When I was in acting school in the '90s, I declared I would be successful. If nobody picked me, I would pick myself. I meant it, though I didn’t really expect it to happen. But in 1999, I was asked to perform a 10-minute monologue about Harriet Tubman. Reluctantly, I agreed. I borrowed a gray wig from my mother-in-law and a cane, did my research, and delivered the monologue. Over the years, people would hear about my Harriet Tubman piece and invite me to perform it, usually in February or March. And each time, I did.
In 2018, I attended the United Solo Festival, where I saw Velvet Determination by Cynthia Shaw and First by Faith by Richarda Abrams. Inspired by these shows, I decided to enter the festival the following year. However, I quickly realized my story wasn’t yet written. I began working on it, aiming to debut in 2020. But then COVID hit, and I had to put my plans on hold.
I kept revising, refining, and eventually, in 2022, I set my sights on a 2023 debut. My Life Is Not My Own finally premiered on March 24, 2023, at the Doles Center in Mt. Vernon, NY, as part of Women’s History Month. The response was beyond anything I could have imagined. Then, in my New York City debut at the United Solo 2023 Fall Festival, I was honored to receive the award for Best Biographical Show.
This journey has taught me the power of resilience, inspiration, and trusting in my own voice. My Life Is Not My Own is not only a testament to my path but also a reminder that sometimes, the most profound journeys start with picking yourself.
Who Is Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, c. March 1822 – March 10, 1913 was an American abolitionist and social activist. After escaping slavery, Tubman made some 13 missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, including her family and friends, using the network of antislavery activists and safe houses known collectively as the Underground Railroad.
Tubman was an activist in the movement for women's suffragIn 1849, Tubman escaped to Philadelphia, only to return to Maryland to rescue her family soon after. Slowly, one group at a time, she brought relatives with her out of the state, and eventually guided dozens of other enslaved people to freedom. Tubman or "Moses", as she was called, travelled by night and in extreme secrecy, and later said she "never lost a passenger". After the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 was passed, she helped guide escapees farther north into British North America (Canada), and helped newly freed people find work.