1 00:00:01,320 --> 00:00:04,680 Speaker 1: I did not think anybody was going to really see 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: me in this show. I certainly didn't see what it 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: is that people are seeing on what people are loving. 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:14,960 Speaker 1: I knew I was a part of the incredible show 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,040 Speaker 1: and I really really loved it. But see, that's how 6 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: you know. You never know, because I was just laying 7 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: in the cup, just doing what I do, and then 8 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, that's happened, and I was like, 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,360 Speaker 1: what the ivy? Oh hey, everybody, welcome back to a 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,320 Speaker 1: new edition of Naked. I am excited about today's guest. 11 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,959 Speaker 1: All you need to know, all you need to know 12 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: is that she will get you all the way together. 13 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: That was the amazing talented Shirley Ralph joining us here 14 00:00:45,280 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: are Naked. Every Champion carry Champion is to be a 15 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: Champion of Champion and carry Champion and carry Champion on 16 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,759 Speaker 1: the Champion and carry Champion and carry Champion RAI, raid 17 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: and sports and entertaining. Can naked worker in the world 18 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: were vulnerable considered? We come and remove the vail from 19 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,120 Speaker 1: entertainment elite. It's a difference between what it's real and 20 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: with the public seats. So here's your favorite celebrities behind 21 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:23,600 Speaker 1: the scenes it's refreshing up then the whole story specific 22 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:26,080 Speaker 1: life ought to rendivents to shake the person that you here. 23 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,040 Speaker 1: We gotta champion and carry champion the girl you did it. 24 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: It's the greatest of sports and entertainment. Connaked with every 25 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 1: champion and carry champions. To be a champion, the champion, 26 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 1: they carry champion. They can chappy yat the champion. They 27 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 1: carry champion and carry champion. Rader fraid of and sports 28 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 1: and entertaining get naked wier. Hey everybody, before I get 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: into today's guests, you know, I like to give you 30 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: a little update on my life. I just came back, 31 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: literally just came back from Arthur Spiniard and I don't 32 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: know if you have ever been there inkwell, and you 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: may have seen the movie U. It is a magical place. 34 00:01:56,680 --> 00:01:58,760 Speaker 1: I have heard about it for years. But as someone 35 00:01:58,800 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: who grew up on the West Coast, specifically in Cali, 36 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: we don't really think that we need to go anywhere 37 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: else because we have our own little beach. But what 38 00:02:05,920 --> 00:02:08,720 Speaker 1: was so magical about this place? Not only is it 39 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,880 Speaker 1: dope to see the collective gather right, just beautiful melanin 40 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: sitting gathering having a good time, But what was also 41 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 1: beautiful was that the entire town, the entire island felt 42 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 1: like it has never moved on with society in a 43 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: good way. It feels like, and I described as on 44 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:28,640 Speaker 1: my Instagram post, it feels like a portal. It feels 45 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: like a traveling back in time where you would just like, 46 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:34,399 Speaker 1: you know, kick rocks and be like, oh, chucks, now 47 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: that is before my time. But it just felt very simple, 48 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: It felt very easy, It felt very stress free. And 49 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: what's so weird is that it's this thing where you 50 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 1: don't collaborate with all your friends and say, hey, guess what, 51 00:02:45,080 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to Martha's Vineyard, Come meet me, Come meet me. 52 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 1: But everyone was there. They've created Martha's Vineyard Film Festival. 53 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 1: My friend Tiffany Cross hosted a panel with a Malcolm Deeley, 54 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: who is bringing out the Best Man Final Chapters. Mores 55 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: Chestnut was there. One of my really good girlfriends who 56 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: just right down the street was there. Two of my 57 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,760 Speaker 1: good girlfriends that lived down the street were there. A 58 00:03:04,760 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 1: girl that runs my foundation. And I tell you, you 59 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: turned around and everywhere you looked you saw your friends 60 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 1: planned or not planned, And it was just a very 61 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: beautiful place from all over, uh, the nation. I'm not 62 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: gonna say the world, but everybody I know traveled far 63 00:03:18,919 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 1: and wide to be there. If you ever get a moment, 64 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:25,520 Speaker 1: and it is August, but I'm sure their season begins earlier, 65 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,639 Speaker 1: but trying to head down there. The Obama's obviously are there. 