Grow A Pair

When people ask me about race, for me it’s a two-edged sword. While I’m aware that it happens, I really don’t spend hours thinking about all the racist things that happened to me in school, or #OscarsSoWhite.

Denzel said it perfectly in an interview:

“I’ve been the guy at the Oscars without my name being called, when my name is called, [and] when everybody thought they were going to call my name and they didn’t,” Washington said.

I’ve lived in but I will admit I ran into the most racism to date in school. Many of it so subtle and cunning. Since finding more like-minded people, it hasn’t been as big of an issue.

*If you want to read about it, check out my other article here. Warning. I don’t hold back and I run the chance of offending people that I know personally. And guess what? Don’t give a f*ck. After having those experiences I do believe you can push a loyal person to the point where they don’t care. And what’s that one quote that says don’t lose long term feelings for a short term mis-understanding? Well.

However I do list these experiences because once people think you reached a level of success, it was easy for you to obtain. If anything, most of these experiences you read about added fuel to my fire. The best revenge is success. Yes I have hired a lot of women interns if you were interested in knowing that!

“If you’re looking for an excuse, you’ll find one … Can’t live like that. Just do the best you can do.”

• No I don’t spend hours thinking about not being president of college organizations in school. Why focus on that when I have dozen of start-ups that I’ve been CEO, CFO, COO, President, sexy title here of? I get 5 to 10 business offers a week. I have to turn most of them down and really focus on the ones I want most. Yes, no matter how good the opportunity is, I can’t go in 20 different directions!
• I don’t spend hours thinking about the times I was on the do not call list. Why do that when I’m around more like-minded people?
• I don’t think about all those professors that said you won’t get cast in anything. Why think of them when I just booked my first lead role?
• I don’t think about those mean college kids that think the only way to move up the corporate ladder is to cut other people down. Why do that when they are adding me on LinkedIn? When people go from ignoring you to asking you to advice, you know you made it.

If you noticed, I grew a pair and erased it from my brain. But dig in my memory bank when I need to. Especially if someone comes along and needs inspiration-basically look at how many times people tried to f*ck me over. And if I can make it through all of that shit, so can you. Whatever you are doing through, you can make it on the other side smelling like a rose.

Every once in a while, you run into a idiot that you have to straighten out. But isn’t that life?

I do have an article on the subject. It will potentially be the first and last article I will ever write on racism. If there is interest in me releasing it, let me know.

Hello! I’m Alesha! I’m a musician, actress, entrepreneur and writer and foodie. I also eat & write love letters to food (I’m not joking, I confess my love @aleshampeterson) Follow on Twitter. If you like what I’m writing, give me a heart and share! :) I like hearts. Let me know what you want me to write! Click here!