As part of Women’s History Month, actress Phylicia Rashad addressed the Prairie View A&M University community as a SPIT Knowledge Lecturer. Rashad, a native Houstonian, is most famous for her role as Clair Huxtable on the Cosby Show and currently plays the mother of actor Taye Diggs on the FOX TV Show Empire. SPIT Knowledge (Students’ Participating in Transcendent Knowledge) offers a twist to the traditional college lecture program and offers a diverse genre of speakers to students and the surrounding community. It is also a way to inform and stimulate interests that otherwise may not have been aroused in a traditional classroom setting.
Rashad highlighted her journey touching on her childhood and the beginning phases of her career. Guests heard family stories that featured her parents, siblings, Debbie Allen and Tex Allen, and her children. Lessons were shared about a range of topics from knowing yourself, knowing whose you are and overcoming obstacles. “You don’t need anybody’s permission to be great,” said Rashad, “Know that you stand on the shoulders of the people who’ve come before you.” While addressing the current political climate, Rashad encouraged attendees not to get caught up in the picture that they forget it is framed. She shared advice she received from someone she deems a great being, “You are beings far greater than you know,” said Rashad, “if you experience poverty and lack in your lives, it is not the truth of your being; it is a condition brought about by your thinking.”
The mother of two spoke on how her career and her duty as a mother intersected during the early years of her son’s life. As a working actress, there were times when Rashad brought her children to auditions and on set to work. At one point in her journey, Rashad was a divorced single mom who was out of work. She would travel to the unemployment office every week at her scheduled time to collect her check. However, to go to the appointed time at the office, she had to choose to miss auditions and job interviews. One day as she stood in the unemployment line, she went into a prayerful place and said to herself, “I swear by the presence of God within me this is my last day in the unemployment line and it was.” Shortly after, Rashad received a call for a soap opera and did it.
When asked about her thoughts and feeling about women’s empowerment, Rashad stated the power of women has always been present. “These are new and fancy terms, women have always been powerful,” said Rashad, “How do you think this planet got so populated?” She reiterated how unnecessary it is to have anyone’s permission, and emphasized where the women go, the culture goes.
Rashad encouraged students to work to know whom they are and that they do not owe it to anyone to be less than who they are. “Who and what we really are is much greater than any headline,” said Rashad, “and nobody is ever going to give anybody an award for being truthful to one’s self.” Her advice to graduating students and recent graduates is to take the fun from college with them, “You’ve got to take that fun with you and bring it to whatever you do and wherever you go.” She encouraged them to look back in gratitude and look forward in faith. “Be grateful for all that has been afforded you,” said Rashad, “ because gratitude attracts grace.”
To view the official PVAMU Facebook Live of the SPIT Knowledge event with Phylicia Rashad click the link.