66 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: They're always at Martha's Vineyard. Obama was in the house, 67 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: not the name drop, but you know it was a 68 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: special and folks come from all around just to see 69 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 1: the collective have a good time. And I recommend it 70 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 1: for anybody. Plan early. Get a house, Airbnb, rent, say 71 00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:46,720 Speaker 1: it's someone of the hotels, get a roommate, do whatever 72 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: you have to do to get there, but get there 73 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: and experience it. It's not like every night we pop 74 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 1: in as a party, but it's just like a vibe. 75 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: You hang out with your friends, you sit out all day, 76 00:03:56,360 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 1: you talk on the porch. I mean, real simple, easy 77 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: chill va And I'm grateful for that type of vacation 78 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: because I've had them all. Now with that being said, 79 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: we're moving on to today's guest. Cheryl Lee Ralph. I 80 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 1: told you guys she was gonna be on here. She 81 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: is an actress, a singer and author and activists. She's 82 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: in all the things, but arguably, as she says here 83 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: on the podcast today, what made her most known was 84 00:04:20,480 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: dream Girls, and that was in nine she received a 85 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. And 86 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 1: I'm not talking about Beyonce dream Girls. I'm talking about 87 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 1: her dream Girl. Um. She talks about it in so 88 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,039 Speaker 1: many ways, and I've watched and I have researched how 89 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,919 Speaker 1: her career has always been very curated in the sense 90 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 1: that she took roles that she specifically thought spoke to 91 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,479 Speaker 1: her spirit, her soul, who she is, what she wanted 92 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:50,040 Speaker 1: to present, and I do believe it has rewarded her. 93 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: She is in a hit show right now, Abbott Elementary. 94 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: She plays Barbara Howard. And when I tell you she 95 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: is nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 96 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 1: a Comedy Series, I mean, this woman has been working 97 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 1: all her life and here comes this show, Abbot Elementary, 98 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: and it changes everything. And that to me, my friend, 99 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 1: it's beautiful. It changes so much. Not only has she 100 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,200 Speaker 1: been doing amazing work, but here she is mine in 101 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: her business thinking nobody was looking for her or check 102 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: them for her and she's on that hit show. Shout 103 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:28,359 Speaker 1: out to Quinta Brunson and congratulations on your Emmy nominee, 104 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:31,560 Speaker 1: our nomination. Rather get it right, get it right. So 105 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:40,000 Speaker 1: without further ado, let's talk to sure Lee. Okay, surely, 106 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: thank you so much for joining me on Naked. I 107 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: really appreciate it. Um. The last time we saw each other, 108 00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: we had a full a full photo shoot before they 109 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: see an in plus went away. But that's okay. Show 110 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: business appeared, just disappeared. It's the nature of show business. 111 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: It just disappeared. They and and they're getting rid of 112 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: so much other things. But Jamale and I are are 113 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: under the impression that there's something in the words for us. 114 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:06,359 Speaker 1: So we'll put that in the universe. We'll put that 115 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 1: in there. You go, put it out in the universe. UM. 116 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: I wanted to sit with you and talk to you 117 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,080 Speaker 1: about a few things that I thought were very important 118 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 1: when I listened to you talk and I want you 119 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: and how you carry yourself. And I was hoping to 120 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: use this particular episode as a guide, UM as a professional, 121 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,720 Speaker 1: as someone who UM I believe only gives excellence at 122 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,200 Speaker 1: all times. Thank you, Where do you You're welcome. Where 123 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: do you find your motivation in the sense that it's 124 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:39,520 Speaker 1: easy to fall in love with our business, how do 125 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:42,760 Speaker 1: you stay in love with the business? Oh? My God, 126 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:45,359 Speaker 1: First of all, and when it comes to this industry, 127 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: the business of show, if you are meant to be 128 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: in it, there is no way you will not be 129 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: in it. If you are meant to do this, there 130 00:06:53,040 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: is no way you will not do it. Because it's 131 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,520 Speaker 1: like for me, I have to do it. If I 132 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: didn't do it, I mean, of course I'd be doing 133 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 1: something else, but I don't