August 5, 2024 • 32 mins
Tenacity is often portrayed as acting with a confident, if insensible inevitability. Characters like Creed's Donnie Johnson, Selena and even Jack Sparrow of The Pirates of the Caribbean barrel into adventures filled with long odds and only slightly wavering determination. While their stories are wrapped within a film's tidy two-ish hours, how can we maintain the same level of drive when our plot lines extend out months, years and even decades?
Today's guest, Aba Arthur, found that happy medium in her pursuit of a Hollywood career. While the list of roles in her film credit continues to grow—The Color Purple, Wakanda Forever and Respect to name a few since 2021—Arthur discusses on today's episode how she pursued and found a deep self-belief that this pathway she chose was right and worthwhile.
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Follow what's new with Aba on Instagram @abathegoddess.
Original music composed by Nelson Walker.
Recorded at Interplay Recording and Multimedia.
Written and produced by Erika Randall and Tim Grassley.
The Ampersand is a production of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
ANNOUNCER (00:03):
A&S.
ABA ARTHUR (AS ACHILD): Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
ERIKA RANDALL (00:12):
I imagine little girl Aba Arthur dressed
to the nines, teeteringdown an imaginary red carpet
in her mother's goldhigh-heeled shoes.
[APPLAUSE]
She arrives in front of amirror with a sparkle in her eye
to practice an Oscars acceptancespeech for a film future
Aba will direct and star in.
ABA ARTHUR (AS A CHILD) (00:28):
I'm so happy I got this award.
ERIKA RANDALL (00:30):
I hear the imaginary strings start up
to usher her off stage, butshe lifts a tiny, elegant hand
to silence the conductor.
Hm, "I'm not finishedyet," she says,
both playfully andin total command.
"It took a minute to get here.
Let me have my time."
ABA ARTHUR (AS A CHILD): I want to thank Mom. (00:46):
undefined
I want to thank Dad.
[INAUDIBLE]
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
ERIKA RANDALL (00:55):
I can't imagine what
it was like for Aba walkingonto the set of The Color Purple
and into the arms of Oprah.
Gathering with that superstarcast under a magnificent tree.
Dearest Anders, oh, you willdiscover on today's episode
that it took Aba a deep, patienttenacity, and trust in herself
to arrive at this moment.
(01:18):
At her core, I can't imagine shethinks anything other than this
is just the beginning.
An exhale of, finally, beforeshe steps out of the car
onto that wide red carpet.
On The Ampersand, we callthis bringing together
of the impossible-- thealchemy of "ANDing."
Together, we'll hear stories ofhumans who imagine and create
(01:41):
by colliding their interests.
Rather than thinking of "and"as a simple conjunction in that
Conjunction Junctionkind of way,
we will hear stories of peoplewho see "and" as a verb.
A way to speak the beautifulwhen you intentionally
let the soft animal of yourbody love what it loves.
As St. Mary Oliverasks, what is it you
plan to do with your onewild and precious life?
(02:03):
I love this question.
When I'm mothering,creating and collaborating,
it reminds me toreplace a singular
idea of what I think I shouldbecome with a full sensory verb
about experiencing.
I'm Erika Randall, and this isAba Arthur on The Ampersand.
ABA ARTHUR (02:26):
I have such a vivid memory of getting off the plane.
I'm coming fromGhana and I'm coming
to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
So I had only seen on TVor in pictures these guys,
and they wear jeans andthey have these big hats.
But I didn't knowanything about them,
so they felt likefictional characters.
(02:49):
And I remember so well gettingoff the plane at the airport
and I saw these guys, whichI later learned the term was
"cowboy."
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (02:59):
In their Wranglers.
ABA ARTHUR (03:00):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:01):
In the hats.
ABA ARTHUR (03:01):
Yes, in the hats.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:02):
And the boots.
ABA ARTHUR (03:03):
And the boots.
And I remember getting offthe plane and just being like,
something just happened.
Because these people are notwhere I just came from, and now
there are a lot of them.
And I've been watching them.
So this is so cool.
I've stepped into something new.
I think that is the first bigmemory that I have, period.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:21):
Period.
ABA ARTHUR (03:23):
And clearly changed my life.
ERIKA RANDALL: Changed your life. (03:25):
undefined
That's incredible.
You arrive in the Springs,all the things happen.
Next moment, where's the nextpostcard to yourself that says,
ah, Aba, here we go?
ABA ARTHUR (03:35):
Oof.
Oof.
It's a tough one.
My first experience with racism.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:40):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (03:41):
A young boy in my school
told me that my skin was dirty.
Yeah.
I went back to classand I was crying.
My teacher asked me whathappened, and I told her,
and then she disciplined me.
I had to sit in thecorner and I had
to face the wall, because shesaid I was being a distraction.
(04:04):
My crying wasdistracting the class.
Yes, this is a true story.
So I had to sit in a cornerof the room and face the wall.
And I remember so vividlyat some point they were just
continuing with class.
And I was like, what?
I don't know how old I am.
Let's pick an age.
ERIKA RANDALL: Say eight or nine? (04:21):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (04:21):
I don't know, eight?
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (04:25):
All on the Wikipedia page
I'm building for you.
Age eight.
ABA ARTHUR (04:30):
This is still elementary school, though--
too young.
ERIKA RANDALL (04:33):
Too young to hear that, to feel that,
to be put in a corner.
ABA ARTHUR (04:36):
And I'm listening to the class continue.
She's teaching, and I'min the corner of the room.
And so at some point I turnedaround and I'm watching them,
and they're just having class.
Everybody's just continuingon like everything is normal.
And that was a strong memory.
That was a strong memory.
ERIKA RANDALL (04:56):
Is that memory as yet in a film?
Because I'm watching that movie.
ABA ARTHUR (05:00):
Oh, wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:01):
Does Ohemaa have that?
Am I pronouncing yourcompany's name right?
ABA ARTHUR (05:03):
Yes, thank you.
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:06):
But can you see that movie though?
ABA ARTHUR (05:07):
It's just going to take a second.
Probably.
That's a tough one for me.
It's going to take me asecond to work through that.
Because I have towatch that scene,
if they're going to do it.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:19):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (05:20):
And that's a lot.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:21):
And then it's living it and losing it.
ABA ARTHUR (05:22):
Yeah, and direct it.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:23):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (05:24):
That's going to take me a second.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:26):
And hearing that story, sharing that story,
is a critical actionin undoing racism.
And the work thatyou choose, you
are writing critical storiesabout undoing racism.
You are ANDing withpolitical science the way
(05:46):
that you're in theaterand political science.
But your bodypolitic is your body
showing up as representation.
Does that feel true for you?
Does that feel like yourpolitic, as well as,
or is that your primary?
ABA ARTHUR (05:58):
No, it is and.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:59):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (05:59):
I love ampersands.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:01):
[LAUGHS]
ABA ARTHUR (06:02):
I just want to say that.
I love ampersands.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:04):
Isn't that great?
ABA ARTHUR (06:04):
Yeah.
I actually have threeof them in my home.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:07):
This was preordained.
ABA ARTHUR (06:08):
Wooden ones.
Absolutely.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:09):
Oh, yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (06:10):
Yes, I love ampersands.
And multi-hyphenate isa term that it took me
a while to sink into.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:18):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (06:19):
So for me, it just was always "&."
ERIKA RANDALL (06:21):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (06:22):
This & this & this.
And I'm equally all of them.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:26):
And with that is engaging those identities
to then bring forth newcharacter into worlds.
I'm listening to you andI'm watching your reel,
and I don't thinkyou need confidence.
Do you need confidence?
ABA ARTHUR (06:41):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:41):
No.
ABA ARTHUR (06:42):
I have a lot of it.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (06:43):
Where did this come from, and can we bottle it?
ABA ARTHUR (06:46):
I wish.
It comes from so many things.
It comes from being thefourth born child in a very
high achieving family.
It comes from--
ERIKA RANDALL (07:00):
And that didn't mush you.
It built you up.
ABA ARTHUR (07:03):
It does mush me sometimes,
and then I have tobuild it back up.
And it always getsbigger every time.
ERIKA RANDALL (07:09):
And you have to build it.
Does your family buildit or do you build it?
ABA ARTHUR (07:11):
Absolutely.
I build it.
I built it.
It comes from beingthe new kid a lot.
You have to know who youare when you're the new kid.
Because when youwalk into a room--
ERIKA RANDALL (07:21):
And in Hollywood, you're
the new kid in everyroom for a minute.
ABA ARTHUR (07:24):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (07:25):
Are you not the new kid there yet?
ABA ARTHUR (07:27):
I'm always the new kid, yeah.
I'm the new kid a lot.
And so I didn'trealize at the time--
another one of thoselife changing things you
don't understand--
as we were moving, Ididn't realize the effect
that that would have onmy life in the future.
The positive effect it wouldhave on my life in the future.
Because when you'rea kid, it's hard.
That stuff is difficult. And Ididn't want to be the new kid
(07:51):
and I didn't want to haveto find that confidence.
But I always felt likeif I come in the room
and I am as wonderfuland as great as I am,
the people that are supposed tobe in my life will come to me.
ERIKA RANDALL: They'll come to you. (08:03):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (08:04):
Yes.
And so I'm not the typethat walks into a new space
and I'm walking aroundtrying to meet everybody.
No.
