment sometimes when I get a no.
32:49I'm like, thank you God because you're sending me closer to what is for me.
32:53You know what I mean?
32:54Um.
32:55And then also when it comes to disrupting.
32:56Um.
32:57You know.
32:58I have a pretty political podcast.
33:00It's on a political service.
33:01Uh.
33:02People call me an activist.
33:04I don't know why.
33:05I don't always love that term.
33:06Um.
33:07If I'm being frank.
33:08But.
33:09Uh.
33:10Something that empowers me in that narrative is knowing that.
33:13For so long people that looked like us didn't get a platform.
33:17Mm.
33:18So I'm gonna be a good steward of the blessing that God has given me.
33:22Because in the past we didn't get this opportunity.
33:24Mm.
33:25So I'm not gonna disrespect my ancestors.
33:27I'm not gonna disrespect the talent that's been given to me.
33:30Um.
33:31Or the mic.
33:32Or whatever stage has been given to me by not talking about what really matters.
33:35Mm.
33:36You know what I mean?
33:37Like life is too short.
33:38Like.
33:39There's so much out there that's bigger than you.
33:41So write that story.
33:42Sing that song.
33:43Do what feels right.
33:45And speak in your truth.
33:46And empower yourself and other people around you.
33:48As we can tell the world is pretty crazy right now.
33:51And.
33:52So you know.
33:53We all have a job to do.
33:54And it looks different for each of us.
33:56And you're a part of the movement in your own beautiful unique way.
33:59So that's what I would tell you.
34:00So keep disrupting.
34:01Yeah.
34:02Keep doing you.
34:03I'm gonna tell you real quick.
34:04Create your own s**t.
34:05Yeah.
34:06Do your own s**t.
34:07Okay.
34:08First of all.
34:09If I could go back ten years and go back to college.
34:10And do college over with what I know now.
34:12Oh my God.
34:13Y'all would be sick of me.
34:14Oh my God.
34:15Y'all would be so sick of me.
34:17But it's okay.
34:18Everything happens in its own timing.
34:20But y'all that are in college right now.
34:22First of all.
34:23Those.
34:24Your.
34:25Your classmates.
34:26They're there for a reason.
34:27They're not just there because they're your classmates.
34:29They're there to be your partners.
34:32Create your own s**t with your classmates.
34:35Push each other.
34:37Invest in each other.
34:39Please.
34:40Cause let me tell you something.
34:42This industry ain't gonna be nothing without y'all.
34:45The.
34:46We don't.
34:47This culture don't move without y'all.
34:48Y'all are the culture.
34:49Clock Atlanta especially.
34:50Y'all.
34:51Y'all.
34:52Y'all are the.
34:53Y'all are the culture.
34:54Like you guys are the culture.
34:56Y'all are the industry.
34:58Create your own s**t.
34:59I'm telling you.
35:00When you get.
35:01Please.
35:02Tonight.
35:03Tonight.
35:04Create your own s**t.
35:05Please.
35:06Yeah.
35:07Thank you guys.
35:08Oh and don't be afraid to vlog on campus.
35:11I'm.
35:12What are we the same age?
35:1319?
35:1420?
35:15I just turned 20.
35:16Okay.
35:17I walk around campus like I can't do a vlog.
35:18This is so awkward.
35:19People hate it.
35:20I don't know why.
35:21Whatever.
35:22Walk around campus like oh my god.
35:23Yes.
35:24Here's what I think about my life today.
35:25Yes.
35:26And if you do it I'll do it.
35:27So.
35:28Yeah.
35:29Yeah.
35:30Okay.
35:31Yes.
35:32Okay.
35:33So.
35:34I can't see you.
35:35Okay.
35:36My question is.
35:37You said something about showing real support.
35:40And you were talking about you know from the people who watch and the people like us who
35:45support you all.
35:46But I want to know what does real support look like from people who come before you.
35:51Especially if you maybe haven't experienced that.
35:54Like you were looking for people like who've come before you to give you that support.
35:58What were you looking for and how do you all give that.
36:01I love that question.
