To Be Young, Gifted and Black — In Hollywood
--
What do the words bougie (boujee), the Huxtables and Donald Glover all have in common? Besides being pop culture references originating from the Black community, they were all topics of conversation shared between me and Rondell Sheridan — a man who is singed into my mind as playing the goofy and lovable Mr. Baxter on Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven, the t.v. show of my childhood.
I met Sheridan (Comm ’80) on the first night of the Diederich College of Comm L.A. Experience — a trip designed to connect students with Marquette alumni in Hollywood. It was only a 10-minute conversation but it was the much needed highlight of my first day in Hollywood.
However, that isn’t how the night started.
Before my night began I had done the research on all the alumni attending. My clothes screamed young professional. I had a case of freshly pressed Marquette business cards ready to hand out. Prepared. What I wasn’t prepared for was the distance I’d feel between myself and the alumni. I was baffled that the TV shows, movies and writers I loved didn’t resonate with anyone —
“Atlanta just won a Golden Globe”
“Not my kind of comedy”
“Grey’s Anatomy?”
“Never seen it”
“Issa Rae?”
“What does she do…”
I looked around the table where we were seated and could feel my white peers connecting on comedians, TV shows and movies they had seen that I hadn’t. It was that moment reality shook me from my Hollywood dreams. I felt like Mr. Krabs.
Unprepared.
That night I got in the car with my brain full of research and my pockets full of business cards and listened to the other five Digital Media students rave about the night. I said nothing.
Back at the hotel I called my mother crying. I thought I had done something wrong. Why couldn’t I see myself in the people around me? She explained it well, “because they aren’t you.” She was right. I had spent the night worrying about being similar and saying the right words but, I was more than than a 20-second introduction. After hanging up the phone with my mother I was determined to find the part of my night that taught me the most— speaking to Sheridan.
It was the highlight of my night. And not just because of his ties to my childhood. Yes, he gave me sound advice like write what you know. Yes, he played the dad on That’s So Raven. But the thing is two minutes into the conversation and none of that mattered.
We covered my background —
“Let me guess you don’t hail from The Huxtables.”
“No, but my parents are very supportive of my art.”
Who I admired —
“You want to be a writer. Let me ask you a question — who are your favorite writers?”
“Currently. Shonda, Issa Rae and Donald Glover”
“Isn’t Atlanta a crazy show?
“Yes! Did you finish the season?”
“Of course. Did you see the black commercial episode?”
“It was too real. I was hella confused for a second. Also, he piloted a show and released an album in the same year. Who does that?”
“He’s a genius. And Issa Rae’s Insecure is doing some cool things. I didn’t think I’d identify with a black woman’s story but, it resonated.”
“I admire the truth in her writing. She’s so awkward it makes me smile.”
And even financial means —
“You seem kind of bougie.”
“I’m a college student. I can’t afford to be bougie.”
“Then what are you?”
“Bougie-on-a-budget.”
Laughter. The whole table erupted. I no longer cared about being prepared.
I was myself.
The next morning I realized — my differences do not make me irrelevant. They cultivate conversations.
To be young, gifted and black is to be a part of an infinite amount of experiences rooted in the food, music, stories and writing of the culture I was raised in — the culture I love. The opportunity to showcase how I became this black woman is a blessing, not a barrier. Below are a few examples of the culture I stem from and admire:
If they don’t know the writers, explain why they should. If they haven’t seen the show — girl, you better tell them why they’re missing out.
Write what you know.
Work hard because you love it.
Be secure in your talents and idols.
You are here for a reason.
