April 30, 2025 • 30 mins
Host Dr. Teresa A. Smith, Dr. TAS welcomes author, playwright, and director Felicia Brookins to talk about how theater helps students heal, express emotions, and turn pain into purpose. If you work with youth or care about emotional wellness, this one’s for you.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm doctor Teresa Smith, doctor Tarz, and welcome to this
edition of Talk with Tarz. I always like to bring
this guest that is the remarkable Felicia Brookers. Felicia is
the author of the Ways.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Trilogy and she just released the third book.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
The first book was I mean the first book, I
think I said that creat The first book was Sister
Nadine's Ways, and god knows, I know what you think.
The second one was The Reprobate Ways, The Unbalance of
Ann and her latest book is Justine Ways of Grace.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, Felicia, again, thank you for being back with me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You work Briach's storytelling and healing in such a powerful way.
What inspired you to channel your own experiences and intergenerational
trauma into the fictional trilogy.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
And then the stage production?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
That would probably have to be my love reading and writing.
Even in high school, I wrote, I had a journal.
I also had a little diary. I remember that diary, Soulral.
It was a blue diary. And so because I couldn't
express my hurt, pain and feelings to any adults, because
(01:17):
you know, back then in the day, you weren't allowed
to do that, So I had to write it in
a diary, and so for me, that helped me to
be able to get through all the things that I experienced.
So for me, I would say the main thing is
that a diary, writing out my feelings and remembering what
(01:38):
it felt like to go back and read that years
later and see all that I had come through, all
because I made a decision to stay.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's what I always saying.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Because I made a decision to stay, and so that
is what made me feel that, hey, you know, I
can take fiction and some of my own personal life
experiences and put them into a book and into a series.
Because once I wrote the first book the way that
I ended it, I had no choice but to take
(02:09):
it full circle with the with the keys that were
involved in the story.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I like, Felicia that you said that you started out
writing and you didn't have a voice, because you're right,
back in those days, we couldn't vocalize what we were experiencing.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Your children had to be seen and not heard, and
they meant that.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And so to know that you were able to write
the first book book and as you said, it had
to end the way that it ended. But then knowing
that you were going to go back at some point
and write from the perspective of those children, because when
we talk about generational curses, they don't occur.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Just when you're an adult. They have but to you as.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You're growing up and becoming that individual.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
And that's so important.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Now your stage play, the browning is now part of
a theater and therapy. And can you walk us through
how this unique approach is creating a safe space for
teens to open up emotionally.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yes. Well, first of all, of course, it's called safe space,
which is a name that says, this is the place
where us teams can come and talk about the things
that you feel, the thoughts that are going on your head,
your emotional mental struggles, and you can do so without
fingers being pointed at you, without stigma or biases or
(03:31):
a backlash. And so theater provides that same thing. Theater
provides that youth or that team an opportunity to write
out their feelings because they can do the skipit themselves,
and then they can be a part of bringing that
skit to life on the stage and in doing so
tell what they think and feel with our people even
(03:53):
really knowing whether or not it's them. And so it
doesn't expose them or open them up to any harsh words,
any criticism them. It gives them confidence, you know, because
it's something new. It makes them where they are heard
and can say what they feel, sometimes even writing themselves,
letting other people completely act it out and step back
and see it themselves. And so theater is that safe space.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
That opportunity of expression for youth, well again without them
having to deal with some type of backlash, finger pointing,
or somebody putting them down because they're saying I'm not
okay and this is what I'm really feeling and thinking. Well,
you know, I love that idea of fle because it's
like what you're they're using theater as the as the
(04:38):
mechanism or the motive, but it's a way for them
to balance out their artistic expression as well as and
since advocate for themselves, are others who may have experienced
similar traumas.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yes, and I think.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That's a unique way for them to be able to
vocalize their their their mission. They may not even realize
some me but to vocalize their truth right.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And it does so again safely because if you can
write this and put it together and not even put
your name on it, you know, but have other individuals
to act it out. And it allows you to sit
back and see yourself. You know, it's almost like looking
in a mirror for you to see it. It's one
(05:24):
thing to go through it, but when you can step
back and just look at it and say why and
again a lot of times, see just how much you've
already gone through that, you're a lot stronger than you
thought you were. And guess what you are creative because
you look at that and say, I did I read that?
And so it helps with the confidence and encourages them
(05:46):
and motivates them, and it can also create a circle
or family of closeness for them. Maybe it's somebody maybe
that's being bullet school, doesn't feel like they have any
friends or that they're like on anyone. Well, then you
have these castmen that come together, and these cast members
become your friends and your family because you all spend
time together. So now all of a sudden, I do
(06:07):
have a group that connects with me and understands me.
And maybe I now do have a group of friends
because now I have something in common with someone else.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And that's so powerful, because you know, sometimes we feel
like we're the only person who's going through something, and
the people that we're sitting having lunch with they're going
through something similar or have gone through something totally different,
but it's weighing on them, but we don't see that
other people are also struggling. And I like the fact
that you're building a sense of community, that support network,
(06:41):
because we're now actors and it doesn't matter whose story
we're acting out. We know each other, we support each other,
we cheer each other on, and so therefore we're there
for each other at.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Our time of need.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
And I think that's so important, particularly in this age
of bullying that you know, I think about when I
was bullied as a child.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well and even as an adult.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But now it's like syper bullying is so rapid and
it does damage a totally different way.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Right because at the school when we were going up,
what went on in school pretty much stayed at school,
you know, unless you live in the neighborhood with that person.