36:02What's your name babe.
36:03My name is Naya.
36:04Hi Naya.
36:05I'm just.
36:06Are you asking how do we give the support back to you or.
36:07Yeah.
36:08So how do you all love to give the support and how did you look for others before you
36:13to give you support that maybe you didn't get.
36:14Oh wow.
36:15Wow.
36:16Why did I pick up the mic.
36:17I'm just kidding.
36:18I mean I like to support by coming to these type of events just having those conversations.
36:32I'm like I like talking to people.
36:34So any anytime I can just stop and actually have a conversation with somebody.
36:39I like to do that here what their personal story is whatever questions they have for
36:44me and just having that organic dialogue.
36:47I think that it's a such a good question about how did I want support from those that
36:53came before me.
36:54I think you know just dropping those names in the rooms or saying like you know I have
36:59I have this person who can come in and do this job.
37:01So you don't have to audition anybody else.
37:04You know what I mean.
37:05This person is really good for this.
37:07I always think about people that I've met and anytime I can be like oh my gosh no I
37:12know this music producer.
37:13You should go meet this person.
37:14It's in this city.
37:15And you know I have I have people who do my hair my nails like just anything little
37:20like that.
37:21I feel like it's nothing to share those resources and I feel now everybody's so selfish
37:27with it.
37:28They're like this right.
37:29I'm like thank God these artists want to be tagged now.
37:32Now I can know who did your nails or I can know who was your acting coach or you know
37:35what I mean.
37:36Yeah.
37:37Or having lunch with the producers.
37:38But I think it's a better question for me to ask once I get off the stage how I can
37:43do better supporting you guys because I'm not exactly sure how to give it how you want
37:48it.
37:49The conversations that I have every time I bypass somebody and every time I get the
37:54opportunity to speak I just I take it and I like to do it and it helps me learn how to
37:59public speak better.
38:00You know.
38:01I think you gave.
38:02I think you just said it.
38:03Yeah.
38:04Which is when you get into a room you drop a name.
38:06Hey.
38:07Hey.
38:08I know this person.
38:09I've had plenty of times where like a hairstylist would come to me or whatever.
38:12They do my hair.
38:13Then I say hey.
38:14This person knows how to do hair.
38:15Next thing you know they're in essence like doing somebody's hair for the cover.
38:18You know I mean like just things like that.
38:20Don't be stingy with your connections.
38:22I've met a lot of people in this business especially they go they're going to go online
38:26and I'm like protect black women.
38:28But they're going to stop you from getting a job.
38:30I don't play them.
38:31I don't play those games.
38:32I don't play those games.
38:33If I know you know how to do something I'm going to let somebody know.
38:36She knows how to do it.
38:37You need a photographer.
38:38She's a photographer.
38:39You need somebody to edit that video.
38:41She knows how to do it.
38:42I do not play those games and I really hate when we do that because all we do is stop
38:47all of us from moving forward.
38:49Right.
38:50Do you see how other cultures move forward.
38:53Do you see.
38:54If you eat we eat.
38:55Listen.
38:56I'm going to tell you something right now and I don't want this to come off the wrong
39:00way.
39:01I'm looking for a home.
39:02I went to go look at a property right.
39:04Humberto was constructing the property.
39:07Guess what.
39:08He had all his cousins all his family members all his friends was in there working with him.
39:13Girl.
39:14That's how we all have to move.
39:15You didn't lie.
39:16Latinos is a collective effort.
39:17No I'm telling you Latinos know how to move.
39:19Latinos do it.
39:20Latinos do it.
39:21Jewish people do it.
39:22White people do it.
39:23Asian people do it.
39:24Black people need to do it too.
39:26Okay.
39:27That's how we're going to move forward.
39:28Yeah.
39:29I know y'all didn't tell one lie.
39:34And in short I think like people that had come before me I don't think that they were allowed
39:41the jurisdiction to speak truth in ways that I now am privileged to speak.
39:47I think it would be remiss and very naive of me if I wasn't honest about the fact that I'm only
39:54sitting on this stage right now and able to say the bold things that I say because beautiful
39:57ancestors came before me.
