Do you think it's possible for a man and a woman to be friends?

Over the past two weeks this conversation has come up numerous times. On twitter .... at friends house..over texts and phone calls, I thought I could get away from the topic but yesterday I read a wonderful book by Pearl Cleage entitled, " I Wish I Had a Red Dress". My blog is all about artistic expression in all forms so I just thought I would share an excerpt in which the character Sister explains four possible ways friendships between men and women evolve. I think it is a interesting view and covers all of the discussions that have happened over the last few weeks. Please share your comments and tell me if you agree!

"When  you're speaking of heterosexuals, and I assume we are, there are only four." She held up her fingers to count them off. "One, there's acknowledged sexual attraction on both sides and it's only a matter of time before friends become lovers, unless there is an honorable reason why they shouldn't such as fragile health or a serious prior commitment. Two, there's sexual attraction on one side only, which, unless handled carefully, can result in complicated fantasies, unrequited longings, serious bouts of denial, and ultimately a busted friendship and a broken heart. Three, there is no sexual attraction present on either side, in which the case the friendship will quickly run its course since in most case the only reason people cross the great gender divide is if there are sexual possibilities present on the other side. Otherwise, you're probably going to have more fun going out with your girlfriends or hangin' with the homeboys."
I laughed. "You're dating yourself! What's number four?"
"That's when there's sexual attraction on both sides, but the parties have, for whatever reasons, been unwilling or unable to express it, so they sublimate all that energy into shared work experiences that keep them in close contact until they figure out how to get together."


Not bad huh?
If you like you what have read please check out "I Wish I Had a Red Dress" by Pearl Cleage.
I am now reading "Sounds Like Crazy" by Shana Mahaffey if I get anything from that..please be on the lookout for a new post!
Much love

2011 Rite of Sankofa Speech

Every year The African American Cultural Center hosts Rite of Sankofa, a ceremony in which African-American students are celebrated for their achievements in their organizations within Intercultural Affairs and the university. This ceremony is also special because it allows family to participate in the ceremony. This year I was chosen to do the student remarks. I wanted to share this with you all. 
Congrats to the UGA Class of 2011!!

I have been to a couple of Rite of Sankofa celebrations. I have always wanted to participate in it.And here it was, finally Renaldo gave me the opportunity to do this speech…but what do I say? I didn’t want to give generic lessons on life or general memories.I wanted this to be something we all could relate to. And what better connects us than music, more specifically a music playlist. You see, a music playlist is essential to every college student. It gets you through those days when you need a little pick me up. It fuels you even more on those days when you are feeling good.

You have to make a playlist for house parties

You have the study session playlists

You have road trip playlists

The before you go out playlist

The morning before test playlist

In all my memories music has been just as important as the memories

With a little inspiration from the Sigmas and their Sigma Week Mixtape and the Omegas for their Mixtape, I decided to create a Fall 2011 playlist/mixtape.

Fall 2007 is where our class playlist begins

Track 1: Kanye and TPain- The Good Life

As freshman we lived the good life

That year 18,000 applied to UGA, 4,000 were accepted and we were among those elite living in Brumby, Russell, Creswell (or Payne/Morris)

We had it good…snellebrations, bet

Escort Van adventures and parties at the Ritz or Tasty World jamming to Shawty is a Ten by the Dream or Buy You a Drank by TPain

Teaching our roommates or peers the Soulja Boy's Superman

Our first football season...the good life

We went to our first and maybe even our last BEST meeting

Grand Hall was in the old Tate where BEST’s Rep Your High School was...and yes there used to be parties in Memorial Hall Ballroom...the good life

We attended programs hosted by FAB like Are You Smarter Than a Freshman?

Attending our first Café Soul and making connections with one another and upperclassmen

Hanging out in the 4^th floor in the AACC  in the café

Hanging out in the MSP lounge

The good life

Lesson from freshman year: Each new experience is the good life…embrace it

Fall 2008 Track 2: A Milli- Lil Wayne

Probably my best year here at UGA was my sophomore year

Sophomore year we just had a good time, new friends, maintaining friendships, and of course election time. We established ourselves in organizations. We were glad that we made it past freshman year and there were some who didn’t

But also in sophomore year there was a lot of change…the Greek Life office moved from memorial hall to Tate, Tate 2 opens, The Ritz closes (a moment of silence) but in all those changes we just had a good time

It was during this time I truly experience the greatness of BUGA (or Black UGA) more than just a title, it was a community of support. It was here I was the reigning Miss Black UGA and I walked around doing a documentary and here was my peers supporting me and giving their opinion and working towards a community.Twitter really came on the scene, a new innovation that we took over who would have thought we would change from Facebook

Track 3: My President is Black

The day after President Obama was elected, Tate Time was live and blasted through the center My President is Black, my lambo’s blue

Yes change was all around us but we still had a good time

Lesson from sophomore year: Change will always be there but its how you adapt to it that matters