But now you leave school and it follows you because
it goes all over the world. People you don't even
know even come in and say ugly, mean, hateful things
to you. You know, they learn stuff about you, They
(07:35):
come in your inbox. It's like if you pick up
your phone, you don't disconnect from it. And kids, you know,
are drawn to technology, so yeah, they can reach them. Now,
when I go home and close my door in my bedroom,
you're still bullying me, You're still harassing me. You've even
got other people involved in it. That's a lot youth
or teenagers to deal with when they emostly are not
(07:58):
intelligent where they need to be yet, to deal with
that in another way other than to lash out or
to fight or some example they've seen on a video
or heard in music where I need to fight this person,
cut this person, shoot this person. You know, that's how
I need to experience how you make me feel.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Now, police should for any parents or educators or youth
advocates who might be listening or watching us. What signs
should they look for that creative outlets like the fearter
might help the teens that they're responsible for, be it
at church, be it in the youth community organization, be.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It parents or even educators.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
What signs should they look for that said, Oh, maybe
let's get this person's creative and maybe that would be
a way for them to be able to manage more
some of the things that areccurring with them.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Well, the first and most important thing I think is
to if you happen to know this, you know something
about them. Maybe they're with drawn, or maybe they are
lashing out, maybe they're looking angry, they're sitting back really subtle.
First thing first is how about you approach them with
a smile and have a conversation. Let's do that. Let's
(09:17):
talk to them about what's going on with them, maybe
ask them to try to find out what their interests are.
You know, hey, how are things going in school? Well,
what are your favorite subjects in school? You know, well
do you like? They may say, well, I like I
like English or I like to read. Oh so what
are some things that you've read? And and when you're
(09:38):
talking about that, hey, well have you ever thought about
maybe writing a play about that? Have you thought about
maybe writing a book about that? And so that can
open that up. You can even say, hey, you know,
how do we go to the museum one day? You know,
do you like to go to the museum. Let's do that.
Or you know, we've got this event going on with
(10:00):
my group of my organization and we're going to have
this author there that writes the same kind of books
that you like. How about we go do that? And
so that begins to make them feel like, well, first
of all, maybe it's an adult I can trust, and
then maybe it's an adult that understands me, and maybe
I can actually all open up to them. And then
once you do that, they may say, hey, look I
(10:22):
wrote this. You know we went to that event and
this is what I did because of that event. And
just encourage them. But first and foremost, talk to them
so you can find out what their areas of interest are,
and then you take the unique approach to see how
you can turn that into something that they can use
(10:42):
to show their feelings and emotions.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Alicia, you know you started it out and you just
ended again.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
About smiling and sit down and having a conversation with them.
Why do you think because I don't have children, So
why do you think that it's so hard for parents
or educators?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Are you advocates to do?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think what makes it so difficult is first of all,
us knowing how the proper way to communicate on that
child's level. We forget that we were one step. You
have to remember what you thought and felt when it
was you first of all, and now that you're so
(11:25):
mature and your showgrone, oh that just sounds so silly
to me. But remember when you were young, it wasn't
silly to you, and you said it and expressed it
the way you knew. How meet them at their level
so that you can talk to them, and depending on
how much they can handle, you may have to be
a little more transparent and relate to them through your
(11:47):
own past experiences. Don't be ashamed or afraid to do that.
You need to do that so they can say, well,
maybe she does understand where I'm coming from. And also
you share something with them and they'd be like, ooh
you Misbelicia, Oh my gosh. And so now they think
we got this secret together, we got this thing, and
(12:10):
so that began to create a relationships, and that may
make it easier for you to talk. When you see that,
you cause that person to relax and open up and
talk to you because they felt they could trust you.
Go back to when you were that age or you
were that young, Remember what it felt like. Remember how
(12:32):
you really wanted to tell somebody something that was going on,
but you were afraid because they might tell it and
then get back to mommy and daddy, or remember how
you felt when you did find that person and they
never said a word and they were an adult. That
was your safe space. So you should do the others
as you would have them do until you That includes
(12:54):
out and youth content.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Oh now that's the word ola. It does include the
youth and team now leaship.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
What is some of the most surprising maybe or even
touching responses from youth or audience member who's seen the ground,
all who have read Cincinatin's Wace.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Think for me, the biggest thing is when they say
I can relate to that. I know somebody just like
this in this book. When it comes to the production,
people that say I said in that audience and intermission
came and I didn't even want to get up. I
was so drawn in. I was just so waiting for
(13:37):
the next thing that happened. And I looked at that
and I thought, that's me and they it got to
see it played out again, see yourself from the other side. Also,
the gratefulness of the attendees of the production that we
had social workers there being density of the scenes require
(14:03):
that we even say it. If you are triggered by
this scene, we're gonna take this intermission. We have social
workers that you can go and talk to in a
private area or private setting to help you through that,
because it's not only heavy for the audience, it's heavy
for us. We just wrapped rehearsal a little bit ago
(14:25):
and we were talking about this scene that I say.