think I could ever have 134 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: the the joy and the this, this the fulfillment and 135 00:07:10,320 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: the pure yes and every day that I get doing 136 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: what I am meant to do. That's why I always 137 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: tell people, don't find a job, don't just work, find 138 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: your joy, because when you work in your joy, everything 139 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: changes everything. I had someone that was working with me 140 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:37,400 Speaker 1: wanting to be an assistant, and I realized that that, 141 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 1: you know, assistant, assisting isn't her thing. It is support, 142 00:07:43,280 --> 00:07:48,080 Speaker 1: It is presentation, it is you know, making people comfortable 143 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: and happy. And I said, girl, that's what you should do. 144 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: You should set up some work in your joy and 145 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: do that because you're great at that assisting not so much, 146 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,880 Speaker 1: but other stuff perfect. By the way, that's a true 147 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: message for everybody. When you are called to something, it 148 00:08:07,080 --> 00:08:09,280 Speaker 1: is what you do. But everybody doesn't have a calling. 149 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: That is a privilege, I think sometimes or everybody doesn't 150 00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:14,760 Speaker 1: find joy in and what they do, or they don't 151 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: know what it is that brings them joy. Um, they 152 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: haven't found they haven't found joy yet. And sometimes you 153 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: must be patient with yourself and allow yourself to live 154 00:08:28,400 --> 00:08:32,000 Speaker 1: long enough to find your joy. You know, we all 155 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: everybody thinks, Oh, I'm just gonna wake up and I'm 156 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: gonna find it, or I'm just gonna walk right into it, 157 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: or it's just gonna happen. No, sometimes you just have 158 00:08:41,240 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: to live, learn, read, work at some other things that 159 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: don't make you as happy until you find the things 160 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: that really do make you happy. And that takes time sometimes. 161 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,080 Speaker 1: And patience isn't something that everybody has given when it 162 00:08:55,120 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: comes to that. Can you tell me when you knew 163 00:08:58,840 --> 00:09:01,439 Speaker 1: about what about the fact that I had patients and 164 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm still working, I don't know, I don't know. I 165 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 1: always tell me that she said that will be your 166 00:09:11,800 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: challenge in life. Patients, patients with others, patients with yourself, 167 00:09:17,400 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 1: patients amen to that man. And there's a lesson that 168 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: I'm continuously learning. But when you when you knew that 169 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 1: you were an artist and actor and actress, Oh my god, 170 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,760 Speaker 1: I would really have to say. It happened in my 171 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 1: very first film. My very first film was a film 172 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: called The Piece of the Action, directed by Sydney Potier, 173 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:46,120 Speaker 1: and I played a very raw, little hood rat of 174 00:09:46,160 --> 00:09:50,800 Speaker 1: a girl. But this girl had potential, but nobody had hidden, 175 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:54,360 Speaker 1: nobody had inspired her, nobody had taken the time to 176 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:56,840 Speaker 1: really see her. And when I was able to bring 177 00:09:57,000 --> 00:10:01,080 Speaker 1: that character to life, that's how I knew I was 178 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: meant to do this. Uh. And when Mr Potti looked 179 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: at me and told me how good I was, that's 180 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: how I knew. I mean that legend, that icon, that 181 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: star looked at me and told me how good I was. 182 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:18,480 Speaker 1: Now I was like, yes, this is it, this is it? 183 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,200 Speaker 1: How bad day go? Do you remember the moment? Do 184 00:10:21,240 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: you remember what you were the scene you were finishing? 185 00:10:23,559 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: The was it during a break? What happened? It was 186 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 1: actually the audition process, and I remember it clearly because 187 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:36,120 Speaker 1: there were three women, including myself, up for the job, 188 00:10:36,520 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: and one was a great actress at the time, great 189 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: young actress by the name of Tamu. The other was 190 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Pamela Partier, his daughter, and then there was me. So 191 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:51,559 Speaker 1: now you look at those three and um, I'm an 192 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: absolute newcomer, and you look at those three and you think, 193 00:10:54,920 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 1: who's gonna get this job? And um, Mr Potier cast 194 00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: me because she told me I was. They said, yeah, 195 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: you're good, and that was That was just one of 196 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: the greatest moments in my whole life. Hearing that from him. 197 00:11:12,559 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 1: It was It was truly amazing. And I remember standing 198 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: there with him auditioning. I remember being so fascinated that 199 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 1: I was. It was at the Warner Brothers lot and 200 