Thank you for sayingthat I'm in my own world.
What did you say, galaxy?
Went something like that.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:16):
You are a galaxy.
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (08:18):
I really appreciate that.
And I'm going to walkwith that, because I
feel like you have toprotect your own peace
and your own space.
And coming into new environmentsover and over and over again,
if you don't know who youare, then you'll get lost.
And you'll go withthe trends and you'll
do what other people say,because it feels better
(08:40):
to be a part thanto be an outsider.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:42):
So be the new kid.
ABA ARTHUR (08:44):
I excel at being the new kid now.
I excel because I'mcoming in as who I am.
So rock with me or not.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:51):
That's right.
That's right.
Were you a journaler?
ABA ARTHUR (08:56):
Uh-huh.
Oh, my gosh.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:59):
Are you going to burn those or publish them?
ABA ARTHUR (09:01):
I have them all, yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:03):
I have stacks.
ABA ARTHUR (09:03):
You have to.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:04):
I know.
ABA ARTHUR (09:04):
You know why I have them?
ERIKA RANDALL (09:06):
I want to know.
ABA ARTHUR (09:06):
Oh, my god, I'm so glad you asked me this.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:07):
And where are they?
Are they in a box inyour parents' basement?
ABA ARTHUR (09:09):
No, they're in my house.
I have them.
I don't trust anybodywith that stuff,
because there's alot of information.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (09:17):
Why do you have them?
ABA ARTHUR (09:19):
So I would watch television and the audacity
of myself as a child.
I think about itnow, I'm like, wow!
ERIKA RANDALL (09:28):
I love it.
ABA ARTHUR (09:28):
I would watch television,
and I would be like, hm, Idon't like the way that ended.
And then I would go upstairsand I would rewrite it.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:34):
You would actually script it?
ABA ARTHUR (09:35):
Yes, I would rewrite it.
I would write it like, hm, "soChad walked in and he saw Sarah,
and then he walkedover and kissed her."
But in the show, maybe he didn'twalk over and kiss her first.
Maybe they justtalked for a while.
So I just would rewrite itthe way I wanted to see it.
And I would do that a lot.
I would write myselfinto the shows.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:55):
This part I love, that you wrote yourself in.
ABA ARTHUR (09:58):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:59):
All of a sudden, opening credits, just comes in.
ABA ARTHUR (10:03):
Yes.
Oh, this is a good one,because one of my sisters
and I used to do this.
We were big DaysOf Our Lives fans.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:09):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (10:10):
We were like, OK, Abe Carver has a daughter that
comes from someforeign land and she's
coming to just ruin everything.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:18):
Of course, his name is Abe.
ABA ARTHUR (10:20):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
[LAUGHS] So yes, I wouldwrite myself into the show.
ERIKA RANDALL: You wrote yourself (10:26):
undefined
into The Color Purple, too, PS.
ABA ARTHUR (10:29):
What do you mean?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:30):
That character didn't exist.
ABA ARTHUR (10:32):
Oh, I know.
Oh, my gosh, you want toknow what's really weird?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:35):
That's a trip, though.
ABA ARTHUR (10:35):
Can I tell you something about that?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:37):
Tell me all of the things, yes.
ABA ARTHUR (10:37):
So my character's name is Abena.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:39):
Yeah.
Was it already thatname before it was you?
ABA ARTHUR (10:42):
Yes.
But here's the weirdpart about this.
So I'm from Ghana, and we'renamed for the days of the week
that we're born on.
I'm named after mymom, and the name
for the day of the week that Iwas actually born on is Abena.
Yeah.
So my middle name isa different version
(11:08):
of Abena for adifferent language.
My middle name is AbelemaMy dad's language.
Yes, so Abena, that's actuallysupposed to be my name.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:19):
This says, "My written name--"
ABA ARTHUR (11:19):
What does it say?
ERIKA RANDALL (11:20):
What does your name mean?
Because Tuvielat the board over
there really wanted to know.
And I didn't even haveto ask the question.
What are your goalsin that world?
Is it your company isthe megaphone for you?
Is it in theembodiment of acting?
Does it feel like it's thisrewriting, the palimpsesting
over old stories that didn'thave a place for that you
(11:41):
put yourself in?
Is there a tactic, or is it justyou get inspired to the moment?
ABA ARTHUR (11:49):
It's all of the above.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:50):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (11:51):
I have very big, big, big picture goals,
which I don't share withanyone, and I'm always
working toward that.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:59):
No one?
Not even a bestie?
ABA ARTHUR (12:01):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:01):
Nobody, OK.
ABA ARTHUR (12:02):
But that is total world domination.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:04):
Yes.
[LAUGHTER]
ABA ARTHUR (12:07):
Just to give you an idea where we're going.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:09):
It's an Arthurian legend.
An Arthurian legend,world domination.
ABA ARTHUR (12:13):
Exactly.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:14):
I'm reading that book though.
ABA ARTHUR (12:14):
I was at CU saying, this theater
needs to be named after me.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:19):
At the time, not just last week?
ABA ARTHUR (12:21):
No.
When I arrived, I walkedin like, "oh, great.
There's a theater here.
When is the naming ceremony?"
So I have very lofty goals.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (12:33):
It's so great.
When we think about thisconfidence that you have,
though, that is sustaining,is it exhausting?
ABA ARTHUR (12:44):
I have very high anxiety.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:46):
You do?
ABA ARTHUR (12:46):
Oh, yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:47):
So the confidence does not preclude the anxiety?
You can "and" withanxiety and confidence.
ABA ARTHUR (12:51):
Yes.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (12:53):
That's good.
I get that, too, though.
ABA ARTHUR (12:54):
That's correct.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:55):
Because I think there is something
about being confident.
I have a reasonableamount of confidence.
But I have so much--
I say worry.
ABA ARTHUR (13:03):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:04):
I say I worry.
ABA ARTHUR (13:05):
It's a healthy concern
that things will go well.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:08):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:09):
I practice yoga.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:11):
You do, OK.
ABA ARTHUR (13:11):
Yes, every morning.
I have to.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:13):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (13:15):
To move it and to just get back into my body.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:18):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:19):
What's been happening lately in my life,
though--
which I think thisis how it goes now.
I've been told thisis how it goes now.
There are a lot of things thatare happening back to back.
So the space--
ERIKA RANDALL (13:31):
There's no recuperation.
ABA ARTHUR (13:32):
The recovery time is getting shorter.
And sometimes the recovery timeis on the way to the next thing.
Well, how do you do that?
ERIKA RANDALL: That's when you say-- (13:40):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (13:41):
I don't know.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:41):
No, the cup of water is the ocean.
That's a week at the beachis that cup of water.
ABA ARTHUR (13:46):
Yeah.
Yeah.
You get it.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:48):
I get it.
ABA ARTHUR (13:49):
So I do a lot of deep breathing in the car.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:52):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:53):
Stare out the window, breathe deep.
Remind myself who Iam, where I'm going.
My words are valuable.
I have something tosay that matters,
and I'm going to kill it.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (14:07):
And then you kill it.
ABA ARTHUR (14:08):
And then I kill it.
ERIKA RANDALL (14:10):
And then you slay like that purple cape.
And go shoo!
ABA ARTHUR (14:13):
Ahh.
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (14:15):
Who designed that, and how do I get one?
ABA ARTHUR (14:18):
Walter Mendez.
ERIKA RANDALL: Shout out to Walter. (14:19):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (14:21):
Shout out to Walter at the Walter Collection.
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (14:26):
What does costume do for you?
And when you're gettingdressed into clothes
for a red carpet oran event, does it
feel like costume and doesit feel like it's helping you
put on a certain character?
Or is it just, how does Abawant to rock this red carpet?
ABA ARTHUR (14:37):
Wow.
This is my mom's doing.
Oh, man, my mom is it, OK?
ERIKA RANDALL (14:45):
All day it.
ABA ARTHUR (14:46):
She is it, and you can't tell her otherwise.
She's always been it.
She's always going to be it.
And my mom has four daughters.
We were up at 3:00 AM--
ERIKA RANDALL (14:58):
Getting ready.
ABA ARTHUR (14:59):
--on a Sunday morning getting ready
for church, because her girlsare going to walk out this house
and look like--
ERIKA RANDALL (15:05):
It.
ABA ARTHUR (15:05):
--it.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:06):
So she's not surprised by any of this.
ABA ARTHUR (15:08):
What?
She needs more of it.
She's like, oh, that's good.
But this outfit I'm wearingtoday, my mom looked at it.
And she's like,"ooh, I like this.
Let's try this."
She loves a fashion show.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:19):
She's like, we can bring the runway here.
ABA ARTHUR (15:21):
Exactly.
She'll be like, "ooh, didyou bring your suitcase?
Let's have a fashion show."
She loves it.
So that part is my mom living inme, and I'm very aware of that.
It's interesting,because the red carpets,
that's something new thatI've just stepped into.
I mean, nobody cared for meto walk around on that carpet
a couple of years ago.
So now that I have theopportunity to do that--
ERIKA RANDALL (15:42):
Also, can bookmark that?
It's only been acouple of years.
ABA ARTHUR (15:45):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:46):
Talk about impatience.
No wonder you were pissed.
ABA ARTHUR (15:48):
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (15:51):
Because it is hard to be women
becoming our smartest selves--
ABA ARTHUR (15:59):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:00):
--and still think we are worth being in this room,
and you better see me in thisdress on this red carpet.