We have taken it to a whole another level emotionally,
and as I talked about it and shared it with them,
you could just feel feel it. Everybody was like, whoa, whoa, Felicia,
that's gonna be it. Yes, it's heavy for me trying
(14:46):
to say it to you and to picture it and
run it through my head as to what this scene
is about to say, and somebody, one of the cast
members says, but it happens, It's real. It really happens
in families. So the emotional, the gut punch, the way
it grabs you in your gut, that's part right there.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Now that police, Now you're an intrigued the artists and
you alluded to you guys for rehearsing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
When is the next production gonna be? Shop?
Speaker 3 (15:23):
The production they does the uncore performance May the third
and Hines Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. At three thirty
we have as you know, we usually have a little
get together, So from twelve thirty to two thirty pm
Central Center time for our VIP guests and our sponsors,
(15:43):
we will have a cast meeting Greek. So you'll get
to meet these individuals that are going to go on
stage and play these roles. You'll get your playbill signed
by them, and maybe you'll get a chance to kind
of talk to them a little bit about their character.
We'll also have the comedian Rita Brent gonna stop by
because she is our intermission entertainment, because we're gonna need
(16:04):
a little even though some laughing to play, you might
need a little bit more, uh two or three of
these scenes.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
M hm. Now I know the play that Brian unforgettable Tripp,
and now she's saying that she don't added something else
to it.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So I can.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Imagine because if they said it was headed, I can
kind of feel the.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Head of.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It's mind blowing to me. When when when my A
D and I came over with it, I said back
and said do we really want to do this? He
was like, got to you gotta do this, and I said,
I may have to seriously get you security because this
(16:52):
this is a triggering this is this is a triggering thing.
And he already plays a role where the last time
we did this production, uh, he paid played the father
of the young lady that's having the struggles, and so
it was personal for him because he has a daughter
that had those same struggles. And so what people didn't
(17:15):
see is when the curtain closed, the reason it took
us a little longer to come back is because she
was crying. So here was crying. He was sitting in
the middle of the stage crying, trying to pull hisself
back together. Other casts behind the curtain crying.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Yeah, So now he plays Kenny.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
He plays Kenny, He plays the father, and so he's
the father of Anne and you know, she's the one
that has the struggles. And it was personal for him
again because he's the father of five girls and he
has one that has that struggle. So for him to
have to recreate that and play that out and you know,
relieve that was a lot for him. Then he turns
(18:06):
around and plays a role of a very aggressive man
that is an abuser, and the person that he plays
this role with is his actual family member that he
loves dearly. So here we were back again. She had
to come out to say to him when we close
the curtain, I'm okay, I'm okay. You didn't hurt me,
he said it. It's messed me up to do this
(18:29):
to her, but I understand that it is a production.
But we had to take that break, and now we've
added this third thing that in my gut, I just like,
oh my god, oh my god, this is so heavy.
But it happens. And so how does the youth or team,
(18:53):
male or female tell somebody that, how do they tell
you about this nightmare that just a cur to them
that they're carrying, trying to deal with every day, afraid
to say, but want to say, and can't tell anybody.
And so because I can't tell anybody, and I'm hurt,
I'm shamed, I'm angry. I'm gonna lash out because that's
(19:18):
all I can do. I can't even say the words
to you, is what that person did to me? I'm
so ashamed by So how do I let you know
something going on? I act out because I can't tell
you what they did to me. I'm too embarrassed or
you might blame me. So in a way, I'm craive.
(19:41):
Well so this, yeah, this is going to be the
cast was just like whoa, whoa.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Well, guys, I'm not a secret.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have an idea, but I'm not gonna give it
away cause it could be the right thing.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I have an idea that it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I said, I have an idea that we might be
finding out a reason behind some of this behavior.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
That my daughter has.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
And uh, it could.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Be because guys, I'm speculating, because you really need to
get to this place.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
It could be because somebody's uh uh.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Somebody that came in to see mama and they got
creed away. They thought they they thought they could just
see everybody.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Everybody while they was there. Huh if they could see
everybody as a matter of fact, that you know that
the devil literally sits on the couch and gives them
this great idea, he thinks, and they catch that idea
and entertain it for a little bit and traumatize and
devastate lives.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Yeah, yeah, we should. I tell you
that Brown, it really is and forgiveable trip.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I say, well, your journey has been.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Has been phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
You know you've earned accolades not just as an out
but you know as a screenwriter and an advocate, and
your journey is so expiring. What advice do you have
for individuals who base trauma but are looking to turn.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Their pain into purpose.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I would say, first of all, prepare yourself. Prepare yourself.
Ask yourself, can I share part of this? And will
I ever get to the point that I can share
all of it? Am I really ready to pull back
(21:58):
the lines on this and share with people what was
going on with me? Even partially? Because once you open
that up in some type creative form or the platform
that you choose, are you ready for the questions? Because
you have to be a person, You have to be authentic.
In order to help somebody else, you are going to
have to open up. So you have to ask yourself,
(22:21):
are you ready to do that? Because you can't help
Susan when she think you just made that up? But
you really don't know. You don't really really know what
this feels like. You don't really know what I thought.
You don't really know why I really want to try.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
To kill myself.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
To you, you just wrote a boook and made us
something you ain't even know I can read this book.
