November 26, 2024 • 23 mins
Join host Keith L. Underwood on Black in the Green Room as he sits down with the legendary Wendy Raquel Robinson. From her trailblazing acting career to the life-changing work of her Amazing Grace Conservatory, Wendy shares her journey of empowering young artists. She also dives deep into her passion for celebrating Africa (The Motherland) and uplifting the African diaspora. Don’t miss this heartfelt conversation packed with inspiration and cultural pride.
🎭 Behind-the-scenes stories
🌍 A mission to uplift Africa and the diaspora
💡 Inspiration for future leaders
🔔 Subscribe for more powerful conversations with icons reshaping the culture! #WendyRaquelRobinson #AmazingGraceConservatory #BlackInTheGreenRoom #Africa #CulturalPride
🎭 Behind-the-scenes stories
🌍 A mission to uplift Africa and the diaspora
💡 Inspiration for future leaders
🔔 Subscribe for more powerful conversations with icons reshaping the culture! #WendyRaquelRobinson #AmazingGraceConservatory #BlackInTheGreenRoom #Africa #CulturalPride
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
You are Black in the green room with me, your host Keith Underwood and this is your spot.
(00:08):
For real talk about entertainment with entertainers, creatives and showbiz professionals.
I am so excited to welcome to the room award winning actress, educator, founder of Amazing
Grace Conservatory and this year's host of the heirs of Africa.
Welcome to the room, Wendy, Raquel Robinson.
(00:33):
Woo!
Yeah!
It come in with my own applause.
Thank you for the bridge.
I'm so grateful introduction.
How are you?
I am doing fantastic.
How are you doing, Miss Wendy Wendy?
Miss Wendy Wendy is great, great, great.
I am fantastic.
I have no complaints.
Excited to be here.
Thank you, thank you so much.
So Wendy, let's jump right into it.
(00:56):
Tell me like from your roles, from your acting roles, how have some of them affected you personally?
And then how has that evolution helped you pick roles moving into your future and to your career?
Wow, that's a wonderful question.
You know I've never really been asked that.
(01:18):
But it's amazing.
Every role I do, I try and bring a bit of myself to the character but at the same time I try and learn.
From the character and I'll start with one that just really impacted me was Principal Regina Career.
And from the Steve Harvey show.
And it really made me examine, you know, not only being an educator myself and working with young people,
(01:41):
but also to really look at the school system.
And you know, I take my hat off to all of the teachers, the principals, the supervisors, because it's not easy.
You know, you have to deal with the multitude of different personalities, you know, the young people, you know, even the shootings that are happening now.
(02:02):
Yeah.
You know just an educator is dangerous.
So I think I just have a lot more respect.
I already did have a respect, but now it's just really a operation and just really bowing down to the educators.
And then of course, Tasha Mag, you know, from the game, she really helped me to just speak my mind and be unapologetic at times.
(02:28):
Because so many times, you know, we try and just really be a little too cordial.
I'm a really, I'm a big pussycat.
I let a lot of people get away with a lot of things, but she helped me to be more assertive, not necessarily rude, but just to speak my mind.
And sometimes to know that it's okay to say no.
(02:49):
Yes.
It's okay to say no and to not be a people pleaser.
So I could go on and on and on, but yeah, those are the two that just really have had a huge impact in my life.
And you know, and also looking at being a single parent, you know, Tasha.
Yeah.
She was a single mom and just how difficult that is and how vigilant you have to be in resilient.
(03:14):
So she was tenacious, she was resilient, she was, you know, she took no, she took, she took nothing for granted.
I'll put it like that.
And I just really bow down to all of the single moms that are out there.
Yeah.
You know, being someone, especially with amazing Grace Conservatory, someone who spends a lot of your time inspiring others.
(03:39):
How do you keep yourself inspired when you work so tirelessly inspiring other people?
Wow.
That, now that, wow, you get deep.
That's great.
Because you know, it is not easy.
You know, and you cannot pour from an empty cup.
So I love to travel.
(04:01):
I love spending time with my family.
And actually, I really like pouring into the youth, but believe it or not, they pour into me as well.
And there's nothing like, you know, just sitting around and being in fellowship and fun and love and conversation and just, um, and just doing that.