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: I was here. I was here, I was I was 201 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:30,560 Speaker 1: in Hollywood and I was doing this. Oh it was great, 202 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 1: and I almost missed the opportunity, almost missed it, but 203 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:39,079 Speaker 1: I didn't. You just said I was here in Hollywood. Um, 204 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,959 Speaker 1: for my research, I know that you're from if, USA, 205 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:47,560 Speaker 1: from Connecticut, water very Connecticut. So here you are in Hollywood. Wow. 206 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:53,120 Speaker 1: Thank You couldn't write a better scenario, right, Like, I'm 207 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,560 Speaker 1: in Hollywood across from this legend. And I'm aware because 208 00:11:56,640 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: oftentimes we get in front of these legends, and sometimes 209 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,840 Speaker 1: we don't understand the greatness. A lot of I know, 210 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: a lot of actors, sometimes singers, people might but don't 211 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,240 Speaker 1: understand the history of a legend in front of them. 212 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 1: A lot of people don't, and I do. I think 213 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: that's so sad sometimes not to be able to know 214 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: no exactly no history, because you know, when you know 215 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 1: your history, when you know more about the industry, when 216 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: you know more about people and what has been done 217 00:12:23,120 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: for you to get where you are, it's in some 218 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:30,760 Speaker 1: ways it's humbling and in some ways it's just wonderful 219 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: to be able to be in their space with them. 220 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:38,560 Speaker 1: And there I was with Kim and it was, oh 221 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: my god, it was it was just it was great. 222 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 1: And that's how I feel with you. I'm like, this 223 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 1: is a thank you. That's so you said you almost 224 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: didn't make it. What does that mean? Oh? I almost 225 00:12:50,000 --> 00:12:54,880 Speaker 1: didn't make it because I was singing with the Department 226 00:12:54,920 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: of Defense. I was on tour, and when I got 227 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:01,360 Speaker 1: back from the war, I was supposed to be going 228 00:13:01,400 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: to New York and I had a choice, you know, 229 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 1: where you make your connection, because I was coming from 230 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: I was either coming from truck or Ponto Pey, you know, 231 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: way out in the middle of the ocean, and I 232 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: had to stop in Los Angeles or San Francisco, and 233 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: I chose l A and you know, you were given, 234 00:13:20,559 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: you know, directions not to get off, not to you know, 235 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: change your your ticket, your trip. And I collected my 236 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:34,600 Speaker 1: luggage and I got off. I did not continue on 237 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:38,440 Speaker 1: to New York. And because I got off, I was 238 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 1: able to find my future. And at that time I 239 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:44,160 Speaker 1: had you know, he had a service where people would 240 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:47,200 Speaker 1: call you, and my acting teacher had left me about 241 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: ten messages trying to track me down. And the first 242 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: day I landed in California, I got the message and 243 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:59,839 Speaker 1: he said, you must be at Warner Brothers tomorrow. And 244 00:14:00,240 --> 00:14:04,200 Speaker 1: I'm nineteen. So at nineteen, you can't do anything. You 245 00:14:04,200 --> 00:14:06,480 Speaker 1: can't rent a car, you can't do anything. I don't 246 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 1: really know where I am. And I convinced my cousin 247 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: at the time, Maybell, to drive me to the Warner 248 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:24,520 Speaker 1: Brothers studio, and uh, nothing but faith, nothing but faith 249 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: that I should land there at that day to be 250 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: at Warner Brothers the next day to meet this man 251 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:36,760 Speaker 1: and get our call back. Oh my god, I mean, 252 00:14:36,800 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 1: you can't write better stuff than that. It was destined, 253 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: It was yours. It was just destined, just destined. So 254 00:14:43,800 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: you get this role, did you do? I don't know. 255 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,560 Speaker 1: Do they tell you on the spot book it's yours 256 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,680 Speaker 1: or do they No? No, I gotta call back. Okay. 257 00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: I got a call back and it was a full 258 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: on screen test. I was, you know, the whole, the makeup, 259 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:02,480 Speaker 1: the clothes, the everything, and you know, with him and 260 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: somebody else reading the role. I think I don't know 261 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:09,400 Speaker 1: if Hope Clark was cast yet, but I remember reading 262 00:15:09,680 --> 00:15:14,120 Speaker 1: with somebody and that was that. Then. I think the 263 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:16,840 Speaker 1: next day after the call back, I found out that 264 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,400 Speaker 1: I had gotten the role. Did you feel like it 265 00:15:19,480 --> 00:15:23,320 Speaker 1: was yours when you got the call? God? Yes, as 266 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: they say, I wasn't acting, I was acting, baby, I 267 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 1: was acting. I was giving it everything. Oh man. When 268 00:15:32,560 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: the movie came out and my dad saw the role, 269 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: saw the movie, he said, you are an actress because 270 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: I don't know who that little girl is. So yeah, 271 00:15:42,800 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: very powerful, what a beautiful story and so wonderfully timed 272 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:51,840 Speaker 1: and as we said, destined. So then I'm curious you 273 00:15:51,920 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: shoot this film and we all know how it ends. 274 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: In terms of you go on and have a very respectful, 275 00:15:59,160 --> 00:16:04,119 Speaker 1: beautiful career and you are famous, famous, right, You're famous. 