It ain't even got no real emotion in it. So
are you ready to do that? Find that out first
before you even choose a creative platform or how you
want to talk about school? Are you Are you really ready,
because at some point you may have to say, yeah,
(23:00):
I trusted him, he was my friend, and I went
over there and he sexually assaulted me. From eleven o'clock
at night till seven in the morning. He did that
to me. And if my sister hadn't come to save me,
I still may have been there and know I couldn't
tell my mother. My mother left this world not knowing
(23:20):
her daughter had been sexually assaulted. And if you can't
do what I just did, you ain't ready.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Pelicia.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Thank you for sharing your truth. And I wasn't expecting that,
But in my mind, what I was hearing was, you know,
don't say my name that way.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Don't say I.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Think my husband name all the time you say about
what you said you said to me previously in an
interview you told your don't say my name that way.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
You triggered something in me. You won't you won't feel
to grab me say my name like that. That little
girl comes rushing the door, terrified, just like she was before.
That little girl is struggling in her mind again, just
like she was before when the person she trusted pin
her down, slapped her all night, abused her, bruised her,
(24:17):
and said he did so because he didn't like your boyfriend,
and he hoped that your boyfriend saw. But I got
to go home to my mama, and I can't they mama,
because not do would she blamed me. She might actually
hurt you. And I made a promise to myself that
(24:37):
day she'll never know. She'll leave here and not know.
And that's exactly what I wouldn't even hurt her that way.
In a way, I had to protect her, me and him,
and I really didn't want to protect him.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
So, you know, sorry not to interrupt, but that's so
important because lots of times when we've been traumatized, we
protect our parents, right. We don't want them to think
bad of us, and we don't want to lose ours,
so we endure the pain in silence.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Right. I didn't even tell my father.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
It would have devastated him, and he might have been
the one to go around there. You know, it was
so many reasons why I couldn't. I wanted to, but
it was so many reasons I couldn't, you know. And yeah,
that on top of all these other things that I'm
dealing with. So how do I help kill me? How
(25:37):
do I help be this whole person? My husband believe
he married you know, I would tell people sometimes I
came down to Alan. My husband didn't know I was
carrying all this trauma with me. But when I married him,
you know, he found out when you got to come
get I always say he would come and get me
out of my nightmares at night. So how do I
(26:03):
deal with this? Do I treat him bad and my
office with him? Do I scream and treat other people
mean and ugly? And you know, do I just carry this? No?
I released it once before onto the pages of a diary,
so I can release it again and use fiction to
also help me be brave enough to release it. I
(26:24):
always say, it's like a big pan of macaroni and
cheese and my truth or sprinkled through that. And everybody
I said, well, I would always like to read a book. Okay,
well let's take it to the stage, and maybe you'd
like to be in the stain and see it on
stage enhance teign's ten.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Well plation.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
You were sharing your truth, helping us to understand.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
How you you kept your promise to yourself.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
That your mother, because I know that she is now
transition and she never knew, but I do believe she was.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We know she was proud of.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
You, but now she knows and heaving so she could
see here stuff and she's like.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
My daughter, my daughter.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I had no idea, but how proud I am of
my daughter and she's doing all of this work to
help other families, help other children who have been experienced
in face and they didn't feel that they had anybody
they could talk to.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Exactly my daughter, that's the that's Cyah's daughter, Sarah's daughter daughter.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I missed out being a sponsor this time, but I
really like your mission. How can I contact you to
see how I can help you to empower these teams?
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Appreciate that because we do have the new five over
one C three to non profit organization that I started
called safe Space. So you can contact me at author
Felicia Brookings at gmail dot com. Just put sponsorship or
inquiry and I will definitely get back with you. I
would also I forgot to mention too with the books.
You can go on to Amazon dot com to order
(28:07):
the books. I can send you in Ingram's first link,
or you can go on to books a Million to
order the book, to order the trilogy, and I'm also
available for booking to discuss that series that I have published,
that award winning series, and I would love to be
to come out and talk to book club members about
(28:29):
the different platforms in the book. And we'll also go
ahead and just add this quick shout out. It seems
that the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Jackson Clinton Alumni
chapter will be the first of our bg l o's
and I will have an opportunity at the end of
May to go and talk with them about this trilogy.
(28:50):
So I'm really looking forward to that. So just hit
me up, send me an email, or if you are
friends with me, connect on Instagram or Facebook. For Arthur
Felicia Brookings, just fireollow me, inbox me and we'll.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Work it out. Well.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Congratulations relations Felicia on the five on one C three.
Congratulations on having the book club meetings. Now, will you
do those virtually if people are not.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
In the area, would you do that? Will yeah, okay,
I figured you would. I figured you would well.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Felicia, you know I love our time together, and I
love your transparency, and I love your work and your
heart for helping everyone deal with their trauma, but particularly
our teams, because we have to start somewhere, and as
people of color, they are our future, and so we've
got to now start making sure that they're able to
(29:48):
manage their lives and their next generations appropriately, and so
I love this idea of empowering them. And again, Felicia know,
you're always welcome to come back. Thank you for the
show anytime, and to those who joined us, thank you
so much for joining us for this episode of Talk
with Toms. And until next time, before you go try
(30:10):
to take care of somebody else, please make sure you
take care of yourself first. I know.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Thank you, thank thank you, thank God you
I'm doctor Teresa Smith, doctor Tarz, and welcome to this
edition of Talk with Tarz. I always like to bring
this guest that is the remarkable Felicia Brookers. Felicia is
the author of the Ways.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Trilogy and she just released the third book.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
The first book was I mean the first book, I
think I said that creat The first book was Sister
Nadine's Ways, and god knows, I know what you think.