I do a lot of mindfulness walks.
(04:22):
I go to the gym.
I still take my dance classes.
I start as a dancer.
So, you know, I'm still doing that.
And I just find the moments to just really be still in present.
And every day I start off with my affirmations.
I do gratitude affirmations.
And it just really helps me to just put not only life and perspective, but just to, um, take a moment to breathe and just be grateful for the little things for the flowers.
(04:51):
Or, you know, the breath that I'm able to take.
And just, you know, just to be grateful and spending time with my family, of course, and God, you know, and just being thankful to God for everything.
And it just really, it reenergizes me.
And it just keeps me, um, it keeps my head.
It keeps me grounded.
(05:12):
I just think, yeah, absolutely.
Um, as a, um, a black woman, a black woman of, of American descent.
Why was it important for you to deal with the diaspora?
And I think I heard that you also did heirs of Africa once before that you were the host once before.
(05:34):
Why is it important for you to be founded and rooted in events that celebrate the African diaspora?
Why?
Why are you going deep today?
Well, you know, um, I'm a graduate of Howard University.
And one of the things about a HBCU, it just really, it put in perspective who I am in terms of the culture.
(06:01):
And, uh, you know, I've been to Africa.
I haven't spent as much time as I'd like to be as, as I would have liked to, but just staying connected to the motherland, you know, all things come from Africa.
And staying as connected as I possibly can.
And, um, when I discovered my diaspora, you know, I took a black, I took a black diaspora class at Howard University that just really changed the lens on how I look at the world and just how everything starts from the motherland.
(06:35):
So anytime I can be connected and I love working with coachy. She's absolutely wonderful.
And just being, um, being grounded in my roots, you know, it's a way of not only me staying connected, but me just being a part of something that is greater than myself.
Uh, it's humbling and it's honorable and it's, um, I do it for the culture.
(07:01):
I really do. I do it for the culture. And I think connected.
Yeah. But for you, that connectivity to the African diaspora, how does it help you, um, to mentor other people that might be coming up behind you, that might have questions for you that might want to, you know, engage and pick your brain and all those types of things.
(07:25):
Why is that connection to Africa important to you in doing that?
Wow. That's wonderful because if we don't know who we are and we'll come from, we don't know where we're going.
And the thing that I see now, especially in my young people, they have taken black history out of the schools.
I had a three triggering moment, you know, we were doing a piece. It was her black history month and it was called the color museum.
(07:50):
And one thing about the color museum, it's different exhibits, but they're told different characters throughout our history.
And there's this one character, her name is miss Pat. And it opens up with welcome to celebrity slave ship.
You know, we'll be departing the gold coast and making short stops it by here, porta prints and a banner before we finally in our, you know, final destination of America.
(08:14):
And so I was working with the young people. Now, a lot of my students, they come from all over, you know,
South L.A.s from as far as candy, egg, oats, closes, Compton and South Central and everything from every walk of life.
But when I asked the question to my seven to, I want to say 12 year olds. And I said, well, so how do we get here from Africa?
(08:39):
Many of them said cruise ships. They said that they were, they did not know the history.
Wow. They did not know their history. And that is very intentional.
It is being taken out of our schools. So it may, it made my, I want to say my purpose and my passion just really come together.
(09:03):
Yes.
And even closer. So I know you're saying outside of amazing grace conservatory, but it's kind of one and the same.
And it raises the next generation of artists, of artists, scholars, you know, and if we don't teach our history of not us, then who and if not right now then went.
So I've always, it's bigger than me. So I use everything that I have learned and that I am still learning.
(09:30):
And I poured back into not only, you know, the young people that I work with, but even the artists that I'm working with on set, you know, and things like that.
And there's something that I know even if it's just, you know, having proper etiquette on set, you know, saying please and thank you.
You know, it's very different. It's a different time right now.
(09:53):
Right.
It's a different time, you know, and I just, I'm an old school artist and I believe in, you know, really, yeah.
My mama taught me better.
That's right.
So I'm just, I believe in giving it all back.
How important is it to you? And I'm not even going to ask it that way because I know it's important to you.
(10:14):
But for you, why is it important to have environments in which collaboration is what's focused on as opposed to competition?