ABA ARTHUR (16:06):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:06):
So it's only been a couple of years
on red carpets.
ABA ARTHUR (16:09):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:09):
And you walk onto those red carpets
like they just grew thegrass, painted it red,
mowed it down and sentyou an invitation.
ABA ARTHUR (16:18):
Because I'm supposed to be there.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:20):
Because you're supposed to be there.
ABA ARTHUR (16:21):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:21):
Yeah, 100%.
ABA ARTHUR (16:21):
And it's confusing to me
why I haven't beenthere this whole time.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:25):
Well, me, too.
ABA ARTHUR (16:26):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:26):
OK, so we agree.
ABA ARTHUR (16:28):
The first big, big, big, big one, The Color Purple
premiere.
You go through the thing,and you have the interviews,
and you take the pictures,and you do all of it.
And afterwards, I rememberhaving a great conversation
with one of my lovely,lovely publicists.
And she was like,"how do you feel?"
And I'm like, "Oh,I can do that.
(16:48):
Is that what we're doing?
Is that how this goes?"
ERIKA RANDALL: Great, we're good. (16:51):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (16:51):
"When's the next one?
Let's go.
Let's keep going."
ERIKA RANDALL (16:53):
Let's go.
I got another dress in the car.
ABA ARTHUR (16:54):
Bring me more.
Bring me more.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (16:56):
I got another dress in the car.
I got a big car.
ABA ARTHUR (17:00):
Correct.
Correct.
So it's been interesting.
Now, I will saythat Aba, by choice,
is going to be at homein her sweats or a robe.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:12):
Yep.
ABA ARTHUR (17:13):
With a drink under a blanket.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:15):
Cozy.
ABA ARTHUR (17:16):
So getting dressed and putting on the makeup
and doing the things,it is a chore.
I have to do it.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:23):
You do it.
ABA ARTHUR (17:24):
And I know what I want
the end result to look like,and that takes a lot of work.
So it's the planning ofit and the process of it.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:32):
Who do you trust towards that?
ABA ARTHUR (17:34):
Ooh.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:35):
Like, who do is going to lie and say, "not that,
not today?"
Or--
ABA ARTHUR (17:39):
Oh, man.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:39):
--"oh, my god.
That's my favorite, and 100%."
ABA ARTHUR (17:41):
Erika.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:42):
I know.
Do you have [? a that? ?]
ABA ARTHUR (17:45):
No.
Yeah, that's beena little bit tough.
I do have key people in my lifethat when I have the question,
I can send it to them.
And they already know.
So sometimes they justget a random picture
and then they respond with,we just know at this point.
So I do want toacknowledge that.
I will say, though, thatthe part of the journey that
(18:06):
has been tough butalso really rewarding
is learning how to trust myselfwithout the opinion of anyone
else.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:14):
Even mom?
ABA ARTHUR (18:15):
Yeah.
Because sometimes I putit on, and it feels great.
And then I ask theopinion of someone else,
and what they're sayingdoesn't necessarily
connect with what I feel.
But they're giving me theiropinion and I trust them.
So I'm going to go with that.
And the times I've donethat, I've regretted it.
So I stopped.
(18:36):
And that's why I hadthat reaction when
you asked me the question,because it was a little pinchy.
I'm like, shoot, I want that.
But I think-- no, I know.
This is the seasonwhere I learned
to listen to my own voice, I getdressed and I walk out the door
and then I show up theway I'm going to show up.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:55):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (18:55):
And everybody's just going to have to receive it.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:57):
That's right.
And the people wholove you know that.
ABA ARTHUR (18:59):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:59):
So it's not that you're cutting anyone out.
It's not that you'renot naming names.
It's that this is the seasonfor you to trust yourself.
ABA ARTHUR (19:05):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:05):
I so appreciate that.
So I'm feeling a littlethat before you get teary.
I lost my mom this year.
And she was the person who wouldalways-- and I still need her.
And I'm just 50 and ahalf, and I want the season
where I don't need that.
So I hear you, Aba.
And being the new kid everywhereyou go, do you feel lonely now,
(19:30):
or do you feel with?
ABA ARTHUR (19:32):
Mm.
Mm!
Both.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:37):
Both.
ABA ARTHUR (19:38):
At different times.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:40):
But couch Aba feels?
ABA ARTHUR (19:43):
Both, sometimes.
This is anotherone of those things
that I've been told, that thereare parts of this journey that
feel very lonely.
So when I have thosefeelings, it's not a surprise.
But similar to what wewere just talking about,
(20:04):
I'm such a peopleperson and I love hard.
And I have a lot of people inmy life and I love them deeply.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:11):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (20:11):
So this is just the season where I take all of that
and I put it back in.
And those that love me andunderstand what's happening now,
give me the space.
I turn off my phone a lot.
If I'm on the couch andI'm cuddled and eating
a bag of Cheetos Puffs.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:31):
Yes, Puffs.
I was going to ask.
Thank you, because I was like,I got to really picture this.
Is it the little pinky fingercrinkly one or is it the Puffs?
ABA ARTHUR (20:38):
No, Puffs.
It's the Puffs.
And I like the big bag.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:41):
Big bag.
ABA ARTHUR (20:41):
Yes.
[LAUGHS] I'm on thecouch eating Puffs,
and there's some things that Ican't explain to somebody else.
I can tell you howexciting it was.
And I can leave here and callsomeone and talk about it.
But they were not sittingin this room with us,
so then there's parts of thestory I'm going to forget.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:00):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (21:01):
And so that part, is it loneliness?
I don't know.
It's just an awareness that I'mdoing a lot of things alone.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:10):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (21:11):
That's what it is.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:13):
So there isn't a melancholy that hangs over it.
There isn't a--
ABA ARTHUR (21:17):
Slightly.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:18):
But it doesn't color the whole world?
ABA ARTHUR (21:20):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:21):
No?
ABA ARTHUR (21:21):
No, not at all.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:22):
Have you ever had to deal with jealousy?
ABA ARTHUR (21:24):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:24):
For a lot of years,
it wasn't you when it comes tothis path you're on right now.
ABA ARTHUR (21:30):
Right.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:30):
And did you feel jealous ever?
Or did you just feellike, not my time yet?
All right, not myrole, not my moment.
ABA ARTHUR (21:37):
Well--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:37):
What was the feeling that
made you not despair?
ABA ARTHUR (21:42):
I had a lot of despair.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:43):
You did have despair?
ABA ARTHUR (21:43):
Yes.
Oh, absolutely.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:45):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (21:45):
Oh, my gosh.
I've quit so many times.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:47):
You have?
ABA ARTHUR (21:47):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:48):
You quit?
ABA ARTHUR (21:49):
A lot!
Yes.
Acting--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:51):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (21:52):
--writing--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:52):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (21:53):
Oh, yeah.
I actually haven't startedwriting again since COVID.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:57):
There is a gap on the internet.
ABA ARTHUR (21:59):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:59):
Is that gap a true gap of like a Pause
ABA ARTHUR (22:02):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:03):
OK.
What did you do in that pause?
ABA ARTHUR (22:05):
I ate Cheetos.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:06):
Ate Cheetos on the sofa.
ABA ARTHUR (22:07):
And I worked a regular job.
I've had almostevery kind of job.
Also, because-- is itfiring or is it quitting?
I'm not sure.
Whatever it is washappening at the same time.
I'm going to work a job until--
ERIKA RANDALL (22:20):
Uh-huh, I'm going to leave.
ABA ARTHUR (22:21):
Yes.
This thing over hererequires something of me,
and I cannot do both.
I'm always choosingthat, every time.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:28):
And this is something that when I think
about our students and whereit's so glorious the way that--
this is where I love that youhave a hard time saying goodbye,
because you keep coming back--
ABA ARTHUR (22:36):
I know.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:36):
--to talk--
ABA ARTHUR (22:37):
I know.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:37):
--and to speak and to be a part of.
Does it feel like thatis part of your ancestral
duty to the students,that maybe you
didn't have a mentor like you?
Or maybe you did, right?
ABA ARTHUR (22:49):
No, I didn't.
And I just want them to haveeverything that they need.
This is the next generation,so someone that I may go
see in the class inan hour and a half
(23:09):
might be directingme in five years.
And I hope they are.
I would love to work with them.
So to me, coming back to be withthe students in the position
I am now, I want toknow, what do you need
and how can I help you get that?
What is it that will help youfeel comfortable right now?
(23:31):
What does that look like-- inyour education, in your body,
on campus?
I'm in the roomsmaking the decisions.
So tell me whatyou need, and I'll
see how I can get that for you.
ERIKA RANDALL: That's incredible. (23:43):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (23:45):
That's what it is to me, and it's really simple.
And I feel like weshould all be doing that.
But also, I don't know--life, circumstances, whatever.
And I just havethe opportunity to,
so I'm so excited every time.
I'm like, yeah!
I want to go talkto the students!
ERIKA RANDALL (23:59):
Well, and especially from a space
of the arts where they're not asvalued as much in the Academy.
And for you to come backand say, it's worth it--
ABA ARTHUR (24:07):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:07):
--to do this.
And it's not just entertainment,but it's transformational work.
ABA ARTHUR (24:12):
Yes, it should be.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:14):
It should be.