The second one was The Reprobate Ways, The Unbalance of
Ann and her latest book is Justine Ways of Grace.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Well, Felicia, again, thank you for being back with me.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
You work Briach's storytelling and healing in such a powerful way.
What inspired you to channel your own experiences and intergenerational
trauma into the fictional trilogy.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
And then the stage production?
Speaker 3 (00:56):
That would probably have to be my love reading and writing.
Even in high school, I wrote, I had a journal.
I also had a little diary. I remember that diary, Soulral.
It was a blue diary. And so because I couldn't
express my hurt, pain and feelings to any adults, because
(01:17):
you know, back then in the day, you weren't allowed
to do that, So I had to write it in
a diary, and so for me, that helped me to
be able to get through all the things that I experienced.
So for me, I would say the main thing is
that a diary, writing out my feelings and remembering what
(01:38):
it felt like to go back and read that years
later and see all that I had come through, all
because I made a decision to stay.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
That's what I always saying.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Because I made a decision to stay, and so that
is what made me feel that, hey, you know, I
can take fiction and some of my own personal life
experiences and put them into a book and into a series.
Because once I wrote the first book the way that
I ended it, I had no choice but to take
(02:09):
it full circle with the with the keys that were
involved in the story.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
I like, Felicia that you said that you started out
writing and you didn't have a voice, because you're right,
back in those days, we couldn't vocalize what we were experiencing.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
Your children had to be seen and not heard, and
they meant that.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And so to know that you were able to write
the first book book and as you said, it had
to end the way that it ended. But then knowing
that you were going to go back at some point
and write from the perspective of those children, because when
we talk about generational curses, they don't occur.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Just when you're an adult. They have but to you as.
Speaker 1 (02:48):
You're growing up and becoming that individual.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
And that's so important.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Now your stage play, the browning is now part of
a theater and therapy. And can you walk us through
how this unique approach is creating a safe space for
teens to open up emotionally.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
Yes. Well, first of all, of course, it's called safe space,
which is a name that says, this is the place
where us teams can come and talk about the things
that you feel, the thoughts that are going on your head,
your emotional mental struggles, and you can do so without
fingers being pointed at you, without stigma or biases or
(03:31):
a backlash. And so theater provides that same thing. Theater
provides that youth or that team an opportunity to write
out their feelings because they can do the skipit themselves,
and then they can be a part of bringing that
skit to life on the stage and in doing so
tell what they think and feel with our people even
(03:53):
really knowing whether or not it's them. And so it
doesn't expose them or open them up to any harsh words,
any criticism them. It gives them confidence, you know, because
it's something new. It makes them where they are heard
and can say what they feel, sometimes even writing themselves,
letting other people completely act it out and step back
and see it themselves. And so theater is that safe space.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
That opportunity of expression for youth, well again without them
having to deal with some type of backlash, finger pointing,
or somebody putting them down because they're saying I'm not
okay and this is what I'm really feeling and thinking. Well,
you know, I love that idea of fle because it's
like what you're they're using theater as the as the
(04:38):
mechanism or the motive, but it's a way for them
to balance out their artistic expression as well as and
since advocate for themselves, are others who may have experienced
similar traumas.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Yes, and I think.
Speaker 1 (04:53):
That's a unique way for them to be able to
vocalize their their their mission. They may not even realize
some me but to vocalize their truth right.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
And it does so again safely because if you can
write this and put it together and not even put
your name on it, you know, but have other individuals
to act it out. And it allows you to sit
back and see yourself. You know, it's almost like looking
in a mirror for you to see it. It's one
(05:24):
thing to go through it, but when you can step
back and just look at it and say why and
again a lot of times, see just how much you've
already gone through that, you're a lot stronger than you
thought you were. And guess what you are creative because
you look at that and say, I did I read that?
And so it helps with the confidence and encourages them
(05:46):
and motivates them, and it can also create a circle
or family of closeness for them. Maybe it's somebody maybe
that's being bullet school, doesn't feel like they have any
friends or that they're like on anyone. Well, then you
have these castmen that come together, and these cast members
become your friends and your family because you all spend
time together. So now all of a sudden, I do
(06:07):
have a group that connects with me and understands me.
And maybe I now do have a group of friends
because now I have something in common with someone else.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
And that's so powerful, because you know, sometimes we feel
like we're the only person who's going through something, and
the people that we're sitting having lunch with they're going
through something similar or have gone through something totally different,
but it's weighing on them, but we don't see that
other people are also struggling. And I like the fact
that you're building a sense of community, that support network,
(06:41):
because we're now actors and it doesn't matter whose story
we're acting out. We know each other, we support each other,
we cheer each other on, and so therefore we're there
for each other at.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Our time of need.
Speaker 1 (06:55):
And I think that's so important, particularly in this age
of bullying that you know, I think about when I
was bullied as a child.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Well and even as an adult.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
But now it's like syper bullying is so rapid and
it does damage a totally different way.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
Right because at the school when we were going up,
what went on in school pretty much stayed at school,
you know, unless you live in the neighborhood with that person.