Oh, you know, we're stronger together.
No more now. We are stronger together. And there was something, you know, Joe Olstein, I listened to him and he had a whole thing about compare and despair, you know.
(10:39):
And that's what I'm saying right now. And in so many people are just through social media, you know, we're comparing our lives and, you know, we're competing with, you know, the haves and the have-nots.
But when we come together and we really compliment each other, it makes us so much stronger together.
And, you know, the only person I'm in competition with is myself to be greater than I was before, you know, then I'm trying to be tomorrow.
(11:07):
And I just think it's very important, you know, and and some people may have a problem with this, but sometimes I think that integration was one of the greatest things that just really impacted us.
And it impacted us as a race when we, when we shot, you know, when we were banking with each other, shopping with each other, you know, in community with each other, we were so strong.
(11:33):
I look at the black wall street of it all, you know, and so it's very important. It's very important that we pull our resources together.
And it's not about competition. It is definitely about collaboration. And, you know, so much more can be done together than apart.
(11:55):
You know, we're not perhaps in a barrel. We don't have to be that at all. Yeah.
Yeah. As host of heirs of Africa, which celebrates black women, the excellent black women, what message do you want to share with them about being black, excellent and a woman?
(12:16):
Wow. We're going deep.
You know, I guess what I am learning is that, you know, we say, I'm every woman, I can do everything, but at the end of the day, to die and own self be true, to take care of yourself first, to prioritize not only your physical health, but your mental health.
(12:43):
Because, you know, we're out here saving the world and saving our community and saving our family, but we have to save ourselves first. You know, they say, put on your oxygen mask first and then everything else will come to it.
So if there's anything that I would like to pour into my sisters, it's just to prioritize yourself.
And I'm saying that to myself as well, you know, because I do so much and it's like, oh, you know, when am I going to do for me, you know, the way that I should do for me. So we need to be reminded that we come first.
(13:18):
Yes.
Yeah.
What's the power with black women being able to work with black men? I spoke to Koshie earlier and we were talking about that. I think that is absolutely wonderful that we separate that we celebrate our sisters.
And this is probably more of a responsibility of, you know, our brothers.
(13:40):
But how can, how can we create events or find spaces to celebrate our brothers as well?
Well, you know, so many things happens in the church.
You know, and you know, fellowship is definitely, you know, one of the ways that we can all come together as well.
(14:06):
Fellowship family.
And that's a great way for me.
You know, wow, how can we? I don't know. I think we need to be more in conversation. Conversations like this.
That's where it starts, you know, and just really, you know, sitting down and just talking and seeing what is it that our black men need right now?
(14:31):
What is it that our black women need right now?
Absolutely.
And do we talk to each other and just really being in conversation and in community with each other? I think it's critical to not only moving forward, but to share, you know, to share with the world.
One thing that I try and do with my art and my craft is to do projects that really show conflict. Yes, it might be in comedy, but, you know, to show conflict, community and collaboration.
(15:03):
You know, it's all of that. So, um, I think that's that's that's key. Just having a conversation.
Let's start.
Yeah.
Yeah. And I love what you just said, Wendy, because I think that a lot of people think that they predominantly know you as a comedic actress.
Um, how do you, how do you not, not dispel, not dispel that, but show that you're more than just.
(15:32):
Then just that.
Wow. I'd like to think that my work would speak for itself. You know, look at, you know, the, of course, I highlighted, you know, some of the long running shows that I've done.
Yeah.
You know, I've done a lot of movies and theater and plays and, you know, television shows that have really been anchored in the drama.
(15:59):
You know, a lot of them don't get a lot of the notoriety as, you know, some of the longstanding comedies that I've done, but, uh,
I am who I am. I consider myself an artist. You know, comedy, you know, the thing that's so funny about comedy for me, I was raised on Earth, when in fire and Richard prior.
Right.
You know,
(16:20):
come on and drop those lines, Wendy.
Exactly. I got bars, but, but, um,
one thing about comedy, um, it is complex, you know, and in order to understand the laughter, you have to understand the source of words coming from in a lot of time.
(16:42):
It is, it's rooted in pain.
Yeah.
You know, a lot of the most comedic actors, you know, it's the tears of a clown kind of syndrome, you know, and if you really peel back the layers, you understand where a lot of that comedy comes from.