ABA ARTHUR (24:15):
If you're doing it right,
it should betransformational work.
And thankfully, I thoughtit was some sort of a curse
or something.
Why does everybodyhave a mentor?
I don't have a mentor.
And I was searching for so long.
And people like Ceciliacame into my life.
And my late mentor,Suzanne Douglas--
(24:36):
special, special woman-- cameinto my life for a short season.
And the great Mr.Louis Gossett Jr.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:45):
Mm.
ABA ARTHUR (24:46):
Oh, gosh, wow.
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:49):
I know you hate goodbyes,
but we have to do a thing--
ABA ARTHUR (24:53):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:54):
--before we go.
And then we don'thave to say goodbye.
But before we go, there'sa thing we do on the show.
ABA ARTHUR (24:57):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:58):
It's called "The Quick and Dirty."
It's like a little game show.
And this is a gamewhere I give you a topic
and you come up with--
I love how you're sitting up.
ABA ARTHUR (25:06):
I'm ready.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:07):
You're ready.
ABA ARTHUR (25:07):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:07):
Hand over the buzzer.
Hand over the buzzer.
There's no buzzer.
You come up with a combinationof things mashed together,
or something that hasthe word "and" in it.
Let's take a drink of water,because this part is intense.
ABA ARTHUR (25:18):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:18):
OK, for example, because I know that you're
a dessert aficionado--
ABA ARTHUR (25:23):
Yes!
ERIKA RANDALL (25:23):
--based on one of your bios--
if I were to ask you for yourperfect dessert combination--
ABA ARTHUR (25:27):
Oh, gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL (25:28):
--you might say Tiramisu & a shot of Baileys.
Or a brown butter cakewith c-AND-ied pecans.
You see how I did that?
One has an ampersand, onehas "and" in the word.
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:37):
OK, thank you.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:38):
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:38):
Thank you for saying that.
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:39):
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:40):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:41):
OK, your perfect dessert combination?
ABA ARTHUR (25:42):
Oh, jeez.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:43):
[LAUGHS] I already gave you the--
ABA ARTHUR (25:44):
How many?
ERIKA RANDALL (25:45):
I know.
ABA ARTHUR (25:45):
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, I'm nervous!
Is there a time limit?
ERIKA RANDALL (25:48):
Nope, there's no time limit.
ABA ARTHUR (25:48):
Thank you.
OK.
I like all of them.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:53):
I know.
I see the menus.
ABA ARTHUR (25:54):
Oh, my gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL: Like, the platter. (25:55):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (25:56):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:56):
See the platter.
ABA ARTHUR (25:57):
We're going to do--
that's a s'more.
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (26:06):
It isn't ANDing--
ABA ARTHUR (26:07):
That's a s'more.
ERIKA RANDALL: --itself is ANDing. (26:08):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (26:09):
I was about to say chocolate and marshmallow.
And then I realized,wait a minute.
No, that's a s'more.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:16):
OK, that's perfect.
ABA ARTHUR (26:17):
Is that OK?
ERIKA RANDALL (26:17):
No, 100%.
ABA ARTHUR (26:18):
OK, good.
ERIKA RANDALL: That is everything. (26:19):
undefined
So we're talking about advice.
But when it comes tobreaking up or building up--
breaking up or building up,you can choose or both--
what's two pieces of advice?
ABA ARTHUR (26:31):
Quiet all of it and take your time.
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:43):
This is the Ohemaa of impatience.
[LAUGHTER]
Did I use that properly?
Because queen, is thatwhat Ohemaa means?
ABA ARTHUR (26:51):
Wow, that's so interesting!
ERIKA RANDALL (26:52):
Did I do it?
ABA ARTHUR (26:54):
I've never heard it like that.
It's usually inreference to the person.
But that is interesting.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:59):
Ha.
Did it.
ABA ARTHUR (27:00):
Oh, maybe we could [INAUDIBLE].
I'll give you thecredit if I do it.
ERIKA RANDALL: That's all from you. (27:06):
undefined
I'm just on yourcourt right now.
ABA ARTHUR (27:09):
But that's great.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:10):
OK, two places on campus
that bring you themost nostalgia?
ABA ARTHUR (27:17):
The bookstore.
Oh, and the ballroom.
ERIKA RANDALL: Because African dance? (27:21):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (27:22):
Oh, man.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:23):
Or what about the ballroom?
ABA ARTHUR (27:24):
Oh, my gosh.
I had such a time standingon that stage speaking.
When was that, last month?
ERIKA RANDALL (27:31):
It was, Black History Month.
ABA ARTHUR (27:33):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:34):
You were here for the cause and--
ABA ARTHUR (27:35):
Oh, yeah, February.
Oh, my gosh.
Such a time.
Because--
ERIKA RANDALL (27:38):
That was so beautiful.
ABA ARTHUR (27:39):
--I have had so many experiences in that ballroom,
both positive and very negative.
So being in that ballroom isalways like, wow, I'm back.
And I'm back like this.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:52):
Yeah.
And earnestly.
Like, that light is real.
If you could bring twoancestors on the red carpet?
ABA ARTHUR (28:00):
Oh, gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL (28:03):
Who are you going to bring?
ABA ARTHUR (28:05):
My grandparents for some reason.
I don't know them.
I never met them.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:10):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (28:12):
They all died before I was born.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:14):
Were they all in Ghana?
ABA ARTHUR (28:16):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:16):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (28:17):
But I do believe that there
is some very strong connectionwith my mother's father.
I'm very clear about that.
Thank you.
And there's someone else.
I don't know, I'mfeeling grandparents.
There's another grandparent.
(28:38):
I don't know which one.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:39):
But they're coming?
ABA ARTHUR (28:40):
Ooh, I'm going to sit with that tonight.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:42):
Take that one.
ABA ARTHUR (28:42):
Thank you for that question.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:44):
You're welcome.
ABA ARTHUR (28:45):
Ooh, that's a juicy one.
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:47):
OK, a director and an actor
that you have on your visionboard for the Ohemaa project?
ABA ARTHUR (28:50):
I hate this game.
I love this game.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (28:53):
Come on.
You wouldn't giveit up the other way,
so you've got togive it up this way.
Someone you really,really want to work with?
ABA ARTHUR (28:58):
Come on.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:59):
Come on!
ABA ARTHUR (29:00):
A director?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:01):
Uh-huh.
ABA ARTHUR (29:04):
Can I have worked with them already?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:06):
Sure.
Because you can want towork with them again.
ABA ARTHUR (29:09):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:09):
That's actually a high compliment.
ABA ARTHUR (29:10):
I'm going to say Ryan Coogler.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:11):
OK.
We love Ryan.
ABA ARTHUR (29:12):
Yeah, I'm going to say Ryan Coogler.
And then what's thesecond part of that?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:15):
If there's also an actor that you
are wanting to learn with.
ABA ARTHUR (29:20):
Angela Bassett.
I just have this vision, and Ican see it and I can feel it.
I'm sitting across from her.
We're having somedeep conversation.
We're in the middle of scenein the middle of character.
I just know thisis going to happen.
This is one of those thingswhere I was like, where's Oprah?
I'm like, where is myscene with Angela Bassett?
It's coming.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:40):
So producer Tim can back me up
because, I said Angela Bassettand then I said Viola Davis.
Just this week, I putyour name down on paper
because I have a novel that hasthese inanimate objects that
speak.
And I had a characterthat I wanted you to play,
and then wrote down thename Angela Bassett.
But then I changed it.
So I don't knowwhich is going to be.
ABA ARTHUR (29:59):
Well.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:00):
I have you down for being a peach pit.
ABA ARTHUR (30:02):
Oh!
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (30:05):
And she has been through a journey--
ABA ARTHUR (30:08):
Wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:08):
--this peach pit.
ABA ARTHUR (30:09):
Wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:10):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (30:11):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:12):
In my audiobook.
ABA ARTHUR (30:14):
Yeah.
OK.
I want to hearwhere this is going.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:18):
OK, we'll talk about it.
ABA ARTHUR (30:19):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:20):
OK, so now this is the big moment.
I know, you didn'tthink you had one yet.
The final question.
It's not a goodbye.
ABA ARTHUR (30:28):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:29):
This is a greeting, a blessing,
a salutation that you wouldgive to a graduating class,
to a world thatis for some ending
and new things are opening.
It's a send off, and ithas to start with "and."
And may you and know.
(30:54):
And so it's kind ofthat last line that
is progressing from atthe end of the talk,
and it is the last thingthat we're going to hear.
And we're going to stapleit to our heart chamber.
ABA ARTHUR (31:07):
And may you always be your best self,
the best version of yourself.
In every moment, always,may you be your best self.
ERIKA RANDALL (31:28):
That was actress, writer, producer, and activist
Aba Arthur on The Ampersand.
For more about Aba,see our show notes.
The Ampersand is aproduction of The College
of Arts and Sciences at theUniversity of Colorado, Boulder.
It is written and producedby me, Erika Randall,
and Tim Grassley.
If there are peopleyou'd like us
(31:49):
to interview on TheAmpersand, do please email
us at asinfo@colorado.edu.
Our theme music was composedand performed by Nelson Walker,
and the episodes are recorded atInterplay Recording in Boulder,
Colorado.
I'm Erika Randall, andthis is The Ampersand.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(32:10):
ANNOUNCER (00:03):
A&S.
