Defamed

Golden value

Today is my 23rd birthday and I'm traveling to Los Angeles for an audition for a new movie called "Everyone Needs Love". I'm auditioning for the role of "Kristy" who is kind of an extra in the movie. "Kristy" is the friend of the main character, but "Kristy" dies off about 20 minutes into the movie.

I know it's not the most glamorous role in the movie but I'm hoping it's my first real big break. I've had even smaller roles in movies like being a waitress, or front desk receptionist. I've been dreaming of being an actress since I was a 5-year-old little girl, watching Turner Classic Movies, BET, and all the VHS's I could.

I grew up wanting to have a beautiful home, cars, fur coats, and winning Oscars for my heart pounding role in a drama or being absolutely obsessed over a thriller role. I wanted to terrify people from my roles in horror films too.

I wanted to be a stopping force in Hollywood. The Angela Bassets, Kerry Washington, Taraji P's, Niecey Nash of television and film. I've been practicing my speech since I was about 11, every time I'm in the shower, in front of a mirror, sitting in first period math class. It's been the same speech too it always goes a little something like this.

"Thank you, thank you. I can't imagine who to thank in this short amount of time, so first I just want to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey. I couldn't imagine getting here without those who supported me through the highs and lows of my career. This award isn't just mine, it belongs to all the dreamers out there, the little girls, the little boys, the adults who still have dreams in their hearts. To my parents thank you for giving your little girl the chance to chase her dreams. To the love of my life, thank you for loving me through this crazy ass reoller coaster ride. To my fans, you're my family, my support system, I wouldn't be here without you all. This moment is for the dedication everyone showed me, and your love means more to me than anything else, so thank you all, I love you".

I know it seems dramatic or self-absorbed to think about the day I won an award for my acting but it's my dream. You have the Beyoncé's of the world, and then you have the Meryl Streeps. I want my own star on the walk of fame; I want generations after me to be in love with me because of how talented I am.

Growing up in the Bay Area my chances of becoming somebody hasn't always been in my favor. If anything, you were lucky to make it to your 18th birthday if you hadn't got shot dead in the street or thrown in prison on a trumped-up police charge. A lot of young girls are fighting off pimps and needles being driven into their veins.

I've seen things happen to people who were battling demons. People who were talented and tossed to the side because of being Black. Being Black in America comes with a target on our backs we never asked for.

Life in the lower bottoms of Oakland hasn't always been easy, but it hasn't always been bad either.

Being from the Bay Area has some great perks to it, the stars that have made it out the hood, the multi-billion-dollar companies that are homed in San Francisco.

I'm proud to be a part of my city, but I'm also working hard to be a part of something even bigger.

I want to be another legend from 'Da Town', I hope to work with people like Ryan Coogler. I want to keep Oakland and the Bay Area on the map.

We're more than the "hood", we're culture, we're trendsetters, we're the heart of the Bay.

I haven't lived with my parents since I was 17 years old, my father hated the fact that I was a dreamer. He wanted me to be a doctor, lawyer, or just anything that wasn't me "living in the stars".

I left home after my dad told me that I wouldn't amount to anything. That'd I'd waste my life trying to chase after a dream.

It broke my heart, yet I knew I couldn't stay there anymore. At the time I was working and still on honor roll, literally a month away from graduation.