So, um,
Thank you for the compliment, but, um, yeah, I want to say check out my IMDb and look at some of my other work.
(17:09):
That part right there.
That part right there.
You know, and Wendy, I would, I would definitely agree with you because even with, you know, like a show like the game, you know, who that I would consider to be more of a dromity.
Man, some of my, my most favorite moments watching you, of course is when you can cut up and tear up in the whole bit, but when you dig deep into that character, when you're having some, some deep conversations, I just, I've always appreciated that in you as an actress.
(17:40):
Well, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it.
And I loved it is, you know, it's the complexities of the characters that I enjoy the most, you know, not always one way in life.
This is human beings, you know, we're different with our parents than we are with our siblings and we are with our friends, then we are with our spouses, you know, we are multifaceted.
(18:04):
And that's what I really appreciated about Tasha Mack. It was the way that she written as well.
She was so layered and complex that she would drive me crazy sometimes.
You know, you know, the latter, when we were on Paramount Plus, it did turn definitely more so into a drama, you know, dealt with, you know, her physical health issues, her mental.
(18:32):
Yeah, her mental health and all of that. So, yeah, it's all about what you bring to the character.
Yes. And speaking of what you bring, I heard from some little birdies that you bring the funny, the energy to airs of Africa. Talk to me a little bit about that.
(18:53):
I just bring myself. I bring myself, you know, and I have a great time. I enjoy hosting. It's one of the things that I find the most joy in and that's connecting with my audience, connecting with the people, you know, giving reverence to the honorees that are there.
(19:14):
And it just really happened a great time. Yeah. I was just, I was honored to be asked back and I'm just really looking forward to an incredible event that's going to be honoring some, some wonderful women.
I'm not sure who they are, but I do trust Koshi and knowing that everyone that is there is deserving to be there and sharing.
(19:39):
Just to share space with such great people. Yeah. What's the space like when do you want to feel like what's the aura there when you go to an airs of Africa event?
Wow. When you come to an airs of the Africa event, it's all about surrendering who you are at the door.
You know, so when you come in, there's a circle of sisterhood, of womanhood, of empowerment, of self reflection, of just celebrating the woman that is you.
(20:13):
And just come as you are and just be in fellowship and eat good, you know, at last.
What's on the menu? What's on the menu when you went to take out of what they got over there? No, no, it's on the menu, but I know it's going to be good.
Okay. Yeah. Well, it's the last time. Yeah. You're surprised.
Yeah. It's not just your regular hotel, uh, swore wreck.
(20:38):
Yeah. But, um, it's just really celebrating, uh, the woman. It is the year of the woman, you know, and we don't know what it's going to be like after this election, but there's so much to celebrate.
Yes. Especially as black women. So it's giving honor to that. Yes.
(20:59):
Yeah. And Wendy, how can people find out more information about airs of Africa?
You know what? I'm going to let you tell me. Okay.
I don't know, brother, underwood. I just know I'm showing up. It's all good.
H-E-H-E-I-R-F of Africa. I'm happy.
(21:24):
I'm sure if you put it in, um, and you put it in your little search engine, I'm sure there are great things that will come up with that.
That's right. And that's A-T-I-R-S-O-S-R-I-K-A.com. I think that's right, too, Wendy. I don't have any.
Yeah. But, y'all, y'all search it. You go find it.
Yeah. And you're going to put it up, uh, when you put up the zoom. Yeah.
(21:48):
That's right. That's right.
Okay. And Wendy, where can everybody find you on social media?
Oh, please follow me on Instagram at I-M-Wendy-R-K-L. That's R-A-Q-U-E-L. I-M-Wendy-R-K-L.
And that's on Instagram and, uh, all of the other platforms. I am Wendy-R-K-L because you ain't.
(22:11):
[laughs]
And stop trying to pretend like you are.
That's it. No, I'm kidding. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, the police, please, please. It's a good time.
Yes. Wendy, thank you so much for joining me. I mean, I've just been so much fun talking to you and, and very, very insightful.
You know, I wanted to, you know, I, I, I wanted to, to, to dive a little deep just to get a real sense of who you are as a person.
