Party of 5

If you could have dinner with 5 people who would they be and why? 

Zora Neale Hurston or George Schuyler
Andy Cohen 
Dorothy Dandridge
Tina Fey
Sandra Day O’Connor

All of these are interesting choices, I know. For years, though, I have adored Dorothy Dandridge. I thought she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen (besides my mommy), and I loved everything she did. By the time I turned 12, I knew every single word to Carmen Jones. Sandra Day O’Connor has been my someone I’ve been in awe of since my freshman year of college when I got to meet her, and she told me, and I quote, “you have a beautiful spirit. Please don’t let the world jade you.” She, then, told me that if I believe I can change history, “you’ll do it. You remind me of me. Only you dress better.” By history, she meant that I could become the nation’s first black woman Supreme Court Justice. Tina Fey has been my favorite everything since I was in the fifth grade living in NH and I was allowed to watch my first full-length episode of SNL. She was on there. Something about her seemed comfortable, cool, down-to-earth and humble. Ever since then, I’ve been dying to hold a conversation with her. Andy Cohen is just adorable, and he just seems like a genuinely good, well-meaning person. I live for seeing him on Watch What Happens Live. Finally, I had to turn to one of my favorite eras in American History, the Harlem Renaissance, and I found that choosing between Zora Neale Hurston and George Schuyler like choosing between Chanel No. 5 and Chanel Mademoiselle. You just can’t. Well I can’t. Both of these writers are everything to me not just because of their works, but because of their personalities. They went against the mold and were often criticized for their less-than-popular opinions concerning race. I love trendsetters. I love people who do things first, not simply for the sake of being the first, but because they can’t help it. It’s just in their nature. What all of my dinner guests have in common is that they are not only intelligent, but they have/had great sense of humors. They get that in order to go through life, you have to laugh a little. Even though Dorothy Dandridge committed suicide, the people that knew her commented on how she was always joking around and laughing.

My list could have kept going. For the record: the absence of Wendy Williams does not mean I don’t want to break bread with her. I just think that dinner would be better with other company like maybe Alex Trebek, Toni Morrison and my grandmother, Gertrude, whom I never had the pleasure of meeting. I still whole-heartedly stand behind my best friendship with Wendy though.

If I could have dinner with five people who the hell would it be?

Michelle Obama: bad bitch contest and she’s in first place. Ivy league educated, associate at the sixth largest firm in America, first lady of the united states, wife, mother, daughter, and looks damned good doing it all. In a day and age where girls look up to Nicki Minaj the queen of basic bitchness it is amazing to see someone like her representing strong black women and dispelling the stereotype that we are neck rolling, teeth sucking banshees.

Mirian Wright Edelman: I love children and will spend the rest of my life working with them. She founded the Children’s Defense Fund as a voice for the millions of neglected children in this country. I want to walk in her footsteps and protect and educate as many young people as possible. I would def ask her advice on how to soldier on on those days I want to choke a child.

Paula Deen: who else is going to fry the chicken?

Malcolm X: Even if I don’t agree with his religious practices you can’t deny the power of transformation and what an education can do to even the most hopeless of individuals. In the end he realized what was going on in his organization and changed his worldview through a closer relationship with God. He lost his life fighting for his beliefs. He can convince you of anything. No one man should have all that power.

Sean Combs or Sam Walton: he’s a complete douche, but I respect every ounce of his hustle. My fellow HU alum went from losing an internship to being the definition of a hip hop mogul. Sam Walton defines wealthy white man. He has so much money his descendants who have never worked a day in their lives are all at the top of the Forbes list. All in all I just want to know about their business acumen and wealth building techniques.  

Oprah: She is everything. Period, point and the blank. She is the idea of everything I would want to be in life. Once upon a time, I ran around telling everyone she was my real mother. This is my truth, deal with it.

Olivia Pope: Her gut is her instinct. I WISH I had that much trust and conviction in my direction. She would teach me a lot about confidence over Salmon. These are facts.

My grandmother: This is the woman that taught me so much in this world. She was the sweetest soul and is still to this day, my heart. Plus she would probably hold my hand and tell me not to be nervous around the ‘rich people’ :)

Barack Obama: He is the leader of the free world and at the same time the most awesome human being. HOW he is able to face so much adversity and still have so much kindness and hope to change, is so admirable.

Michelle Obama: She is just the personification of a phenomenonal woman…..She is literally the epitome of class and dignity, and she does it all with a sickening wrap!

Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Kennedy, Tupac, Harriett Tubman, and my Grandfather would be the dinner party of my dreams. For years I have admired Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedys style. Being able to meet them and talk fashion as well as gossip (If Marilyn Monroe and Jackie were left in the same room what would go down? If I were Jackie I'd straighten Marilyn out for messing with my man.) would be a amazing. In my head they are my best girl friends. Tupac was his own person with his own direction. I would just listen to him talk about anything. I’m sure he could do a commentary on paint drying and I'd be just as intrigued as I would be with him commenting on a fight. Plus I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants to know who shot him or if he is even dead. How can you not admire a women who helped free slaves?! Harriett Tubmans selflessness is something I admire greatly. Hearing her first hand account on what really went down would inspire me greatly, especially at a time in my life when I have no idea how to get where I want to be. Last but certainly not least I would like to meet and have dinner with my Grandfather. I never got to meet him but I heard we are alike in many ways. Plus I love hearing family stories that other members tend to “forget” because they are embarrassing.