But now you leave school and it follows you because
it goes all over the world. People you don't even
know even come in and say ugly, mean, hateful things
to you. You know, they learn stuff about you, They
(07:35):
come in your inbox. It's like if you pick up
your phone, you don't disconnect from it. And kids, you know,
are drawn to technology, so yeah, they can reach them. Now,
when I go home and close my door in my bedroom,
you're still bullying me, You're still harassing me. You've even
got other people involved in it. That's a lot youth
or teenagers to deal with when they emostly are not
(07:58):
intelligent where they need to be yet, to deal with
that in another way other than to lash out or
to fight or some example they've seen on a video
or heard in music where I need to fight this person,
cut this person, shoot this person. You know, that's how
I need to experience how you make me feel.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Well?
Speaker 1 (08:19):
Now, police should for any parents or educators or youth
advocates who might be listening or watching us. What signs
should they look for that creative outlets like the fearter
might help the teens that they're responsible for, be it
at church, be it in the youth community organization, be.
Speaker 2 (08:41):
It parents or even educators.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
What signs should they look for that said, Oh, maybe
let's get this person's creative and maybe that would be
a way for them to be able to manage more
some of the things that areccurring with them.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
Well, the first and most important thing I think is
to if you happen to know this, you know something
about them. Maybe they're with drawn, or maybe they are
lashing out, maybe they're looking angry, they're sitting back really subtle.
First thing first is how about you approach them with
a smile and have a conversation. Let's do that. Let's
(09:17):
talk to them about what's going on with them, maybe
ask them to try to find out what their interests are.
You know, hey, how are things going in school? Well,
what are your favorite subjects in school? You know, well
do you like? They may say, well, I like I
like English or I like to read. Oh so what
are some things that you've read? And and when you're
(09:38):
talking about that, hey, well have you ever thought about
maybe writing a play about that? Have you thought about
maybe writing a book about that? And so that can
open that up. You can even say, hey, you know,
how do we go to the museum one day? You know,
do you like to go to the museum. Let's do that.
Or you know, we've got this event going on with
(10:00):
my group of my organization and we're going to have
this author there that writes the same kind of books
that you like. How about we go do that? And
so that begins to make them feel like, well, first
of all, maybe it's an adult I can trust, and
then maybe it's an adult that understands me, and maybe
I can actually all open up to them. And then
once you do that, they may say, hey, look I
(10:22):
wrote this. You know we went to that event and
this is what I did because of that event. And
just encourage them. But first and foremost, talk to them
so you can find out what their areas of interest are,
and then you take the unique approach to see how
you can turn that into something that they can use
(10:42):
to show their feelings and emotions.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Alicia, you know you started it out and you just
ended again.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
About smiling and sit down and having a conversation with them.
Why do you think because I don't have children, So
why do you think that it's so hard for parents
or educators?
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Are you advocates to do?
Speaker 3 (11:04):
I think what makes it so difficult is first of all,
us knowing how the proper way to communicate on that
child's level. We forget that we were one step. You
have to remember what you thought and felt when it
was you first of all, and now that you're so
(11:25):
mature and your showgrone, oh that just sounds so silly
to me. But remember when you were young, it wasn't
silly to you, and you said it and expressed it
the way you knew. How meet them at their level
so that you can talk to them, and depending on
how much they can handle, you may have to be
a little more transparent and relate to them through your
(11:47):
own past experiences. Don't be ashamed or afraid to do that.
You need to do that so they can say, well,
maybe she does understand where I'm coming from. And also
you share something with them and they'd be like, ooh
you Misbelicia, Oh my gosh. And so now they think
we got this secret together, we got this thing, and
(12:10):
so that began to create a relationships, and that may
make it easier for you to talk. When you see that,
you cause that person to relax and open up and
talk to you because they felt they could trust you.
Go back to when you were that age or you
were that young, Remember what it felt like. Remember how
(12:32):
you really wanted to tell somebody something that was going on,
but you were afraid because they might tell it and
then get back to mommy and daddy, or remember how
you felt when you did find that person and they
never said a word and they were an adult. That
was your safe space. So you should do the others
as you would have them do until you That includes
(12:54):
out and youth content.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
Oh now that's the word ola. It does include the
youth and team now leaship.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
What is some of the most surprising maybe or even
touching responses from youth or audience member who's seen the ground,
all who have read Cincinatin's Wace.
Speaker 3 (13:15):
Think for me, the biggest thing is when they say
I can relate to that. I know somebody just like
this in this book. When it comes to the production,
people that say I said in that audience and intermission
came and I didn't even want to get up. I
was so drawn in. I was just so waiting for
(13:37):
the next thing that happened. And I looked at that
and I thought, that's me and they it got to
see it played out again, see yourself from the other side. Also,
the gratefulness of the attendees of the production that we
had social workers there being density of the scenes require
(14:03):
that we even say it. If you are triggered by
this scene, we're gonna take this intermission. We have social
workers that you can go and talk to in a
private area or private setting to help you through that,
because it's not only heavy for the audience, it's heavy
for us. We just wrapped rehearsal a little bit ago
(14:25):
and we were talking about this scene that I say.
We have taken it to a whole another level emotionally,
and as I talked about it and shared it with them,
you could just feel feel it. Everybody was like, whoa, whoa, Felicia,
that's gonna be it. Yes, it's heavy for me trying
(14:46):
to say it to you and to picture it and
run it through my head as to what this scene
is about to say, and somebody, one of the cast
members says, but it happens, It's real. It really happens
in families. So the emotional, the gut punch, the way
it grabs you in your gut, that's part right there.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
Now that police, Now you're an intrigued the artists and
you alluded to you guys for rehearsing.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
When is the next production gonna be? Shop?