(22:39):
Not just what people think that you should show up at us. So I appreciate you.
But did you get it? Yes, baby. I got it. Okay. Yeah.
As long as you got it. Okay. If you got it, I got it. We good.
[laughs]
All right. Perfect. Perfect.
For more information on upcoming guests and shows, please check us out on Instagram at Black in the Green Room.
(23:02):
You can also follow me on IG at Mr. Keith L. Underwood and FB at Just Keith L. Underwood.
Until next time, this has been Black in the Green Room.
[music]
[music]
(23:23):
[music]
(music fades out)
You are Black in the green room with me, your host Keith Underwood and this is your spot.
(00:08):
For real talk about entertainment with entertainers, creatives and showbiz professionals.
I am so excited to welcome to the room award winning actress, educator, founder of Amazing
Grace Conservatory and this year's host of the heirs of Africa.
Welcome to the room, Wendy, Raquel Robinson.
(00:33):
Woo!
Yeah!
It come in with my own applause.
Thank you for the bridge.
I'm so grateful introduction.
How are you?
I am doing fantastic.
How are you doing, Miss Wendy Wendy?
Miss Wendy Wendy is great, great, great.
I am fantastic.
I have no complaints.
Excited to be here.
Thank you, thank you so much.
So Wendy, let's jump right into it.
(00:56):
Tell me like from your roles, from your acting roles, how have some of them affected you personally?
And then how has that evolution helped you pick roles moving into your future and to your career?
Wow, that's a wonderful question.
You know I've never really been asked that.
(01:18):
But it's amazing.
Every role I do, I try and bring a bit of myself to the character but at the same time I try and learn.
From the character and I'll start with one that just really impacted me was Principal Regina Career.
And from the Steve Harvey show.
And it really made me examine, you know, not only being an educator myself and working with young people,
(01:41):
but also to really look at the school system.
And you know, I take my hat off to all of the teachers, the principals, the supervisors, because it's not easy.
You know, you have to deal with the multitude of different personalities, you know, the young people, you know, even the shootings that are happening now.
(02:02):
Yeah.
You know just an educator is dangerous.
So I think I just have a lot more respect.
I already did have a respect, but now it's just really a operation and just really bowing down to the educators.
And then of course, Tasha Mag, you know, from the game, she really helped me to just speak my mind and be unapologetic at times.
(02:28):
Because so many times, you know, we try and just really be a little too cordial.
I'm a really, I'm a big pussycat.
I let a lot of people get away with a lot of things, but she helped me to be more assertive, not necessarily rude, but just to speak my mind.
And sometimes to know that it's okay to say no.
(02:49):
Yes.
It's okay to say no and to not be a people pleaser.
So I could go on and on and on, but yeah, those are the two that just really have had a huge impact in my life.
And you know, and also looking at being a single parent, you know, Tasha.
Yeah.
She was a single mom and just how difficult that is and how vigilant you have to be in resilient.
(03:14):
So she was tenacious, she was resilient, she was, you know, she took no, she took, she took nothing for granted.
I'll put it like that.
And I just really bow down to all of the single moms that are out there.
Yeah.
You know, being someone, especially with amazing Grace Conservatory, someone who spends a lot of your time inspiring others.
(03:39):
How do you keep yourself inspired when you work so tirelessly inspiring other people?
Wow.
That, now that, wow, you get deep.
That's great.
Because you know, it is not easy.
You know, and you cannot pour from an empty cup.
So I love to travel.
(04:01):
I love spending time with my family.
And actually, I really like pouring into the youth, but believe it or not, they pour into me as well.
And there's nothing like, you know, just sitting around and being in fellowship and fun and love and conversation and just, um, and just doing that.
I do a lot of mindfulness walks.
(04:22):
I go to the gym.
I still take my dance classes.
I start as a dancer.
So, you know, I'm still doing that.
And I just find the moments to just really be still in present.
And every day I start off with my affirmations.
I do gratitude affirmations.
And it just really helps me to just put not only life and perspective, but just to, um, take a moment to breathe and just be grateful for the little things for the flowers.
(04:51):
Or, you know, the breath that I'm able to take.
And just, you know, just to be grateful and spending time with my family, of course, and God, you know, and just being thankful to God for everything.