Fall 2009 Track 4: Never Would Have Made it- Marvin Sap 

The end of sophomore year and the beginning of junior year that song was my theme song.. a Marvin Sap Pandora station was added. I don’t know what it was but junior year was that struggle. We were in our major classes and partying slowed down … just a little

We dropped some of those organizations we were so involved in, people moved off campus

People were turning 21

Tests were hard, life was crazy but we never would have made it without God… let the church say… AMEN

Track 5: Change gon come- Sam Cooke

To see some of us finally become greek was a long time coming but it was a good feeling…from watching the probates as freshman and to actually participate in them and to come up to one another and say “It’s been a long time coming” and we all knew what it meant

Lesson from junior year: In the midst of trials and tribulations, the ones who are truly there for you will stand by your side

Fall 2010 Track 6: Moment for Life- Nicki Minaj

Senior year...we did all the things we never thought we would do

Georgia/Florida game, new jobs

Internships, study abroad

It was also during senior year we celebrated the 50^th anniversary of desegregation here at the university

A moment for life I will never forget was the chance to meet Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the first African-American woman to attend the University of Georgia and my soror

Planning and promoting asold out BOB concert

Some of us found out we were not graduating in May but celebrated with the May grads like we were

Lesson from senior year: There are moments in life you must always hold dear to your heart

Fall 2011 Track 7: Rolling in the Deep- Adele

Going into the last semester

Everyone was on the grind. Going on interviews, applying for fellowships or grad schools. Leading organizations. Trying to teach the underclassmen

No time for nonsense. Everyone is more blunt. Coming on campus is for business not leisure. Tate Time...non existent

Lesson from this semester: Personal growth is important.  Love is not always what you expect it to be...but when your heart is pure it will work out.

Tomorrow we will become alumni … and as I reflect on this playlist I am glad it has gotten me through this experience. But now is the time to retire it for a while and begin a new one

2011 and beyond

Track 1: Ambition –Wale

"Ambition is priceless/It’s something that’s in your veins/And I put that on my name"

We all have ambition in our hearts that have gotten us to this point.

If I would leave a final lesson to this class is that we should let the ambition in our hearts not just be an individual ambition but a collective one.

Look to your left and your right I hope that this is not the last time we try and see one another

I hope this is not the last time we are in a room celebrating our achievements

Let’s strive to make my or your Ambition our ambition

The ambition that comes together for homecoming tailgates

That keeps in touch with one another

That reaches back to those graduating behind us

That ambition that is the foundation for the success that is sure to come after tomorrow

Much love

Thoughts of Opening Night...Morning of

The time is now 5:50 a.m.
I have a quick paper to do...buuuuut I had to write this instead.
So my original plan was to write a blog post everyday this week leading up to opening night. I had this grand  plan of pointing out different lessons I had learned throughout the week and relate them all to a big theme...and as you can see...no posts


So here I am ... morning of opening night


What do directors think of opening night?


Are they nervous? Is it just another day? Are they pissed? Did they get any sleep the night before? Do they try and think of last minute things to add?


After rehearsal last night, I had all intentions of hanging out with my sorority sisters and friends and just taking a moment to relax, but after picking up a friend for game night at my house, I collapsed on my bed as the laughter of my friends continued as background music for my sleep. 


So here I am... morning of opening night


What do actors think of opening night?


Are they going over lines? Are they just relieved that the night is here and soon to be over?


Thinking about all the shows I have done. I was usually nervous but excited. I do get a little sad because once he show run is over, that's it...the ensemble never comes back to rehearsal. The set is broken down. The costumes are returned to the closet. The props are put on the shelf. 


So here I am...morning of opening night


I am calm
I am grateful
I am excited


I am amazed at the spirit of peace that has come over my body this week. I am grateful to God for providing that peace. Things have NOT gone the way I planned and yet I smile. People have said some crazy things to me and trust I usually snap. (Yes I got a little snappy side) But I am content.


I am very thankful to the people who have been in my corner throughout this entire process, sending text messages (Casey), calling to see if I needed anything (Morgann, Tanya, Serena, Jeffrey), stepping into my cast and doing it big (Jeffrey), giving me rides home (my cast and classmates)....


It has been those things and more that I have been reflecting on.


I am in a career and life planning class and sometimes during class we have interview questions that we answer at the end of class. This week one of the questions asked was, " Who is more important, the leader or followers?" I remember a classmate mentioning how neither is more important but rather the collective resources of leaders and followers make a team most effective.


I agree wholeheartedly. At the beginning of this rehearsal process, I told the cast how I wanted us to create this story. Yes I had ideas but some things in my head are not the best when seen in real life. There had to be a balance. We as an ensemble had to create something amazing. It could not just be me and after rehearsal last night, I think our task is complete. 


So here I am... morning of opening night


Relaxed, a little sleepy but feeling great. If I could blog about the big lesson of this moment, I would say it would be.....


Recognize and embrace the support system.


I have been able to be calm because of the people around me who have been dedicated and determined to make this show a success. 
So here I am...morning of opening night
As I director, what do I do??


Say thanks 


Much love