ABA ARTHUR (AS ACHILD): Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
ERIKA RANDALL (00:12):
I imagine little girl Aba Arthur dressed
to the nines, teeteringdown an imaginary red carpet
in her mother's goldhigh-heeled shoes.
[APPLAUSE]
She arrives in front of amirror with a sparkle in her eye
to practice an Oscars acceptancespeech for a film future
Aba will direct and star in.
ABA ARTHUR (AS A CHILD) (00:28):
I'm so happy I got this award.
ERIKA RANDALL (00:30):
I hear the imaginary strings start up
to usher her off stage, butshe lifts a tiny, elegant hand
to silence the conductor.
Hm, "I'm not finishedyet," she says,
both playfully andin total command.
"It took a minute to get here.
Let me have my time."
ABA ARTHUR (AS A CHILD): I want to thank Mom. (00:46):
undefined
I want to thank Dad.
[INAUDIBLE]
[CAMERAS CLICKING]
ERIKA RANDALL (00:55):
I can't imagine what
it was like for Aba walkingonto the set of The Color Purple
and into the arms of Oprah.
Gathering with that superstarcast under a magnificent tree.
Dearest Anders, oh, you willdiscover on today's episode
that it took Aba a deep, patienttenacity, and trust in herself
to arrive at this moment.
(01:18):
At her core, I can't imagine shethinks anything other than this
is just the beginning.
An exhale of, finally, beforeshe steps out of the car
onto that wide red carpet.
On The Ampersand, we callthis bringing together
of the impossible-- thealchemy of "ANDing."
Together, we'll hear stories ofhumans who imagine and create
(01:41):
by colliding their interests.
Rather than thinking of "and"as a simple conjunction in that
Conjunction Junctionkind of way,
we will hear stories of peoplewho see "and" as a verb.
A way to speak the beautifulwhen you intentionally
let the soft animal of yourbody love what it loves.
As St. Mary Oliverasks, what is it you
plan to do with your onewild and precious life?
(02:03):
I love this question.
When I'm mothering,creating and collaborating,
it reminds me toreplace a singular
idea of what I think I shouldbecome with a full sensory verb
about experiencing.
I'm Erika Randall, and this isAba Arthur on The Ampersand.
ABA ARTHUR (02:26):
I have such a vivid memory of getting off the plane.
I'm coming fromGhana and I'm coming
to Colorado Springs, Colorado.
So I had only seen on TVor in pictures these guys,
and they wear jeans andthey have these big hats.
But I didn't knowanything about them,
so they felt likefictional characters.
(02:49):
And I remember so well gettingoff the plane at the airport
and I saw these guys, whichI later learned the term was
"cowboy."
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (02:59):
In their Wranglers.
ABA ARTHUR (03:00):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:01):
In the hats.
ABA ARTHUR (03:01):
Yes, in the hats.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:02):
And the boots.
ABA ARTHUR (03:03):
And the boots.
And I remember getting offthe plane and just being like,
something just happened.
Because these people are notwhere I just came from, and now
there are a lot of them.
And I've been watching them.
So this is so cool.
I've stepped into something new.
I think that is the first bigmemory that I have, period.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:21):
Period.
ABA ARTHUR (03:23):
And clearly changed my life.
ERIKA RANDALL: Changed your life. (03:25):
undefined
That's incredible.
You arrive in the Springs,all the things happen.
Next moment, where's the nextpostcard to yourself that says,
ah, Aba, here we go?
ABA ARTHUR (03:35):
Oof.
Oof.
It's a tough one.
My first experience with racism.
ERIKA RANDALL (03:40):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (03:41):
A young boy in my school
told me that my skin was dirty.
Yeah.
I went back to classand I was crying.
My teacher asked me whathappened, and I told her,
and then she disciplined me.
I had to sit in thecorner and I had
to face the wall, because shesaid I was being a distraction.
(04:04):
My crying wasdistracting the class.
Yes, this is a true story.
So I had to sit in a cornerof the room and face the wall.
And I remember so vividlyat some point they were just
continuing with class.
And I was like, what?
I don't know how old I am.
Let's pick an age.
ERIKA RANDALL: Say eight or nine? (04:21):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (04:21):
I don't know, eight?
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (04:25):
All on the Wikipedia page
I'm building for you.
Age eight.
ABA ARTHUR (04:30):
This is still elementary school, though--
too young.
ERIKA RANDALL (04:33):
Too young to hear that, to feel that,
to be put in a corner.
ABA ARTHUR (04:36):
And I'm listening to the class continue.
She's teaching, and I'min the corner of the room.
And so at some point I turnedaround and I'm watching them,
and they're just having class.
Everybody's just continuingon like everything is normal.
And that was a strong memory.
That was a strong memory.
ERIKA RANDALL (04:56):
Is that memory as yet in a film?
Because I'm watching that movie.
ABA ARTHUR (05:00):
Oh, wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:01):
Does Ohemaa have that?
Am I pronouncing yourcompany's name right?
ABA ARTHUR (05:03):
Yes, thank you.
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:06):
But can you see that movie though?
ABA ARTHUR (05:07):
It's just going to take a second.
Probably.
That's a tough one for me.
It's going to take me asecond to work through that.
Because I have towatch that scene,
if they're going to do it.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:19):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (05:20):
And that's a lot.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:21):
And then it's living it and losing it.
ABA ARTHUR (05:22):
Yeah, and direct it.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:23):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (05:24):
That's going to take me a second.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:26):
And hearing that story, sharing that story,
is a critical actionin undoing racism.
And the work thatyou choose, you
are writing critical storiesabout undoing racism.
You are ANDing withpolitical science the way
(05:46):
that you're in theaterand political science.
But your bodypolitic is your body
showing up as representation.
Does that feel true for you?
Does that feel like yourpolitic, as well as,
or is that your primary?
ABA ARTHUR (05:58):
No, it is and.
ERIKA RANDALL (05:59):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (05:59):
I love ampersands.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:01):
[LAUGHS]
ABA ARTHUR (06:02):
I just want to say that.
I love ampersands.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:04):
Isn't that great?
ABA ARTHUR (06:04):
Yeah.
I actually have threeof them in my home.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:07):
This was preordained.
ABA ARTHUR (06:08):
Wooden ones.
Absolutely.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:09):
Oh, yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (06:10):
Yes, I love ampersands.
And multi-hyphenate isa term that it took me
a while to sink into.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:18):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (06:19):
So for me, it just was always "&."
ERIKA RANDALL (06:21):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (06:22):
This & this & this.
And I'm equally all of them.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:26):
And with that is engaging those identities
to then bring forth newcharacter into worlds.
I'm listening to you andI'm watching your reel,
and I don't thinkyou need confidence.
Do you need confidence?
ABA ARTHUR (06:41):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (06:41):
No.
ABA ARTHUR (06:42):
I have a lot of it.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (06:43):
Where did this come from, and can we bottle it?
ABA ARTHUR (06:46):
I wish.
It comes from so many things.
It comes from being thefourth born child in a very
high achieving family.
It comes from--
ERIKA RANDALL (07:00):
And that didn't mush you.
It built you up.
ABA ARTHUR (07:03):
It does mush me sometimes,
and then I have tobuild it back up.
And it always getsbigger every time.
ERIKA RANDALL (07:09):
And you have to build it.
Does your family buildit or do you build it?
ABA ARTHUR (07:11):
Absolutely.
I build it.
I built it.
It comes from beingthe new kid a lot.
You have to know who youare when you're the new kid.
Because when youwalk into a room--
ERIKA RANDALL (07:21):
And in Hollywood, you're
the new kid in everyroom for a minute.
ABA ARTHUR (07:24):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (07:25):
Are you not the new kid there yet?
ABA ARTHUR (07:27):
I'm always the new kid, yeah.
I'm the new kid a lot.
And so I didn'trealize at the time--
another one of thoselife changing things you
don't understand--
as we were moving, Ididn't realize the effect
that that would have onmy life in the future.
The positive effect it wouldhave on my life in the future.
Because when you'rea kid, it's hard.
That stuff is difficult. And Ididn't want to be the new kid
(07:51):
and I didn't want to haveto find that confidence.
But I always felt likeif I come in the room
and I am as wonderfuland as great as I am,
the people that are supposed tobe in my life will come to me.
ERIKA RANDALL: They'll come to you. (08:03):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (08:04):
Yes.
And so I'm not the typethat walks into a new space
and I'm walking aroundtrying to meet everybody.
No.
Thank you for sayingthat I'm in my own world.
What did you say, galaxy?
Went something like that.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:16):
You are a galaxy.
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (08:18):
I really appreciate that.
And I'm going to walkwith that, because I
feel like you have toprotect your own peace
and your own space.
And coming into new environmentsover and over and over again,
if you don't know who youare, then you'll get lost.
And you'll go withthe trends and you'll
do what other people say,because it feels better
(08:40):
to be a part thanto be an outsider.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:42):
So be the new kid.
ABA ARTHUR (08:44):
I excel at being the new kid now.
I excel because I'mcoming in as who I am.
So rock with me or not.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:51):
That's right.
That's right.
Were you a journaler?
ABA ARTHUR (08:56):
Uh-huh.
Oh, my gosh.
ERIKA RANDALL (08:59):
Are you going to burn those or publish them?
ABA ARTHUR (09:01):
I have them all, yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:03):
I have stacks.