And it just really, it reenergizes me.
And it just keeps me, um, it keeps my head.
It keeps me grounded.
(05:12):
I just think, yeah, absolutely.
Um, as a, um, a black woman, a black woman of, of American descent.
Why was it important for you to deal with the diaspora?
And I think I heard that you also did heirs of Africa once before that you were the host once before.
(05:34):
Why is it important for you to be founded and rooted in events that celebrate the African diaspora?
Why?
Why are you going deep today?
Well, you know, um, I'm a graduate of Howard University.
And one of the things about a HBCU, it just really, it put in perspective who I am in terms of the culture.
(06:01):
And, uh, you know, I've been to Africa.
I haven't spent as much time as I'd like to be as, as I would have liked to, but just staying connected to the motherland, you know, all things come from Africa.
And staying as connected as I possibly can.
And, um, when I discovered my diaspora, you know, I took a black, I took a black diaspora class at Howard University that just really changed the lens on how I look at the world and just how everything starts from the motherland.
(06:35):
So anytime I can be connected and I love working with coachy. She's absolutely wonderful.
And just being, um, being grounded in my roots, you know, it's a way of not only me staying connected, but me just being a part of something that is greater than myself.
Uh, it's humbling and it's honorable and it's, um, I do it for the culture.
(07:01):
I really do. I do it for the culture. And I think connected.
Yeah. But for you, that connectivity to the African diaspora, how does it help you, um, to mentor other people that might be coming up behind you, that might have questions for you that might want to, you know, engage and pick your brain and all those types of things.
(07:25):
Why is that connection to Africa important to you in doing that?
Wow. That's wonderful because if we don't know who we are and we'll come from, we don't know where we're going.
And the thing that I see now, especially in my young people, they have taken black history out of the schools.
I had a three triggering moment, you know, we were doing a piece. It was her black history month and it was called the color museum.
(07:50):
And one thing about the color museum, it's different exhibits, but they're told different characters throughout our history.
And there's this one character, her name is miss Pat. And it opens up with welcome to celebrity slave ship.
You know, we'll be departing the gold coast and making short stops it by here, porta prints and a banner before we finally in our, you know, final destination of America.
(08:14):
And so I was working with the young people. Now, a lot of my students, they come from all over, you know,
South L.A.s from as far as candy, egg, oats, closes, Compton and South Central and everything from every walk of life.
But when I asked the question to my seven to, I want to say 12 year olds. And I said, well, so how do we get here from Africa?
(08:39):
Many of them said cruise ships. They said that they were, they did not know the history.
Wow. They did not know their history. And that is very intentional.
It is being taken out of our schools. So it may, it made my, I want to say my purpose and my passion just really come together.
(09:03):
Yes.
And even closer. So I know you're saying outside of amazing grace conservatory, but it's kind of one and the same.
And it raises the next generation of artists, of artists, scholars, you know, and if we don't teach our history of not us, then who and if not right now then went.
So I've always, it's bigger than me. So I use everything that I have learned and that I am still learning.
(09:30):
And I poured back into not only, you know, the young people that I work with, but even the artists that I'm working with on set, you know, and things like that.
And there's something that I know even if it's just, you know, having proper etiquette on set, you know, saying please and thank you.
You know, it's very different. It's a different time right now.
(09:53):
Right.
It's a different time, you know, and I just, I'm an old school artist and I believe in, you know, really, yeah.
My mama taught me better.
That's right.
So I'm just, I believe in giving it all back.
How important is it to you? And I'm not even going to ask it that way because I know it's important to you.
(10:14):
But for you, why is it important to have environments in which collaboration is what's focused on as opposed to competition?
Oh, you know, we're stronger together.
No more now. We are stronger together. And there was something, you know, Joe Olstein, I listened to him and he had a whole thing about compare and despair, you know.
(10:39):
And that's what I'm saying right now. And in so many people are just through social media, you know, we're comparing our lives and, you know, we're competing with, you know, the haves and the have-nots.
But when we come together and we really compliment each other, it makes us so much stronger together.
And, you know, the only person I'm in competition with is myself to be greater than I was before, you know, then I'm trying to be tomorrow.