Speaker 3 (15:23):
The production they does the uncore performance May the third
and Hines Community College in Raymond, Mississippi. At three thirty
we have as you know, we usually have a little
get together, So from twelve thirty to two thirty pm
Central Center time for our VIP guests and our sponsors,
(15:43):
we will have a cast meeting Greek. So you'll get
to meet these individuals that are going to go on
stage and play these roles. You'll get your playbill signed
by them, and maybe you'll get a chance to kind
of talk to them a little bit about their character.
We'll also have the comedian Rita Brent gonna stop by
because she is our intermission entertainment, because we're gonna need
(16:04):
a little even though some laughing to play, you might
need a little bit more, uh two or three of
these scenes.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
M hm. Now I know the play that Brian unforgettable Tripp,
and now she's saying that she don't added something else
to it.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So I can.
Speaker 1 (16:23):
Imagine because if they said it was headed, I can
kind of feel the.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Head of.
Speaker 3 (16:29):
It's mind blowing to me. When when when my A
D and I came over with it, I said back
and said do we really want to do this? He
was like, got to you gotta do this, and I said,
I may have to seriously get you security because this
(16:52):
this is a triggering this is this is a triggering thing.
And he already plays a role where the last time
we did this production, uh, he paid played the father
of the young lady that's having the struggles, and so
it was personal for him because he has a daughter
that had those same struggles. And so what people didn't
(17:15):
see is when the curtain closed, the reason it took
us a little longer to come back is because she
was crying. So here was crying. He was sitting in
the middle of the stage crying, trying to pull hisself
back together. Other casts behind the curtain crying.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Yeah, So now he plays Kenny.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
He plays Kenny, He plays the father, and so he's
the father of Anne and you know, she's the one
that has the struggles. And it was personal for him
again because he's the father of five girls and he
has one that has that struggle. So for him to
have to recreate that and play that out and you know,
relieve that was a lot for him. Then he turns
(18:06):
around and plays a role of a very aggressive man
that is an abuser, and the person that he plays
this role with is his actual family member that he
loves dearly. So here we were back again. She had
to come out to say to him when we close
the curtain, I'm okay, I'm okay. You didn't hurt me,
he said it. It's messed me up to do this
(18:29):
to her, but I understand that it is a production.
But we had to take that break, and now we've
added this third thing that in my gut, I just like,
oh my god, oh my god, this is so heavy.
But it happens. And so how does the youth or team,
(18:53):
male or female tell somebody that, how do they tell
you about this nightmare that just a cur to them
that they're carrying, trying to deal with every day, afraid
to say, but want to say, and can't tell anybody.
And so because I can't tell anybody, and I'm hurt,
I'm shamed, I'm angry. I'm gonna lash out because that's
(19:18):
all I can do. I can't even say the words
to you, is what that person did to me? I'm
so ashamed by So how do I let you know
something going on? I act out because I can't tell
you what they did to me. I'm too embarrassed or
you might blame me. So in a way, I'm craive.
(19:41):
Well so this, yeah, this is going to be the
cast was just like whoa, whoa.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
Well, guys, I'm not a secret.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Now.
Speaker 2 (19:54):
I have an idea, but I'm not gonna give it
away cause it could be the right thing.
Speaker 3 (19:58):
I have an idea that it's gonna be.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I said, I have an idea that we might be
finding out a reason behind some of this behavior.
Speaker 2 (20:10):
That my daughter has.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
And uh, it could.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
Be because guys, I'm speculating, because you really need to
get to this place.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
It could be because somebody's uh uh.
Speaker 1 (20:22):
Somebody that came in to see mama and they got
creed away. They thought they they thought they could just
see everybody.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
Everybody while they was there. Huh if they could see
everybody as a matter of fact, that you know that
the devil literally sits on the couch and gives them
this great idea, he thinks, and they catch that idea
and entertain it for a little bit and traumatize and
devastate lives.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Yeah, yeah, we should. I tell you
that Brown, it really is and forgiveable trip.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
I say, well, your journey has been.
Speaker 2 (21:14):
Has been phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (21:15):
You know you've earned accolades not just as an out
but you know as a screenwriter and an advocate, and
your journey is so expiring. What advice do you have
for individuals who base trauma but are looking to turn.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
Their pain into purpose.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
I would say, first of all, prepare yourself. Prepare yourself.
Ask yourself, can I share part of this? And will
I ever get to the point that I can share
all of it? Am I really ready to pull back
(21:58):
the lines on this and share with people what was
going on with me? Even partially? Because once you open
that up in some type creative form or the platform
that you choose, are you ready for the questions? Because
you have to be a person, You have to be authentic.
In order to help somebody else, you are going to
have to open up. So you have to ask yourself,
(22:21):
are you ready to do that? Because you can't help
Susan when she think you just made that up? But
you really don't know. You don't really really know what
this feels like. You don't really know what I thought.
You don't really know why I really want to try.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
To kill myself.
Speaker 3 (22:36):
To you, you just wrote a boook and made us
something you ain't even know I can read this book.