ABA ARTHUR (09:03):
You have to.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:04):
I know.
ABA ARTHUR (09:04):
You know why I have them?
ERIKA RANDALL (09:06):
I want to know.
ABA ARTHUR (09:06):
Oh, my god, I'm so glad you asked me this.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:07):
And where are they?
Are they in a box inyour parents' basement?
ABA ARTHUR (09:09):
No, they're in my house.
I have them.
I don't trust anybodywith that stuff,
because there's alot of information.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (09:17):
Why do you have them?
ABA ARTHUR (09:19):
So I would watch television and the audacity
of myself as a child.
I think about itnow, I'm like, wow!
ERIKA RANDALL (09:28):
I love it.
ABA ARTHUR (09:28):
I would watch television,
and I would be like, hm, Idon't like the way that ended.
And then I would go upstairsand I would rewrite it.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:34):
You would actually script it?
ABA ARTHUR (09:35):
Yes, I would rewrite it.
I would write it like, hm, "soChad walked in and he saw Sarah,
and then he walkedover and kissed her."
But in the show, maybe he didn'twalk over and kiss her first.
Maybe they justtalked for a while.
So I just would rewrite itthe way I wanted to see it.
And I would do that a lot.
I would write myselfinto the shows.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:55):
This part I love, that you wrote yourself in.
ABA ARTHUR (09:58):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (09:59):
All of a sudden, opening credits, just comes in.
ABA ARTHUR (10:03):
Yes.
Oh, this is a good one,because one of my sisters
and I used to do this.
We were big DaysOf Our Lives fans.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:09):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (10:10):
We were like, OK, Abe Carver has a daughter that
comes from someforeign land and she's
coming to just ruin everything.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:18):
Of course, his name is Abe.
ABA ARTHUR (10:20):
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
[LAUGHS] So yes, I wouldwrite myself into the show.
ERIKA RANDALL: You wrote yourself (10:26):
undefined
into The Color Purple, too, PS.
ABA ARTHUR (10:29):
What do you mean?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:30):
That character didn't exist.
ABA ARTHUR (10:32):
Oh, I know.
Oh, my gosh, you want toknow what's really weird?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:35):
That's a trip, though.
ABA ARTHUR (10:35):
Can I tell you something about that?
ERIKA RANDALL (10:37):
Tell me all of the things, yes.
ABA ARTHUR (10:37):
So my character's name is Abena.
ERIKA RANDALL (10:39):
Yeah.
Was it already thatname before it was you?
ABA ARTHUR (10:42):
Yes.
But here's the weirdpart about this.
So I'm from Ghana, and we'renamed for the days of the week
that we're born on.
I'm named after mymom, and the name
for the day of the week that Iwas actually born on is Abena.
Yeah.
So my middle name isa different version
(11:08):
of Abena for adifferent language.
My middle name is AbelemaMy dad's language.
Yes, so Abena, that's actuallysupposed to be my name.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:19):
This says, "My written name--"
ABA ARTHUR (11:19):
What does it say?
ERIKA RANDALL (11:20):
What does your name mean?
Because Tuvielat the board over
there really wanted to know.
And I didn't even haveto ask the question.
What are your goalsin that world?
Is it your company isthe megaphone for you?
Is it in theembodiment of acting?
Does it feel like it's thisrewriting, the palimpsesting
over old stories that didn'thave a place for that you
(11:41):
put yourself in?
Is there a tactic, or is it justyou get inspired to the moment?
ABA ARTHUR (11:49):
It's all of the above.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:50):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (11:51):
I have very big, big, big picture goals,
which I don't share withanyone, and I'm always
working toward that.
ERIKA RANDALL (11:59):
No one?
Not even a bestie?
ABA ARTHUR (12:01):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:01):
Nobody, OK.
ABA ARTHUR (12:02):
But that is total world domination.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:04):
Yes.
[LAUGHTER]
ABA ARTHUR (12:07):
Just to give you an idea where we're going.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:09):
It's an Arthurian legend.
An Arthurian legend,world domination.
ABA ARTHUR (12:13):
Exactly.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:14):
I'm reading that book though.
ABA ARTHUR (12:14):
I was at CU saying, this theater
needs to be named after me.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:19):
At the time, not just last week?
ABA ARTHUR (12:21):
No.
When I arrived, I walkedin like, "oh, great.
There's a theater here.
When is the naming ceremony?"
So I have very lofty goals.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (12:33):
It's so great.
When we think about thisconfidence that you have,
though, that is sustaining,is it exhausting?
ABA ARTHUR (12:44):
I have very high anxiety.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:46):
You do?
ABA ARTHUR (12:46):
Oh, yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:47):
So the confidence does not preclude the anxiety?
You can "and" withanxiety and confidence.
ABA ARTHUR (12:51):
Yes.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (12:53):
That's good.
I get that, too, though.
ABA ARTHUR (12:54):
That's correct.
ERIKA RANDALL (12:55):
Because I think there is something
about being confident.
I have a reasonableamount of confidence.
But I have so much--
I say worry.
ABA ARTHUR (13:03):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:04):
I say I worry.
ABA ARTHUR (13:05):
It's a healthy concern
that things will go well.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:08):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:09):
I practice yoga.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:11):
You do, OK.
ABA ARTHUR (13:11):
Yes, every morning.
I have to.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:13):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (13:15):
To move it and to just get back into my body.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:18):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:19):
What's been happening lately in my life,
though--
which I think thisis how it goes now.
I've been told thisis how it goes now.
There are a lot of things thatare happening back to back.
So the space--
ERIKA RANDALL (13:31):
There's no recuperation.
ABA ARTHUR (13:32):
The recovery time is getting shorter.
And sometimes the recovery timeis on the way to the next thing.
Well, how do you do that?
ERIKA RANDALL: That's when you say-- (13:40):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (13:41):
I don't know.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:41):
No, the cup of water is the ocean.
That's a week at the beachis that cup of water.
ABA ARTHUR (13:46):
Yeah.
Yeah.
You get it.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:48):
I get it.
ABA ARTHUR (13:49):
So I do a lot of deep breathing in the car.
ERIKA RANDALL (13:52):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (13:53):
Stare out the window, breathe deep.
Remind myself who Iam, where I'm going.
My words are valuable.
I have something tosay that matters,
and I'm going to kill it.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (14:07):
And then you kill it.
ABA ARTHUR (14:08):
And then I kill it.
ERIKA RANDALL (14:10):
And then you slay like that purple cape.
And go shoo!
ABA ARTHUR (14:13):
Ahh.
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (14:15):
Who designed that, and how do I get one?
ABA ARTHUR (14:18):
Walter Mendez.
ERIKA RANDALL: Shout out to Walter. (14:19):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (14:21):
Shout out to Walter at the Walter Collection.
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (14:26):
What does costume do for you?
And when you're gettingdressed into clothes
for a red carpet oran event, does it
feel like costume and doesit feel like it's helping you
put on a certain character?
Or is it just, how does Abawant to rock this red carpet?
ABA ARTHUR (14:37):
Wow.
This is my mom's doing.
Oh, man, my mom is it, OK?
ERIKA RANDALL (14:45):
All day it.
ABA ARTHUR (14:46):
She is it, and you can't tell her otherwise.
She's always been it.
She's always going to be it.
And my mom has four daughters.
We were up at 3:00 AM--
ERIKA RANDALL (14:58):
Getting ready.
ABA ARTHUR (14:59):
--on a Sunday morning getting ready
for church, because her girlsare going to walk out this house
and look like--
ERIKA RANDALL (15:05):
It.
ABA ARTHUR (15:05):
--it.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:06):
So she's not surprised by any of this.
ABA ARTHUR (15:08):
What?
She needs more of it.
She's like, oh, that's good.
But this outfit I'm wearingtoday, my mom looked at it.
And she's like,"ooh, I like this.
Let's try this."
She loves a fashion show.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:19):
She's like, we can bring the runway here.
ABA ARTHUR (15:21):
Exactly.
She'll be like, "ooh, didyou bring your suitcase?
Let's have a fashion show."
She loves it.
So that part is my mom living inme, and I'm very aware of that.
It's interesting,because the red carpets,
that's something new thatI've just stepped into.
I mean, nobody cared for meto walk around on that carpet
a couple of years ago.
So now that I have theopportunity to do that--
ERIKA RANDALL (15:42):
Also, can bookmark that?
It's only been acouple of years.
ABA ARTHUR (15:45):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (15:46):
Talk about impatience.
No wonder you were pissed.
ABA ARTHUR (15:48):
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (15:51):
Because it is hard to be women
becoming our smartest selves--
ABA ARTHUR (15:59):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:00):
--and still think we are worth being in this room,
and you better see me in thisdress on this red carpet.
ABA ARTHUR (16:06):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:06):
So it's only been a couple of years
on red carpets.
ABA ARTHUR (16:09):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:09):
And you walk onto those red carpets
like they just grew thegrass, painted it red,
mowed it down and sentyou an invitation.
ABA ARTHUR (16:18):
Because I'm supposed to be there.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:20):
Because you're supposed to be there.
ABA ARTHUR (16:21):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:21):
Yeah, 100%.
ABA ARTHUR (16:21):
And it's confusing to me
why I haven't beenthere this whole time.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:25):
Well, me, too.
ABA ARTHUR (16:26):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (16:26):
OK, so we agree.