276 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:08,640 Speaker 1: Talk to me about that word fame for you. How 277 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:13,640 Speaker 1: was it adjusting to being known and seen and recognized? 278 00:16:14,120 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 1: You know what, It's been a lifelong adjustment, because I'm 279 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:24,120 Speaker 1: still adjusting now, honest to God. There a moment and 280 00:16:24,240 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: I have said, I have said, what are these people 281 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: staring at me? And then it's like, oh my god, 282 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:39,920 Speaker 1: it's because you're you, and it's like, okay, yeah, duh, 283 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: I am, I'm I'm you know, So that it's it's 284 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:48,120 Speaker 1: been a life long adjustment. Although I tell you there 285 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: was this one time I was on the plane and 286 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: I was so proud of myself because I was up 287 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:57,320 Speaker 1: in first class and someone came up to me and 288 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: they said, um, I'm sorry, but aren't you aren't you 289 00:17:02,640 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 1: Whitney Houston And I said, no, I'm not. And then 290 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: they said somebody else said aren't you um um Sephny 291 00:17:13,000 --> 00:17:17,320 Speaker 1: Mills And I'm like, no, I'm not. And then I 292 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:20,399 Speaker 1: was getting off the plane and the guy comes up 293 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:22,639 Speaker 1: to me and he has like you know how sometimes 294 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: he could be at the bottle of champagne or whatever. 295 00:17:25,040 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: And he said, excuse me, but aren't you and I 296 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:31,719 Speaker 1: got a case of the ass. And I said, I 297 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: am not Whitney Houston. I am not Stephanie Mills. And 298 00:17:36,840 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 1: he turned beat red. He said, aren't you Shirley Ralph? 299 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:50,639 Speaker 1: And I said, oh my god, I was so embarrassed. Oh, no, embarrassed. 300 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:54,399 Speaker 1: I've never forgotten that, and I always carry that moment 301 00:17:54,480 --> 00:17:57,080 Speaker 1: with me. He said's why you always have to be good. 302 00:17:57,400 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: You gotta be nice to everybody. You said, I got 303 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:01,760 Speaker 1: exactly a case of the ass. Is that what you 304 00:18:01,840 --> 00:18:05,119 Speaker 1: called it? A case of the exactly? Yes? Yeah, you 305 00:18:05,119 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: know when you when you just I was just a 306 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: complete ass, you know it was. I was rude, you know, 307 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: just because I was upset and real and realize, you 308 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:17,879 Speaker 1: know whatever. But it was horrible. But that's beautiful. But 309 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,240 Speaker 1: by the way, always a wonderful self aware moment. I 310 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,840 Speaker 1: don't care because everybody has a bad day and every 311 00:18:22,840 --> 00:18:24,879 Speaker 1: now and again we get caught up in that. I 312 00:18:25,280 --> 00:18:27,359 Speaker 1: appreciate you being honest because it makes me feel a 313 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: little more human. So I won't I'll try to work in. 314 00:18:29,640 --> 00:18:31,400 Speaker 1: Let me try to work in my cases of when 315 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,320 Speaker 1: I catch the ass like I'm refin you being an 316 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:36,399 Speaker 1: ass today today every Chappion and carevery chappie is to 317 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: be a champion a chappion and carry Chappi and carry 318 00:18:39,480 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: Chappion Chappion and carry Chatpion and carry Cheppi afraid and 319 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:49,879 Speaker 1: sports and then the taming and make it work. Every 320 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: Chappi and they carry Chappi. Used to be a champion 321 00:18:52,560 --> 00:18:55,919 Speaker 1: a Chappi and they carry Chappi and they Chappi and 322 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,639 Speaker 1: they carry Chappi and they carry Chappi and the taming 323 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,199 Speaker 1: and the people. We talked about before about the different 324 00:19:03,880 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: actors in which you've been able to work with. You 325 00:19:05,640 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: mentioned you know, Sydney Portier and just the legends, and 326 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:13,720 Speaker 1: you have some roles that that every actor I think 327 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: that is successful has a role that's a cult classic 328 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:23,160 Speaker 1: or people wherever you are, airport, a restaurant, because Mabel's house. 329 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 1: What what is that role for you? What do people 330 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: consistently come up to you and say to you, you 331 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:36,239 Speaker 1: know what? It's generational, Okay, if they are of a 332 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:43,920 Speaker 1: certain generation, everybody remembers and loves Dina Jones Dream Girls. 