(11:07):
And I just think it's very important, you know, and and some people may have a problem with this, but sometimes I think that integration was one of the greatest things that just really impacted us.
And it impacted us as a race when we, when we shot, you know, when we were banking with each other, shopping with each other, you know, in community with each other, we were so strong.
(11:33):
I look at the black wall street of it all, you know, and so it's very important. It's very important that we pull our resources together.
And it's not about competition. It is definitely about collaboration. And, you know, so much more can be done together than apart.
(11:55):
You know, we're not perhaps in a barrel. We don't have to be that at all. Yeah.
Yeah. As host of heirs of Africa, which celebrates black women, the excellent black women, what message do you want to share with them about being black, excellent and a woman?
(12:16):
Wow. We're going deep.
You know, I guess what I am learning is that, you know, we say, I'm every woman, I can do everything, but at the end of the day, to die and own self be true, to take care of yourself first, to prioritize not only your physical health, but your mental health.
(12:43):
Because, you know, we're out here saving the world and saving our community and saving our family, but we have to save ourselves first. You know, they say, put on your oxygen mask first and then everything else will come to it.
So if there's anything that I would like to pour into my sisters, it's just to prioritize yourself.
And I'm saying that to myself as well, you know, because I do so much and it's like, oh, you know, when am I going to do for me, you know, the way that I should do for me. So we need to be reminded that we come first.
(13:18):
Yes.
Yeah.
What's the power with black women being able to work with black men? I spoke to Koshie earlier and we were talking about that. I think that is absolutely wonderful that we separate that we celebrate our sisters.
And this is probably more of a responsibility of, you know, our brothers.
(13:40):
But how can, how can we create events or find spaces to celebrate our brothers as well?
Well, you know, so many things happens in the church.
You know, and you know, fellowship is definitely, you know, one of the ways that we can all come together as well.
(14:06):
Fellowship family.
And that's a great way for me.
You know, wow, how can we? I don't know. I think we need to be more in conversation. Conversations like this.
That's where it starts, you know, and just really, you know, sitting down and just talking and seeing what is it that our black men need right now?
(14:31):
What is it that our black women need right now?
Absolutely.
And do we talk to each other and just really being in conversation and in community with each other? I think it's critical to not only moving forward, but to share, you know, to share with the world.
One thing that I try and do with my art and my craft is to do projects that really show conflict. Yes, it might be in comedy, but, you know, to show conflict, community and collaboration.
(15:03):
You know, it's all of that. So, um, I think that's that's that's key. Just having a conversation.
Let's start.
Yeah.
Yeah. And I love what you just said, Wendy, because I think that a lot of people think that they predominantly know you as a comedic actress.
Um, how do you, how do you not, not dispel, not dispel that, but show that you're more than just.
(15:32):
Then just that.
Wow. I'd like to think that my work would speak for itself. You know, look at, you know, the, of course, I highlighted, you know, some of the long running shows that I've done.
Yeah.
You know, I've done a lot of movies and theater and plays and, you know, television shows that have really been anchored in the drama.
(15:59):
You know, a lot of them don't get a lot of the notoriety as, you know, some of the longstanding comedies that I've done, but, uh,
I am who I am. I consider myself an artist. You know, comedy, you know, the thing that's so funny about comedy for me, I was raised on Earth, when in fire and Richard prior.
Right.
You know,
(16:20):
come on and drop those lines, Wendy.
Exactly. I got bars, but, but, um,
one thing about comedy, um, it is complex, you know, and in order to understand the laughter, you have to understand the source of words coming from in a lot of time.
(16:42):
It is, it's rooted in pain.
Yeah.
You know, a lot of the most comedic actors, you know, it's the tears of a clown kind of syndrome, you know, and if you really peel back the layers, you understand where a lot of that comedy comes from.
So, um,
Thank you for the compliment, but, um, yeah, I want to say check out my IMDb and look at some of my other work.
(17:09):
That part right there.
That part right there.
You know, and Wendy, I would, I would definitely agree with you because even with, you know, like a show like the game, you know, who that I would consider to be more of a dromity.
Man, some of my, my most favorite moments watching you, of course is when you can cut up and tear up in the whole bit, but when you dig deep into that character, when you're having some, some deep conversations, I just, I've always appreciated that in you as an actress.