ABA ARTHUR (16:28):
The first big, big, big, big one, The Color Purple
premiere.
You go through the thing,and you have the interviews,
and you take the pictures,and you do all of it.
And afterwards, I rememberhaving a great conversation
with one of my lovely,lovely publicists.
And she was like,"how do you feel?"
And I'm like, "Oh,I can do that.
(16:48):
Is that what we're doing?
Is that how this goes?"
ERIKA RANDALL: Great, we're good. (16:51):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (16:51):
"When's the next one?
Let's go.
Let's keep going."
ERIKA RANDALL (16:53):
Let's go.
I got another dress in the car.
ABA ARTHUR (16:54):
Bring me more.
Bring me more.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (16:56):
I got another dress in the car.
I got a big car.
ABA ARTHUR (17:00):
Correct.
Correct.
So it's been interesting.
Now, I will saythat Aba, by choice,
is going to be at homein her sweats or a robe.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:12):
Yep.
ABA ARTHUR (17:13):
With a drink under a blanket.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:15):
Cozy.
ABA ARTHUR (17:16):
So getting dressed and putting on the makeup
and doing the things,it is a chore.
I have to do it.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:23):
You do it.
ABA ARTHUR (17:24):
And I know what I want
the end result to look like,and that takes a lot of work.
So it's the planning ofit and the process of it.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:32):
Who do you trust towards that?
ABA ARTHUR (17:34):
Ooh.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:35):
Like, who do is going to lie and say, "not that,
not today?"
Or--
ABA ARTHUR (17:39):
Oh, man.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:39):
--"oh, my god.
That's my favorite, and 100%."
ABA ARTHUR (17:41):
Erika.
ERIKA RANDALL (17:42):
I know.
Do you have [? a that? ?]
ABA ARTHUR (17:45):
No.
Yeah, that's beena little bit tough.
I do have key people in my lifethat when I have the question,
I can send it to them.
And they already know.
So sometimes they justget a random picture
and then they respond with,we just know at this point.
So I do want toacknowledge that.
I will say, though, thatthe part of the journey that
(18:06):
has been tough butalso really rewarding
is learning how to trust myselfwithout the opinion of anyone
else.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:14):
Even mom?
ABA ARTHUR (18:15):
Yeah.
Because sometimes I putit on, and it feels great.
And then I ask theopinion of someone else,
and what they're sayingdoesn't necessarily
connect with what I feel.
But they're giving me theiropinion and I trust them.
So I'm going to go with that.
And the times I've donethat, I've regretted it.
So I stopped.
(18:36):
And that's why I hadthat reaction when
you asked me the question,because it was a little pinchy.
I'm like, shoot, I want that.
But I think-- no, I know.
This is the seasonwhere I learned
to listen to my own voice, I getdressed and I walk out the door
and then I show up theway I'm going to show up.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:55):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (18:55):
And everybody's just going to have to receive it.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:57):
That's right.
And the people wholove you know that.
ABA ARTHUR (18:59):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (18:59):
So it's not that you're cutting anyone out.
It's not that you'renot naming names.
It's that this is the seasonfor you to trust yourself.
ABA ARTHUR (19:05):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:05):
I so appreciate that.
So I'm feeling a littlethat before you get teary.
I lost my mom this year.
And she was the person who wouldalways-- and I still need her.
And I'm just 50 and ahalf, and I want the season
where I don't need that.
So I hear you, Aba.
And being the new kid everywhereyou go, do you feel lonely now,
(19:30):
or do you feel with?
ABA ARTHUR (19:32):
Mm.
Mm!
Both.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:37):
Both.
ABA ARTHUR (19:38):
At different times.
ERIKA RANDALL (19:40):
But couch Aba feels?
ABA ARTHUR (19:43):
Both, sometimes.
This is anotherone of those things
that I've been told, that thereare parts of this journey that
feel very lonely.
So when I have thosefeelings, it's not a surprise.
But similar to what wewere just talking about,
(20:04):
I'm such a peopleperson and I love hard.
And I have a lot of people inmy life and I love them deeply.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:11):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (20:11):
So this is just the season where I take all of that
and I put it back in.
And those that love me andunderstand what's happening now,
give me the space.
I turn off my phone a lot.
If I'm on the couch andI'm cuddled and eating
a bag of Cheetos Puffs.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:31):
Yes, Puffs.
I was going to ask.
Thank you, because I was like,I got to really picture this.
Is it the little pinky fingercrinkly one or is it the Puffs?
ABA ARTHUR (20:38):
No, Puffs.
It's the Puffs.
And I like the big bag.
ERIKA RANDALL (20:41):
Big bag.
ABA ARTHUR (20:41):
Yes.
[LAUGHS] I'm on thecouch eating Puffs,
and there's some things that Ican't explain to somebody else.
I can tell you howexciting it was.
And I can leave here and callsomeone and talk about it.
But they were not sittingin this room with us,
so then there's parts of thestory I'm going to forget.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:00):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (21:01):
And so that part, is it loneliness?
I don't know.
It's just an awareness that I'mdoing a lot of things alone.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:10):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (21:11):
That's what it is.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:13):
So there isn't a melancholy that hangs over it.
There isn't a--
ABA ARTHUR (21:17):
Slightly.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:18):
But it doesn't color the whole world?
ABA ARTHUR (21:20):
No.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:21):
No?
ABA ARTHUR (21:21):
No, not at all.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:22):
Have you ever had to deal with jealousy?
ABA ARTHUR (21:24):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:24):
For a lot of years,
it wasn't you when it comes tothis path you're on right now.
ABA ARTHUR (21:30):
Right.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:30):
And did you feel jealous ever?
Or did you just feellike, not my time yet?
All right, not myrole, not my moment.
ABA ARTHUR (21:37):
Well--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:37):
What was the feeling that
made you not despair?
ABA ARTHUR (21:42):
I had a lot of despair.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:43):
You did have despair?
ABA ARTHUR (21:43):
Yes.
Oh, absolutely.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:45):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (21:45):
Oh, my gosh.
I've quit so many times.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:47):
You have?
ABA ARTHUR (21:47):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:48):
You quit?
ABA ARTHUR (21:49):
A lot!
Yes.
Acting--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:51):
Yes.
ABA ARTHUR (21:52):
--writing--
ERIKA RANDALL (21:52):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (21:53):
Oh, yeah.
I actually haven't startedwriting again since COVID.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:57):
There is a gap on the internet.
ABA ARTHUR (21:59):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (21:59):
Is that gap a true gap of like a Pause
ABA ARTHUR (22:02):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:03):
OK.
What did you do in that pause?
ABA ARTHUR (22:05):
I ate Cheetos.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:06):
Ate Cheetos on the sofa.
ABA ARTHUR (22:07):
And I worked a regular job.
I've had almostevery kind of job.
Also, because-- is itfiring or is it quitting?
I'm not sure.
Whatever it is washappening at the same time.
I'm going to work a job until--
ERIKA RANDALL (22:20):
Uh-huh, I'm going to leave.
ABA ARTHUR (22:21):
Yes.
This thing over hererequires something of me,
and I cannot do both.
I'm always choosingthat, every time.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:28):
And this is something that when I think
about our students and whereit's so glorious the way that--
this is where I love that youhave a hard time saying goodbye,
because you keep coming back--
ABA ARTHUR (22:36):
I know.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:36):
--to talk--
ABA ARTHUR (22:37):
I know.
ERIKA RANDALL (22:37):
--and to speak and to be a part of.
Does it feel like thatis part of your ancestral
duty to the students,that maybe you
didn't have a mentor like you?
Or maybe you did, right?
ABA ARTHUR (22:49):
No, I didn't.
And I just want them to haveeverything that they need.
This is the next generation,so someone that I may go
see in the class inan hour and a half
(23:09):
might be directingme in five years.
And I hope they are.
I would love to work with them.
So to me, coming back to be withthe students in the position
I am now, I want toknow, what do you need
and how can I help you get that?
What is it that will help youfeel comfortable right now?
(23:31):
What does that look like-- inyour education, in your body,
on campus?
I'm in the roomsmaking the decisions.
So tell me whatyou need, and I'll
see how I can get that for you.
ERIKA RANDALL: That's incredible. (23:43):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (23:45):
That's what it is to me, and it's really simple.
And I feel like weshould all be doing that.
But also, I don't know--life, circumstances, whatever.
And I just havethe opportunity to,
so I'm so excited every time.
I'm like, yeah!
I want to go talkto the students!
ERIKA RANDALL (23:59):
Well, and especially from a space
of the arts where they're not asvalued as much in the Academy.
And for you to come backand say, it's worth it--
ABA ARTHUR (24:07):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:07):
--to do this.
And it's not just entertainment,but it's transformational work.
ABA ARTHUR (24:12):
Yes, it should be.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:14):
It should be.
ABA ARTHUR (24:15):
If you're doing it right,
it should betransformational work.
And thankfully, I thoughtit was some sort of a curse
or something.
Why does everybodyhave a mentor?
I don't have a mentor.
And I was searching for so long.
And people like Ceciliacame into my life.
And my late mentor,Suzanne Douglas--
(24:36):
special, special woman-- cameinto my life for a short season.
And the great Mr.Louis Gossett Jr.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:45):
Mm.
ABA ARTHUR (24:46):
Oh, gosh, wow.