39:58Like bold actresses that overtook these adversities.
40:02But quickly I would say as a person, Paige said it greatly, first I have to listen.
40:09How I can tend to my community better and just show up.
40:13Like I think we worry about showing up perfectly when it's like show up imperfect and be willing
40:17to learn and evolve because that's how we learn.
40:20That's how, girl what do you need?
40:22How can I connect you?
40:23I'm the type of girl and my like team will laugh at me.
40:26I will send a breakdown for a character to my friend.
40:29Because at the end of the day, it's not her stealing a job.
40:32Who's it for?
40:33Who's it for?
40:34And I want to, the Kendrick line, I want to see everybody win even if it's before me.
40:38And I stand by that.
40:39Because what God has for me is for me.
40:41So, yeah.
40:45Nice to meet you.
40:46Well, thank you guys so much.
40:49This was really great.
40:50Um, I got everyone wants to know how we can keep up with you guys on social media.
40:53Wait, first of all, can we make some noise for Aoki?
40:55Ash!
40:56We didn't!
40:58No, because, no, I want to say something real quick.
41:01I was like, Aoki, when did you grow up?
41:04When did you grow up, girl?
41:07We love you.
41:08We so proud of you.
41:09You in college.
41:11Girl, we, you hosting panels.
41:14We love that.
41:16We love you.
41:17I made it very easy.
41:18I'm thrilled I didn't have to answer anything.
41:19They were like, do you want to moderate?
41:20I was like, what does that mean?
41:21They're like, ask.
41:22I was like, yes.
41:23Yes!
41:24Um, I'm sure everybody wants to know, or I must say I already do know,
41:27handles, social media.
41:28What is the name of your podcast?
41:29I know it, but you can tell people.
41:31Um, so how can we all keep up with you?
41:33Um, besides me stalking y'all, of course.
41:34Yes, of course.
41:35Oh, no, we're friends.
41:36You're stuck with me.
41:37And y'all too.
41:38Y'all are so beautiful and lovely.
41:39Um, my podcast name is Dare We Say on Cookin' Media.
41:42Um, and follow me at Alicia Del Sol.
41:45I know, so extra.
41:46I'm Latina.
41:47Um, but let's stay connected.
41:48We're friends now.
41:49Alicia Del Sol is my handle for TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and yeah.
41:53Yeah, I'm the Jessie Wu on all social media platforms.
41:57You know, and y'all can just keep up with everything I'm doing.
42:00I've been blessed.
42:01This year's been a great year.
42:02It's been a great year, and I look forward to 2023.
42:05I just want to encourage you guys.
42:07Start working on 2023 today.
42:09I want to see all y'all win, period.
42:11Yeah.
42:12My Instagram is thuggin'.
42:15Bad a**.
42:18You can find me with two N's, not one.
42:20Twitter is just my initials.
42:23It's a P, an A, a M, and a H.
42:26Not really on there that much, but I like to read.
42:28So actually I'll follow some of y'all, because I like to read the tweets and laugh at those.
42:32So, yes, that's where you can find me.
42:35Well, thank you guys so much.
42:36Yay!
42:39Thank you guys for being such an amazing audience.
42:41Thank you guys.
42:42You are beautiful.
42:43It's nice to meet everybody.
42:44Thank you guys.
42:45We'll come meet you outside.
42:46Oh, vote, vote in the midterms if you can vote.
42:49Sorry.
42:50You're black women and you're on the ballot.
42:52I love you.
42:53Vote for Stacey Abrams.
42:55Vote Stacey.
43:01You were also giving the hardest task.
43:02Just having a solid foundation of black women that you can relate to, get advice from.
43:07It's always good to have.
43:09You know how to throw a little situation.
43:12It's always really nice to just get back outside and hang out with your friends again.
43:16We don't get into it.
43:18We've been working on that for the past few weeks.
43:20Having that respect and wanting to give that respect back is also a big thing.
43:28It really affirms me that I'm not the only one that feels that way.
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