It ain't even got no real emotion in it. So
are you ready to do that? Find that out first
before you even choose a creative platform or how you
want to talk about school? Are you Are you really ready,
because at some point you may have to say, yeah,
(23:00):
I trusted him, he was my friend, and I went
over there and he sexually assaulted me. From eleven o'clock
at night till seven in the morning. He did that
to me. And if my sister hadn't come to save me,
I still may have been there and know I couldn't
tell my mother. My mother left this world not knowing
(23:20):
her daughter had been sexually assaulted. And if you can't
do what I just did, you ain't ready.
Speaker 2 (23:28):
Pelicia.
Speaker 1 (23:28):
Thank you for sharing your truth. And I wasn't expecting that,
But in my mind, what I was hearing was, you know,
don't say my name that way.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Don't say I.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Think my husband name all the time you say about
what you said you said to me previously in an
interview you told your don't say my name that way.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
You triggered something in me. You won't you won't feel
to grab me say my name like that. That little
girl comes rushing the door, terrified, just like she was before.
That little girl is struggling in her mind again, just
like she was before when the person she trusted pin
her down, slapped her all night, abused her, bruised her,
(24:17):
and said he did so because he didn't like your boyfriend,
and he hoped that your boyfriend saw. But I got
to go home to my mama, and I can't they mama,
because not do would she blamed me. She might actually
hurt you. And I made a promise to myself that
(24:37):
day she'll never know. She'll leave here and not know.
And that's exactly what I wouldn't even hurt her that way.
In a way, I had to protect her, me and him,
and I really didn't want to protect him.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
So, you know, sorry not to interrupt, but that's so
important because lots of times when we've been traumatized, we
protect our parents, right. We don't want them to think
bad of us, and we don't want to lose ours,
so we endure the pain in silence.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
Right. I didn't even tell my father.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
I wouldn't.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
It would have devastated him, and he might have been
the one to go around there. You know, it was
so many reasons why I couldn't. I wanted to, but
it was so many reasons I couldn't, you know. And yeah,
that on top of all these other things that I'm
dealing with. So how do I help kill me? How
(25:37):
do I help be this whole person? My husband believe
he married you know, I would tell people sometimes I
came down to Alan. My husband didn't know I was
carrying all this trauma with me. But when I married him,
you know, he found out when you got to come
get I always say he would come and get me
out of my nightmares at night. So how do I
(26:03):
deal with this? Do I treat him bad and my
office with him? Do I scream and treat other people
mean and ugly? And you know, do I just carry this? No?
I released it once before onto the pages of a diary,
so I can release it again and use fiction to
also help me be brave enough to release it. I
(26:24):
always say, it's like a big pan of macaroni and
cheese and my truth or sprinkled through that. And everybody
I said, well, I would always like to read a book. Okay,
well let's take it to the stage, and maybe you'd
like to be in the stain and see it on
stage enhance teign's ten.
Speaker 2 (26:41):
Well plation.
Speaker 1 (26:44):
You were sharing your truth, helping us to understand.
Speaker 2 (26:51):
How you you kept your promise to yourself.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
That your mother, because I know that she is now
transition and she never knew, but I do believe she was.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We know she was proud of.
Speaker 3 (27:06):
You, but now she knows and heaving so she could
see here stuff and she's like.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
My daughter, my daughter.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
I had no idea, but how proud I am of
my daughter and she's doing all of this work to
help other families, help other children who have been experienced
in face and they didn't feel that they had anybody
they could talk to.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Exactly my daughter, that's the that's Cyah's daughter, Sarah's daughter daughter.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
I missed out being a sponsor this time, but I
really like your mission. How can I contact you to
see how I can help you to empower these teams?
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Appreciate that because we do have the new five over
one C three to non profit organization that I started
called safe Space. So you can contact me at author
Felicia Brookings at gmail dot com. Just put sponsorship or
inquiry and I will definitely get back with you. I
would also I forgot to mention too with the books.
You can go on to Amazon dot com to order
(28:07):
the books. I can send you in Ingram's first link,
or you can go on to books a Million to
order the book, to order the trilogy, and I'm also
available for booking to discuss that series that I have published,
that award winning series, and I would love to be
to come out and talk to book club members about
(28:29):
the different platforms in the book. And we'll also go
ahead and just add this quick shout out. It seems
that the Ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Jackson Clinton Alumni
chapter will be the first of our bg l o's
and I will have an opportunity at the end of
May to go and talk with them about this trilogy.
(28:50):
So I'm really looking forward to that. So just hit
me up, send me an email, or if you are
friends with me, connect on Instagram or Facebook. For Arthur
Felicia Brookings, just fireollow me, inbox me and we'll.
Speaker 2 (29:01):
Work it out. Well.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Congratulations relations Felicia on the five on one C three.
Congratulations on having the book club meetings. Now, will you
do those virtually if people are not.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
In the area, would you do that? Will yeah, okay,
I figured you would. I figured you would well.
Speaker 1 (29:26):
Felicia, you know I love our time together, and I
love your transparency, and I love your work and your
heart for helping everyone deal with their trauma, but particularly
our teams, because we have to start somewhere, and as
people of color, they are our future, and so we've
got to now start making sure that they're able to
(29:48):
manage their lives and their next generations appropriately, and so
I love this idea of empowering them. And again, Felicia know,
you're always welcome to come back. Thank you for the
show anytime, and to those who joined us, thank you
so much for joining us for this episode of Talk
with Toms. And until next time, before you go try
(30:10):
to take care of somebody else, please make sure you
take care of yourself first. I know.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
Thank you, thank thank you, thank God you
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