333 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:51,400 Speaker 1: If they are of another generation, they love Rita Louise Watson, 334 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:56,240 Speaker 1: don't make me call you again, Sister Act two. They 335 00:19:56,280 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: love Sister Act two. They're those who will I will 336 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 1: never be Mosia's mother. I'll always be moitia mama. So 337 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: there is there's that, and then for others, you know, 338 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:20,360 Speaker 1: they love Claudette from Ray Donovan, I mean, they love Claudette. 339 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:24,560 Speaker 1: And then there are folks who you know, educators who 340 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:30,920 Speaker 1: just love, love, love, adore, appreciate respect, Barbara Howard, amid Elementary. 341 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:37,120 Speaker 1: So it's so generational, and I just have to thank 342 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: God for that, because, like you said, very often some 343 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: people have one role. I have several that people just 344 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,840 Speaker 1: will never forget, never forget. As you just said, every 345 00:20:49,840 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: one of those roles. I got chills. I just I 346 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: won't truly got chills because when you say it's generational, 347 00:20:55,200 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 1: and you go down the list, and so if you're like, 348 00:20:56,960 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: oh no, that you write that one and what role 349 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: after role, the role is amazing. Oftentimes I don't feel 350 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,880 Speaker 1: um and not that you need that, that you don't 351 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 1: need mainstream media's accolades, but I often feel that we 352 00:21:08,600 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: don't take our time and really say, gosh, queen, you 353 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 1: have done it for us. You have been everything for us. 354 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 1: Every role has been excellent. It's always with with regalness. 355 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: And I think now as you find yourself on this 356 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:30,360 Speaker 1: this uber popular series, has this been the most popular? 357 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: I know dream Girl? I would think dream Girl, but 358 00:21:32,600 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: that's not that wasn't a CV series. That was a show, 359 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,560 Speaker 1: a play. What about telligion? What about telling? Look at 360 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:41,240 Speaker 1: it this way? Look at it this way. In doing 361 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: a stage show, you meet people a night only that's 362 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,919 Speaker 1: the capacity of the theater. You mean that many people 363 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:56,400 Speaker 1: a night. It comes to television and streaming, you made 364 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:03,600 Speaker 1: a few million people ever re date. So it's for 365 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:08,480 Speaker 1: me it's like, wow, I would don't have to say that. 366 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,439 Speaker 1: Being nominated for a Tony, Oh my god, I was 367 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:16,160 Speaker 1: so happy. I was so young, it was so wonderful. 368 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: Now being nominated for the Emmy, it's like, oh my god, wait, 369 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 1: I got, you know, I got. They're equally as great, No, 370 00:22:32,000 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: and I almost feel like the Tony might be in 371 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: a different stratosphere in a sense that's so few because 372 00:22:37,640 --> 00:22:42,440 Speaker 1: it's so it's so special and precious. Right, Oh, absolutely, 373 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: both are great. Both are great. But everyone can't say 374 00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: I would assume more can say I've been nominated for 375 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,560 Speaker 1: an Emmy that I have been nominated for a Tony 376 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:52,880 Speaker 1: and even fewer can say I've been nominated for both. 377 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:57,640 Speaker 1: How about that? Yeah, now, Darling, it's like, let's see 378 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: what God has installed as come on, come on God, 379 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:07,640 Speaker 1: and God is working God God ready, God be God. 380 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: Um talk to me about Abbott Elementary when you I mean, 381 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 1: no one knows. But when you first got the role, 382 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,080 Speaker 1: what did you think the response would be? I had 383 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:24,520 Speaker 1: no idea. Actually, to tell you the truth, I did 384 00:23:24,560 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 1: have some idea, and I told Quinta, I said, girl, 385 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,360 Speaker 1: you know what, I'm gonna sit right here, do this 386 00:23:30,480 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: good work and collect my check because I I mean, 387 00:23:34,520 --> 00:23:37,120 Speaker 1: because I thought I was invisible. I did not think 388 00:23:37,200 --> 00:23:41,600 Speaker 1: anybody was going to really see me in this show. 389 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: I thought, you know, I certainly didn't see what it 390 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:49,439 Speaker 1: is that people are seeing and what people are loving. 