Tag

los angeles

Jul 28
0

Where Are We Now?

By | Baby Jade, Uncategorized | No Comments

This weeks blog is a flashback to my 24 year old self. It was January 2009 and Obama had just been inaugurated, and I was on cloud 9:

“From slavery to abolishment, from sitting in the rear of the bus, lynchings, beatings, fire hose, colored vs. white, sit-ins, pickets, marches and not being able to vote or count as human beings, to civil rights. From segregation, to integration. From Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X to Rev. Jesse Jackson, one thing carried them through all the pain: HOPE! From fear to strength. HOPE! Hope begot drive, drive begot strategy, and strategy begot results. HOPE!
Results lead us to a man, a man who rose above all expectation of him with pride, faith, dignity, drive, and confidence. His was a message of unity and togetherness to get us through the tough times, and an urgent craving to live as one race and to embrace our differences. Barack Obama has done the inevitable; he’s done something many thought they’d never see in their lifetime. He became the 44th, first African-American President. President Obama has a long journey ahead of him, but he believes we can make the difference, all of us, not just for the present time but for the future. What he asks of you? To unify and embrace one another and help those we can; to coexist with each other and to bear our fellow mans heartaches and joys as if they were our own.
There’s hope now. Hope for my brother Samuel, for Noh, for Alem, for Lulia, for Henok, for Naomi and for all children regardless of their color/creed/faith. A hope that was once only dreamed has become a reality. January 20, 2009 marks a day where dreams and aspirations are encouraged and doubt is nowhere in sight. On this day, as an African-American woman, I feel invincible.
We have overcome.”

As I sit here and re-read this idea of my 24 year old self I ponder the past 5 years and wonder if that HOPE is still alive. Have there been any changes? You decide. And if the answer is no, do something about it. Don’t remain silent.

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

Let’s connect on social media, I’d love to hear from you:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethlehemawate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethlehemawate
Snapchat: betu_la

Xo, B

Mar 10
0

And the Oscar goes to…..

By | Baby Jade, Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

My favorite season has come and gone but like always, it has left me with excitement and renewed my sense of purpose. In a night where the best of the best are chosen by their peers, this night is the biggest in cinematic history. I’m talking about the Oscars!
The Oscars have always held a special place in my heart. From the time I can remember Oscar Sunday was the most important day in my life. I’d make snacks, dress up in a fancy gown, invite everyone over (and even have a faux red carpet). It was great!! My parents indulged me because they understood how important this night was to me.
The Academy Awards are about more than just a celebration of the year’s biggest films. They were the wave of the future. In a time where African American’s weren’t even allowed to sit with white people the Academy not only recognized their first African American with an award but allowed for that star to be present. I’m talking of course of Hattie McDaniel.
While it’s true that Ms. McDaniel still sat in the segregated section at the 1940’s award show, she still made history that night by winning. She faced backlash, unfortunately, for the role in which she won. But I believe she responded to her critics best when she said, “Why should I complain about making $700 a week playing a maid? If I didn’t, I’d be making $7 a week being one.”
Another Oscar year that I cherish was the 1999 Oscars when Roberto Benigni won for best Foreign Film and went absolutely nuts! He won for the film “Life Is Beautiful”, a film about a father determined to shield his son from the horrors of being in a concentration camp.
Even the Muppets have had many a cameo at these prestigious awards. Miss Piggy!? Ahhhhh!
Even more recently, the number of African’s really making their mark and getting noticed by Hollywood. A new found favorite is the beautiful and flawless Ms. Lupita Nyong’o. I beam extra hard when I think of her win. It shows me that opportunities for me are endless and that I too can accomplish anything and everything I want with dedication, hard work, and a dream.
I could go on and on about the moments that have meant something to me but we’d be here all night. I just want to close out by quoting the gracious Ms. Nyong’o:
“It doesn’t escape me for one moment that so much joy in my life is thanks to so much pain in someone else’s.”

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

Let’s connect on social media, I’d love to hear from you:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethlehemawate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethlehemawate
Snapchat: betu_la

Xo, B

Oct 24
0

You’ll Always Find Your W-A-Y…

By | Baby Jade, Blog, Uncategorized | No Comments

As the intercom turns on and I hear the voice of the Captain telling us we’re getting ready to land, my heart does a series of summersaults. This is it. In 30 minutes we would be landing in the city of Angels. I was embarking on the biggest, life changing adventure and all I could think about was “Hope there’s a Target nearby.”

The decision to move was fueled 60% the entertainment industry, 25% a chance to establish my independence, and 15% rebellion. Having always been “the good child” I knew that moving to Los Angeles defied my folks’ wish for me to graduate college, find a good Eritrean husband, and produce as many children as was humanly possible. Every girls dream right? Wrong! I craved more!! I wanted to run the world, I wanted to eat life, I wanted to explore a new city, but mostly I wanted to entertain! I figured everything could be accomplished if I just achieved that last goal. So, I rented an apartment online, bought a one way ticket, kissed everyone goodbye and left.  I felt energized! I felt empowered! I felt invincible! The feeling was so great and lasted me most of my flight. I’m brought back to reality as the intercom once again goes off and the Captain informs us it’s a crisp 65 degrees in LA that night.

As with anything, being in LA was about finding my placement. It was rough in the beginning, I felt I had to shed the Minnesota nice and put on a tougher shield. The unbalance was eating away at my soul and causing me to be the worst version of myself I’d ever seen. Moving back home seemed like the only way to rectify my situation. I was working retail, I didn’t have a car, I lived 3 in a 2-bedroom to save on rent…nothing was adding up. I was just about to give up when one day I saw it! A Warner Bros. production truck pulled into a side street. I looked ahead and what I saw lit me up like a child at Disneyland (the other plus to So. Cal), cameras, lights, wires or every shape and size, and so many people! I had walked right onto a filming location. I sat in awe as I saw the director call “action” and everyone but the actors were silent as the grave. The scene went on without a hitch and as the director yelled “cut” and the people around me started bustling to prepare for their next scene, I was reminded. Reminded why I moved to Los Angeles, reminded where my passion lied, reminded who I was just 2 years before.

I am now coming up on my 5 year anniversary. Moving to LA was the best wor

*Thank you for continuously reading my blogs. For more content check out my YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/c/bethlehemawate*

Let’s connect on social media, I’d love to hear from you:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethlehemawate
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethlehemawate
Snapchat: betu_la

Xo, B

st decision I have ever made. Here’s to another 5 years: salute!!

More Baby Jade (aka: Bethlehem Awate) on the way…