00:00I'm very impatient and I can be impulsive and so when things don't align with my
00:05timing when I think they should happen I get frustrated and it's taking me so
00:10long to realize like just what you said there's a time for everything.
00:14I don't miss one. And you don't even know because I'm sitting down.
00:18I don't want you to ever be that awkward though.
00:20That's not a problem.
00:22I will always be that.
00:24You will always be that, yeah.
00:26I've learned to become confident in my insecurities and just, you know, I embrace the fact that
00:31I am awkward and everybody is to a certain extent so that makes me feel better.
00:35As youth liaison I can assure you that whatever it is you need to succeed, we got y'all.
00:41So do y'all have any questions?
00:44Don't be shy guys, fire away.
00:48Why you talk like a white girl?
00:52You caught me, I'm rocking blackface.
00:54I don't talk like everybody else.
00:56They called me out for it.
00:57My hair is natural and everybody else's hair was pressed.
01:00People just, those traits made me white.
01:03And that was something that always stood out to me.
01:06And it's the material that I use in all of my work that I just feel like an outsider.
01:11I didn't kind of like make a declarative statement or hit anybody over their head with a message.
01:15But I just wanted to show, you know, a slice of life and sort of normalized blackness.
01:19So a lot of women in our audience have dreams of doing something more, but they haven't found the courage
01:24to act on them yet.
01:25What piece of advice would you give them?
01:27You honestly got to get out of your own way.
01:29I know it's easier said than done.
01:30But like for me, I've always had encouraging friends that I trust that I know will keep it real with
01:36me.
01:36In some cases, that's consisted of being like, oh, you're telling me no?
01:40Okay, well, I'm about to find this yes.
01:41Oh, you close the door?
01:42Well, I'm about to find this open door or make this door.
01:45Well, I'd be honored to be acknowledged here to count all the ways in which the black women, many of
01:49whom are in this room, have paved the way for me and my career.
01:53And then obviously it starts with my mother.
01:55And she is the first black woman I've ever loved with all of my heart.
02:00And the first to love me sincerely and dearly.
02:03And because of that, I have the strength and confidence to do what I do.
02:08And ironically, she's where I get all my awkwardness from.
02:11I'm having the time of my life, honestly.
02:14I hope so.