391 00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: I knew I was a part of the incredible show 392 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:55,720 Speaker 1: and I really really loved it. But I'm just like, now, 393 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: I'm just like, okay, God, See that's how you know? 394 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: You never know? Because I was just laying in the cup, 395 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,240 Speaker 1: just doing what I do, and then all of a sudden, 396 00:24:04,240 --> 00:24:07,800 Speaker 1: that's happened and I was like what the ivy, Oh, 397 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:15,399 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you, thank you. M Yeah, let'll tell us. 398 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:17,680 Speaker 1: And you get this question often, but I do think 399 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: it's appropriate to shout out our sister Quintin Brunson Um. 400 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: And she was also I think on one season in 401 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:26,159 Speaker 1: the Black Lace Sketch Show right before before creating this, 402 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,520 Speaker 1: which is great. They produced the many great people and 403 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:31,320 Speaker 1: they and shout out to Robin d too. But talk 404 00:24:31,400 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: to me about Quita and there you know, she is 405 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 1: just this amazing package of humanity. She's kind, she's loving, 406 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:47,080 Speaker 1: she is smart, she is focused, she knows her show 407 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 1: and that she has been great to work with. And 408 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,600 Speaker 1: I look forward to the next ten years. I mean, 409 00:24:54,680 --> 00:24:58,520 Speaker 1: if Gray's Anatomy can have four hundred episodes, Oh my God, 410 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 1: just just go on and bless us, Father, God, bless us. 411 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,440 Speaker 1: And it's just carry on. God be Gotten. This is 412 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:09,119 Speaker 1: the name of this podcast episode, God be Gotten, because 413 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:14,920 Speaker 1: it might just let God be God. Amen. Yes, so 414 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:19,520 Speaker 1: you we have seen and I and it's it brings 415 00:25:19,600 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: me so much joy. But and I said this to 416 00:25:21,720 --> 00:25:24,360 Speaker 1: you before, you have always been excellent, but not just excellence, 417 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 1: black excellence. Dream Girls was um life changing. And you 418 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,760 Speaker 1: do say generational. My mother, my aunt love it. You 419 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: were a vision, thank you, of what could be for 420 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:40,159 Speaker 1: so many we didn't know that it existed. Did you 421 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:45,159 Speaker 1: understand the gravity of that role? Oh? Absolutely, abs so 422 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: fripping lutely. My whole career has been intentional to make 423 00:25:51,520 --> 00:25:56,240 Speaker 1: sure that other little girls, especially young people behind me, 424 00:25:56,640 --> 00:26:00,920 Speaker 1: realize you can do this, this can and be you, 425 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 1: and you don't have to sell yourself short for anybody. 426 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 1: You can be your best and win. For me. I 427 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:13,160 Speaker 1: was very intentional about that. I never wanted to do 428 00:26:13,280 --> 00:26:17,960 Speaker 1: anything that my community, my family, my people couldn't look 429 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 1: at and say, yes, that's my daughter, that's my child, 430 00:26:22,280 --> 00:26:25,280 Speaker 1: that's my neighbor, that's who I went to school with. 431 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:29,600 Speaker 1: I wanted them to have pride and love in the 432 00:26:29,680 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 1: things that I chose to do, because it's it's all 433 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: been intentional. I wrote about that in my book You Know, 434 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,440 Speaker 1: I did an audio version of it. It's available now 435 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 1: on Audible Redefining Diva two point oh, and I talked 436 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: about being intentional with my career choices because I was 437 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:53,480 Speaker 1: always aware and partly because of the examples that have 438 00:26:53,640 --> 00:26:56,840 Speaker 1: been set for me by other actresses who mentored me 439 00:26:56,880 --> 00:26:59,879 Speaker 1: and came before me. It is never just about me. 440 00:27:00,280 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: It is for others who will follow you talk about listen, 441 00:27:04,520 --> 00:27:08,760 Speaker 1: and not even just actresses. It's it's an example for 442 00:27:08,800 --> 00:27:11,919 Speaker 1: all of us, anybody who has a platform, anybody who 443 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:14,639 Speaker 1: is forward facing, who is marginalized, who's a woman in 444 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:17,760 Speaker 1: a world. Um that. Oftentimes you said something you didn't 445 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: think anybody was noticing it. Sometimes we don't. That's right, 446 00:27:20,800 --> 00:27:24,240 Speaker 1: because sometimes you just feel invisible. So when you say 447 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:27,040 Speaker 1: you don't feel seen or hadn't feel seen seen before, 448 00:27:27,080 --> 00:27:29,359 Speaker 1: what does that look like? And how did you and 449 00:27:29,359 --> 00:27:33,879 Speaker 1: how do you deal with it? Oh? Listen? Like I said, 450 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:37,119 Speaker 1: when I had that feeling with with this show, I 451 00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:40,320 Speaker 1: dealt with it like this, um here, I'm gonna do 452 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: my best job. I'm gonna collect that check and enjoy it. 453 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,359 Speaker 1: Because there could have been other places that I could 454 00:27:47,359 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: have been like nowhere, like sitting at home twid let 455 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 1: my phones. But no, I was right here ABC Warner 456 00:27:56,440 --> 00:28:00,959 Speaker 1: Brothers and this new young Dynamic create her Quindraw Brunson. 