So much happening this year. Grateful for all the positive while trying to calm the anxiety around the negative. This news came on a stressful day in the world, while shooting my first episode of network tv. So the anxiety was alive and kicking y’all! But my friends and co-workers made me stop and celebrate the win. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I’m surrounded by the right people and every win is for US. (Now, I could have just captioned this “deadline official” and signed out. But how would the internets know what I’m thinking about at 4am?!?!)
-Signed, Grateful and Anxious AF!
Special shout out to my @nbculaunch family and my reps @_circlemp for being vocal champions of my work!
Happy Mother’s Day to the two women who like taking pictures even less than I do. (They couldn’t avoid it this day!!) Love you Mom and Grandma! ❤️❤️
And HMD to all the other Mamas raising and helping to raise humans!
A rough fall, with some very bright spots:
A few of the Queens in my life (Audra, Mom, Grandma, Regina).
A few friends I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to. (Chris, Clifton, and Cletus). 💔💔💔
Saying goodbye to Hamilton today (for the fourth time!)
This one was different. Kindness and love and community when I didn’t realize how much I needed it. And also support and encouragement to step away to explore another dream. I don’t want to be long and sappy so I’ll just say THANK YOU to everyone at The Pantages and beyond who made this experience so special.
“I want to explore the light
I want to know how to get through
Through to something new
Something of my own
Move on
Look at what you want
Not at where you are
Not at what you’ll be
Look at all the things you’ve done for me.”
-Sondheim
Thank You.
Some of my favorite small Black owned businesses (many Black Woman owned) to support this holiday season and then forever and ever. Enjoy!
1. Coffee/Tea/Wellness
-Obet & Del’s @obetanddels
-Mermaid Apothecary @mermaid.apothecary
-Auntie’s LA @auntiesla
Baked Goods (Nationwide shipping)
2. The Salty Heifer @thesaltyheiferco
3. The Furlough Cheesecake @thefurloughcake
Empowering Black Women/One of a kind knitwear
4. Plush Armour @plusharmour
Books (Nationwide shipping)
5. Semicolon Bookstore @semicolonchi
6. Eso Won Books @esowonbooks
Fresh Juice/Cleanses (Nationwide shipping)
7. 1987 Juices @1987juices
Apparel
8. Melanin Apparel @melanin_apparel
LA based French Bakery
9. Lou, the French on the block @louthefrenchontheblock
Mar. 27, 2001 - 20 years ago today I made my Broadway debut at the first preview of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (opened and closed within the next seven weeks 🤷🏾♂️). #WorldTheatreDay#TomSawyer#Broadway
This man was hated by many before he was (universally) loved. Thank you Dr. King and all of the activists who are still in the streets, writing letters, making phone calls and fighting white supremacy, police brutality, corrupt self serving politicians, and the idea that we only need to take care of ourselves. #MLK
Todd Michel Smith was one of those people who put everyone else’s comfort ahead of his own. The most proud, passionate, professional who loved what he did, but would not hesitate to give it up for his daughter who was everything to him. This man showed me kindness and grace in a time that I needed it even though he was fighting a huge uphill battle of his own. I guess he was probably the best fighter I’ve ever known. Everyday of life was a fight for the last 16 years and he still had a smile to give to anyone that needed it. He was with his family and knew he was loved, but I hope he felt even half of the love he gave. #ToddMichelSmith#IQ ❤️❤️