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:49):
I know you hate goodbyes,
but we have to do a thing--
ABA ARTHUR (24:53):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:54):
--before we go.
And then we don'thave to say goodbye.
But before we go, there'sa thing we do on the show.
ABA ARTHUR (24:57):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (24:58):
It's called "The Quick and Dirty."
It's like a little game show.
And this is a gamewhere I give you a topic
and you come up with--
I love how you're sitting up.
ABA ARTHUR (25:06):
I'm ready.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:07):
You're ready.
ABA ARTHUR (25:07):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:07):
Hand over the buzzer.
Hand over the buzzer.
There's no buzzer.
You come up with a combinationof things mashed together,
or something that hasthe word "and" in it.
Let's take a drink of water,because this part is intense.
ABA ARTHUR (25:18):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:18):
OK, for example, because I know that you're
a dessert aficionado--
ABA ARTHUR (25:23):
Yes!
ERIKA RANDALL (25:23):
--based on one of your bios--
if I were to ask you for yourperfect dessert combination--
ABA ARTHUR (25:27):
Oh, gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL (25:28):
--you might say Tiramisu & a shot of Baileys.
Or a brown butter cakewith c-AND-ied pecans.
You see how I did that?
One has an ampersand, onehas "and" in the word.
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:37):
OK, thank you.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:38):
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:38):
Thank you for saying that.
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:39):
You can't go wrong.
ABA ARTHUR (25:40):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:41):
OK, your perfect dessert combination?
ABA ARTHUR (25:42):
Oh, jeez.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:43):
[LAUGHS] I already gave you the--
ABA ARTHUR (25:44):
How many?
ERIKA RANDALL (25:45):
I know.
ABA ARTHUR (25:45):
Oh, my gosh.
Oh, I'm nervous!
Is there a time limit?
ERIKA RANDALL (25:48):
Nope, there's no time limit.
ABA ARTHUR (25:48):
Thank you.
OK.
I like all of them.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:53):
I know.
I see the menus.
ABA ARTHUR (25:54):
Oh, my gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL: Like, the platter. (25:55):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (25:56):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (25:56):
See the platter.
ABA ARTHUR (25:57):
We're going to do--
that's a s'more.
[LAUGHTER]
ERIKA RANDALL (26:06):
It isn't ANDing--
ABA ARTHUR (26:07):
That's a s'more.
ERIKA RANDALL: --itself is ANDing. (26:08):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (26:09):
I was about to say chocolate and marshmallow.
And then I realized,wait a minute.
No, that's a s'more.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:16):
OK, that's perfect.
ABA ARTHUR (26:17):
Is that OK?
ERIKA RANDALL (26:17):
No, 100%.
ABA ARTHUR (26:18):
OK, good.
ERIKA RANDALL: That is everything. (26:19):
undefined
So we're talking about advice.
But when it comes tobreaking up or building up--
breaking up or building up,you can choose or both--
what's two pieces of advice?
ABA ARTHUR (26:31):
Quiet all of it and take your time.
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:43):
This is the Ohemaa of impatience.
[LAUGHTER]
Did I use that properly?
Because queen, is thatwhat Ohemaa means?
ABA ARTHUR (26:51):
Wow, that's so interesting!
ERIKA RANDALL (26:52):
Did I do it?
ABA ARTHUR (26:54):
I've never heard it like that.
It's usually inreference to the person.
But that is interesting.
ERIKA RANDALL (26:59):
Ha.
Did it.
ABA ARTHUR (27:00):
Oh, maybe we could [INAUDIBLE].
I'll give you thecredit if I do it.
ERIKA RANDALL: That's all from you. (27:06):
undefined
I'm just on yourcourt right now.
ABA ARTHUR (27:09):
But that's great.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:10):
OK, two places on campus
that bring you themost nostalgia?
ABA ARTHUR (27:17):
The bookstore.
Oh, and the ballroom.
ERIKA RANDALL: Because African dance? (27:21):
undefined
ABA ARTHUR (27:22):
Oh, man.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:23):
Or what about the ballroom?
ABA ARTHUR (27:24):
Oh, my gosh.
I had such a time standingon that stage speaking.
When was that, last month?
ERIKA RANDALL (27:31):
It was, Black History Month.
ABA ARTHUR (27:33):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:34):
You were here for the cause and--
ABA ARTHUR (27:35):
Oh, yeah, February.
Oh, my gosh.
Such a time.
Because--
ERIKA RANDALL (27:38):
That was so beautiful.
ABA ARTHUR (27:39):
--I have had so many experiences in that ballroom,
both positive and very negative.
So being in that ballroom isalways like, wow, I'm back.
And I'm back like this.
ERIKA RANDALL (27:52):
Yeah.
And earnestly.
Like, that light is real.
If you could bring twoancestors on the red carpet?
ABA ARTHUR (28:00):
Oh, gosh!
ERIKA RANDALL (28:03):
Who are you going to bring?
ABA ARTHUR (28:05):
My grandparents for some reason.
I don't know them.
I never met them.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:10):
OK.
ABA ARTHUR (28:12):
They all died before I was born.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:14):
Were they all in Ghana?
ABA ARTHUR (28:16):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:16):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (28:17):
But I do believe that there
is some very strong connectionwith my mother's father.
I'm very clear about that.
Thank you.
And there's someone else.
I don't know, I'mfeeling grandparents.
There's another grandparent.
(28:38):
I don't know which one.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:39):
But they're coming?
ABA ARTHUR (28:40):
Ooh, I'm going to sit with that tonight.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:42):
Take that one.
ABA ARTHUR (28:42):
Thank you for that question.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:44):
You're welcome.
ABA ARTHUR (28:45):
Ooh, that's a juicy one.
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:47):
OK, a director and an actor
that you have on your visionboard for the Ohemaa project?
ABA ARTHUR (28:50):
I hate this game.
I love this game.
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (28:53):
Come on.
You wouldn't giveit up the other way,
so you've got togive it up this way.
Someone you really,really want to work with?
ABA ARTHUR (28:58):
Come on.
ERIKA RANDALL (28:59):
Come on!
ABA ARTHUR (29:00):
A director?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:01):
Uh-huh.
ABA ARTHUR (29:04):
Can I have worked with them already?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:06):
Sure.
Because you can want towork with them again.
ABA ARTHUR (29:09):
Yeah.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:09):
That's actually a high compliment.
ABA ARTHUR (29:10):
I'm going to say Ryan Coogler.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:11):
OK.
We love Ryan.
ABA ARTHUR (29:12):
Yeah, I'm going to say Ryan Coogler.
And then what's thesecond part of that?
ERIKA RANDALL (29:15):
If there's also an actor that you
are wanting to learn with.
ABA ARTHUR (29:20):
Angela Bassett.
I just have this vision, and Ican see it and I can feel it.
I'm sitting across from her.
We're having somedeep conversation.
We're in the middle of scenein the middle of character.
I just know thisis going to happen.
This is one of those thingswhere I was like, where's Oprah?
I'm like, where is myscene with Angela Bassett?
It's coming.
ERIKA RANDALL (29:40):
So producer Tim can back me up
because, I said Angela Bassettand then I said Viola Davis.
Just this week, I putyour name down on paper
because I have a novel that hasthese inanimate objects that
speak.
And I had a characterthat I wanted you to play,
and then wrote down thename Angela Bassett.
But then I changed it.
So I don't knowwhich is going to be.
ABA ARTHUR (29:59):
Well.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:00):
I have you down for being a peach pit.
ABA ARTHUR (30:02):
Oh!
[LAUGHS]
ERIKA RANDALL (30:05):
And she has been through a journey--
ABA ARTHUR (30:08):
Wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:08):
--this peach pit.
ABA ARTHUR (30:09):
Wow.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:10):
Yeah.
ABA ARTHUR (30:11):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:12):
In my audiobook.
ABA ARTHUR (30:14):
Yeah.
OK.
I want to hearwhere this is going.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:18):
OK, we'll talk about it.
ABA ARTHUR (30:19):
Yes.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:20):
OK, so now this is the big moment.
I know, you didn'tthink you had one yet.
The final question.
It's not a goodbye.
ABA ARTHUR (30:28):
OK.
ERIKA RANDALL (30:29):
This is a greeting, a blessing,
a salutation that you wouldgive to a graduating class,
to a world thatis for some ending
and new things are opening.
It's a send off, and ithas to start with "and."
And may you and know.
(30:54):
And so it's kind ofthat last line that
is progressing from atthe end of the talk,
and it is the last thingthat we're going to hear.
And we're going to stapleit to our heart chamber.
ABA ARTHUR (31:07):
And may you always be your best self,
the best version of yourself.
In every moment, always,may you be your best self.
ERIKA RANDALL (31:28):
That was actress, writer, producer, and activist
Aba Arthur on The Ampersand.
For more about Aba,see our show notes.
The Ampersand is aproduction of The College
of Arts and Sciences at theUniversity of Colorado, Boulder.
It is written and producedby me, Erika Randall,
and Tim Grassley.
If there are peopleyou'd like us
(31:49):
to interview on TheAmpersand, do please email
us at asinfo@colorado.edu.
Our theme music was composedand performed by Nelson Walker,
and the episodes are recorded atInterplay Recording in Boulder,
Colorado.
I'm Erika Randall, andthis is The Ampersand.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
(32:10):
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