457 00:28:01,280 --> 00:28:05,400 Speaker 1: I was like, honey, enjoy this moment right here. Yes 458 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:09,159 Speaker 1: I am seen or unseen, Let me enjoy, Let me 459 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 1: do my best and look at that my best was 460 00:28:12,480 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 1: exactly what I needed to do. Not not just play, 461 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:19,159 Speaker 1: not just play small, not just say oh, well, what 462 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,199 Speaker 1: was me? I'm feeling like I'm being seen, I'm not 463 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:26,080 Speaker 1: getting enough a danger now, none of that. Do your job. 464 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:30,000 Speaker 1: I didn't. That's what I did. And look at what happened. Amen. Amen, 465 00:28:30,160 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: you even me a word for myself. Okay, So I 466 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,560 Speaker 1: just saw you in essence and always with this and 467 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,800 Speaker 1: you can posted on your Instagram, UM, this story. Um 468 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:42,720 Speaker 1: it was Janet Jackson's. I believe it was Janet Jackson's. Yes, 469 00:28:43,440 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 1: that was all true, you know. Okay, let me tell 470 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,400 Speaker 1: you something. Thirty two years ago, when I started doing 471 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: the work around HIV and AIDS, I mean, people were 472 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: quick to tell me I was stupid, quick to tell 473 00:28:56,400 --> 00:28:59,440 Speaker 1: me I was a fool, quick to say, nobody's gonna 474 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:02,560 Speaker 1: like you hang in her mind with those people. And 475 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:04,520 Speaker 1: when I had the idea that there had to be 476 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:08,320 Speaker 1: a black um reaction to this disease, because I really 477 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: felt that, um, it had every possibility of impacting us 478 00:29:14,280 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: in an awful way, which and it ended up doing. 479 00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:20,200 Speaker 1: And um I had an idea to do a concert, 480 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: and nobody supported me except for Janet Jackson, who wrote 481 00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:29,120 Speaker 1: the first check five thousand dollars, and because of that 482 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: first check, we are still here. Thirty two years later, 483 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:38,200 Speaker 1: Diva simply singing is the longest consecutive running musical AIDS 484 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: benefit in the country. Wow, no one was all true. 485 00:29:44,320 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: What what's what was your relationship with Janet before then? 486 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:51,880 Speaker 1: I did not really know Janet Jackson. It wasn't like 487 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,320 Speaker 1: we were hanging out or anything like that. I think 488 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,600 Speaker 1: maybe I had asked her about participating and she knew 489 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: what we were doing, and that's how it happened. And 490 00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: then years later, you know, you keep in little contact 491 00:30:05,600 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: with people, but it's not like they're crawling you on 492 00:30:07,600 --> 00:30:10,280 Speaker 1: the phone every day. But they did one thing for 493 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,840 Speaker 1: me that just changed the whole trajectory. They gave me help. 494 00:30:14,200 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: Sometimes you know that's all you need, You just need 495 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: and look at this, look at it this way. She 496 00:30:19,120 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: saw me, She got what I was trying to do. 497 00:30:22,160 --> 00:30:24,320 Speaker 1: She said, let me help you. If more of us 498 00:30:24,360 --> 00:30:28,480 Speaker 1: did that for each other, things would be vastly different. 499 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 1: So I see you, I honor you, I respect you. 500 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: Thank you for taking the time. I really appreciate you. 501 00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining us. A naked take care. I 502 00:30:39,400 --> 00:30:42,760 Speaker 1: don't want to uh end the show on a bad note, 503 00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 1: so I'm gonna stay up. I'm not gonna talk about 504 00:30:45,320 --> 00:30:46,800 Speaker 1: what's been going on in the news, because you know 505 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 1: I've been or Anton Raven lately. I do want again 506 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:52,040 Speaker 1: and thank Shirley Ralph again. We're sending her nothing but love, love, 507 00:30:52,080 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: love love. Go out and check out our page supporter. 508 00:30:54,520 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: Someone is amazing and I was she amazing, honey back, 509 00:30:57,320 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 1: don't crack, She's fine. Fine. Side story, Just before Jamale 510 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 1: and I learned our show was no longer happening on 511 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,800 Speaker 1: CNN Plus, we interviewed Shirley Ralph and we talked to 512 00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 1: her about life and how she was able to move 513 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: through life with so much ease, and how the show 514 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,760 Speaker 1: changed her and how over the years she has been 515 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:20,720 Speaker 1: able to be very loud and proud, and I reminded 516 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:23,120 Speaker 1: her and we talked about it here on the podcast, 517 00:31:23,120 --> 00:31:27,560 Speaker 1: about how a responsibility sometimes as people like to say 518 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 1: it's a responsibility, can be an obligation. But every responsibility 519 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: she's had as an actress, as an act of this 520 00:31:33,520 --> 00:31:36,520 Speaker 1: as a writer for the culture, for the community, has 521 00:31:36,560 --> 00:31:39,240 Speaker 1: been really special, and so I just wanted to give 522 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,640 Speaker 1: her her flowers. Thank you, Cheryl, you Ralph for coming 523 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,720 Speaker 1: on Naked next week. Yeah yeah, I don't want to 524 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:48,920 Speaker 1: miss it. Don't miss it, Special guests. Talk to you 525 00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:49,280 Speaker 1: all soon.