(17:40):
Well, thank you. Thank you. I appreciate it.
And I loved it is, you know, it's the complexities of the characters that I enjoy the most, you know, not always one way in life.
This is human beings, you know, we're different with our parents than we are with our siblings and we are with our friends, then we are with our spouses, you know, we are multifaceted.
(18:04):
And that's what I really appreciated about Tasha Mack. It was the way that she written as well.
She was so layered and complex that she would drive me crazy sometimes.
You know, you know, the latter, when we were on Paramount Plus, it did turn definitely more so into a drama, you know, dealt with, you know, her physical health issues, her mental.
(18:32):
Yeah, her mental health and all of that. So, yeah, it's all about what you bring to the character.
Yes. And speaking of what you bring, I heard from some little birdies that you bring the funny, the energy to airs of Africa. Talk to me a little bit about that.
(18:53):
I just bring myself. I bring myself, you know, and I have a great time. I enjoy hosting. It's one of the things that I find the most joy in and that's connecting with my audience, connecting with the people, you know, giving reverence to the honorees that are there.
(19:14):
And it just really happened a great time. Yeah. I was just, I was honored to be asked back and I'm just really looking forward to an incredible event that's going to be honoring some, some wonderful women.
I'm not sure who they are, but I do trust Koshi and knowing that everyone that is there is deserving to be there and sharing.
(19:39):
Just to share space with such great people. Yeah. What's the space like when do you want to feel like what's the aura there when you go to an airs of Africa event?
Wow. When you come to an airs of the Africa event, it's all about surrendering who you are at the door.
You know, so when you come in, there's a circle of sisterhood, of womanhood, of empowerment, of self reflection, of just celebrating the woman that is you.
(20:13):
And just come as you are and just be in fellowship and eat good, you know, at last.
What's on the menu? What's on the menu when you went to take out of what they got over there? No, no, it's on the menu, but I know it's going to be good.
Okay. Yeah. Well, it's the last time. Yeah. You're surprised.
Yeah. It's not just your regular hotel, uh, swore wreck.
(20:38):
Yeah. But, um, it's just really celebrating, uh, the woman. It is the year of the woman, you know, and we don't know what it's going to be like after this election, but there's so much to celebrate.
Yes. Especially as black women. So it's giving honor to that. Yes.
(20:59):
Yeah. And Wendy, how can people find out more information about airs of Africa?
You know what? I'm going to let you tell me. Okay.
I don't know, brother, underwood. I just know I'm showing up. It's all good.
H-E-H-E-I-R-F of Africa. I'm happy.
(21:24):
I'm sure if you put it in, um, and you put it in your little search engine, I'm sure there are great things that will come up with that.
That's right. And that's A-T-I-R-S-O-S-R-I-K-A.com. I think that's right, too, Wendy. I don't have any.
Yeah. But, y'all, y'all search it. You go find it.
Yeah. And you're going to put it up, uh, when you put up the zoom. Yeah.
(21:48):
That's right. That's right.
Okay. And Wendy, where can everybody find you on social media?
Oh, please follow me on Instagram at I-M-Wendy-R-K-L. That's R-A-Q-U-E-L. I-M-Wendy-R-K-L.
And that's on Instagram and, uh, all of the other platforms. I am Wendy-R-K-L because you ain't.
(22:11):
[laughs]
And stop trying to pretend like you are.
That's it. No, I'm kidding. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, the police, please, please. It's a good time.
Yes. Wendy, thank you so much for joining me. I mean, I've just been so much fun talking to you and, and very, very insightful.
You know, I wanted to, you know, I, I, I wanted to, to, to dive a little deep just to get a real sense of who you are as a person.
(22:39):
Not just what people think that you should show up at us. So I appreciate you.
But did you get it? Yes, baby. I got it. Okay. Yeah.
As long as you got it. Okay. If you got it, I got it. We good.
[laughs]
All right. Perfect. Perfect.
For more information on upcoming guests and shows, please check us out on Instagram at Black in the Green Room.
(23:02):
You can also follow me on IG at Mr. Keith L. Underwood and FB at Just Keith L. Underwood.
Until next time, this has been Black in the Green Room.
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(23:23):
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