This post was originally written for Richmond Magazine, but could not be run because the event was sold out – and the magazine doesn’t want to tease it’s readers. So, it’s not a dance or theater review or observation, but when given the opportunity to have an audience with the Queen, who can say no? Here’s my 5-minute one-on-one interview with the one and only Queen Latifah:
AN AUDIENCE WITH THE QUEEN: Latifah That Is
An Audience with the Queen by Julinda D. Lewis
Women’s Achieve Summit
At: The Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 N 3rd Street, RVA 23219
Conference: October 15, 2019
Ticket Prices: $25 Registration
Info: AmericanEvolution2019.com
This post was originally written for Richmond Magazine, but could not be run because the event was sold out – and the magazine doesn’t like to tease its readers. So, with a few adjustments, here’s my interview with the one and only Queen Latifah:
The Women’s Achieve Summit held at the Greater Richmond Convention Center October 15th commemorated the achievements of trailblazing women who have contributed to Virginia and American history. Award-winning performer, renowned actress, and groundbreaking female rapper Queen Latifah was selected as the Summit’s host.
The media was granted an audience with the Queen early Tuesday morning. I left my house in the pitch black dark – before sunrise, at 6:30am. At 7:30am, The Queen, born Dana Elaine Owens in Newark, NJ on March 18, 1970, swept regally into the room, face flawless, hair perfectly coifed. She is more beautiful in person that on screen. She was not up so early to perform or model, but rather to share with us the wisdom gained from 30 years as a public figure in the arts, business, and activism.
Latifah, who grew up in New Jersey, has family ties in Northern Virginia. “Having traced my roots to Virginia six generations, before America was America,” she said, “I know there’s strength in our lives, strength in our bloodlines, intelligence, and resilience, and power that we have yet to tap into on a continuous basis.” It is, perhaps, these deep family ties that anchor her strength and keep her focused on power, resilience, and self-identity. She credits her grandmothers, aunts and other strong family members and counts public figures like Patti LaBelle, Teena Marie, Dr. Betty Shabazz, and Gloria Steinem among those who contributed to making her the force that she is.
What do you see as the greatest challenges and achievements of women living here in Virginia, in the former capitol of the Confederacy, I asked her? Speaking of fighting an uphill battle for women to achieve power, she commented that, “those in power hold onto power, and greed knows no end. Unfortunately, it’s a bit of an addiction; people need some greed intervention.”
“Women locking arm in arm is one powerful way to do it in what has been a patriarchal society. Let a woman lead. We have led – we just don’t get the credit for it. We have to believe that it’s okay to use our power. Own it. We can do a lot more together than we can separately.”
In our brief five minutes together, she spoke of owning your power. “Use your voice. Own your voice. Believe in yourself. Speak on your own behalf,” she said. What would she like our young women to know? “Never lose your idealism. Don’t let this world tell you that you can’t do things. Don’t let the negativity that you see in the media infiltrate your positive thinking. It’s just the TV; turn it off!”
By the way, I opened our conversation by showing the Queen a photo of her with my mother, in New York, when Latifah was the host of CBS’s syndicated “The Queen Latifah Show” from 1999-2001. “That’s the original joint,” she remarked when she saw her former set, adding, “I haven’t seen myself in pink in a long time.”
Julinda D. Lewis is a dancer, teacher, and writer who was born in Brooklyn, NY and now lives in Eastern Henrico County.
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Photo Credits: Julinda D. Lewis & the Lewis Family Photo Album
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