Thanks from your biggest fan....

Dear Soror Phylicia Rashad,

You have been someone I have looked up to for over 3 decades. The class, poise, confidence and sophistication you exude are what kept my eyes on you, even after the Cosby Show. I have talked about you to anyone who would listen. As an educator, I always would tell my students that I was blessed to grow up in an era where class was accepted and respected. I praise you for always dressing and acting with class and decency. You were the type of woman I always wanted to be once I “grew up”.

I had a lot of positive thoughts and adorations for you during the first 20 years of my life. As a child I looked up to you because of the way you carried yourself on-screen. As an adult I admired you for your philanthropic efforts and the way you carry yourself in “real life”. I fell in love with your character. You have been very impactful to the African American community and I appreciate and admire you for that.

I was only four years old when the first episode of The Cosby Show aired and eleven when the last episode aired. I was a young child, but you left an impression on me. I always said I wanted to be just like Clair Huxtable when I became a wife and mother.

I always kept my eye on you and the projects you were working on; you simply inspired me. When I found out that you were a member of the first black Greek sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, I wanted to learn more about the sorority. You are what piqued my initial interest into the sorority. Your character Clair Huxtable is what piqued my interest in the Arts.

I always knew I wanted to get into theatre or acting, but never knew where to start. As a child I did skits at church during Easter and Christmas, but nothing major. I would simply study The Cosby show characters and repeat the lines to try and mimic you and “Rudy Huxtable”; you two were my favorites.

I performed as a nun in the Sound of Music in 1997 and fell in love with the stage. I performed in several plays while in college and had the opportunity to intern at Disney World in Orlando, Florida in 2001. This is when I had the opportunity to meet you and it changed my life; you changed my life.

My Disney World Internship started in the summer of 2001 and concluded shortly before Christmas the same year. I was scheduled to leave and head back to my hometown in December. I was unsure of when exactly I wanted to leave, but I looked at the schedule of stars scheduled to celebrate the Christmas Season at Epcot Center. When I saw your name, excitement and fear both took over my mind, body and soul.

I was excited because you and Maya Angelou were always my role models and I knew there was a slight chance I would have the opportunity to meet you. I was also scared because what if our encounter went poorly? Would I still want to be apart of the First Black Greek Sorority? Would I still want to pursue a career in acting or the Arts?

I figured I had nothing to lose, so I prepared myself to meet you. I had met several other celebrities while interning at Disney World who were impressed with me; so, I figured I would just be myself and the rest would be history. When you entered the stage, I almost lost my mind. You were only feet away from me; this was the closest I had ever been to you.

After you read The Christmas story and exited the stage, I exited the area as well. Being an intern, I knew a lot of the secret tunnels and exits that were used to “transport” celebrities. I was able to talk to you right before security attempted to escort you away. 20 years later, I do not remember what I said verbatim, but I am glad I said what I said and with the emotion that it was said.

I remember mentioning to you that you were my idol, I was an intern at Disney World and I wanted to meet you before I left to go back home. I believe I also told you I wanted to be an actress and an AKA. Although, I don’t remember exactly what I said; I remember exactly what you did. You stopped walking and you looked at your security team and you told them to allow me to walk and talk with you. You told me that I could walk and talk with you until you got to the next security checkpoint.

Here you were, the woman I had looked up to for over 10 years right in front of me. In “real life” you were just as classy, beautiful and poised as you were on TV. I also now saw a strong woman before me as well. You went against your security protocols to talk to one of your biggest fans. Not only did you talk to me; you encouraged me to keep working hard to achieve my dreams.

That day still sticks in my head when I want to give up. It also made me want to encourage others to live their dreams and give them a positive role model to look up to, so I became an educator; just like you. You paid it forward and took a few moments of your time to say encouraging words that would stay with me a lifetime; I want to pay it forward as well.

We only spoke for three or four minutes, but those three or four minutes meant the world to me. It meant the world for me to have that time with you. You made me feel important. Everything that I imagined that you would be if I ever had the opportunity to meet you; you were that and so much more.

In 2019 I made a huge move and walked away from a leadership position in a school district working with At Risk Youth, to do exactly what you encouraged me to do; live my dream. I now reside in Atlanta, Georgia and am working as an Actor, Writer, and Director. You also have encouraged me to start my own Production Company as well.

When people ask me why I started my production company, I always bring up the name Phylicia Rashad. I talk about how growing up and having a positive black woman like you to watch on television impacted my life. How watching shows like Different World made me want to attend college and learn more about Sororities & Fraternities. I always tell people that we don’t have a Phylicia Rashad or Clair Huxtable for this generation to look up to. I want to create content like that again that showcases Black Women in a positive light.

You inspired me to become an educator and help thousands of At-Risk students to graduate that everyone else had given up on. For that, I thank you. You inspired me to achieve my lifelong dream of joining Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, which means we are sisters for life. You inspired me and encouraged me to continue to work to achieve my dream of being an actor. Most people have an angel on their shoulder encouraging them when they want to give up. I have a “Phylicia Rashad” on my shoulder cheering me on and helping me get through the bad days this industry brings.

We often don’t know the power a smile, a word of encouragement or a simple hello can have to someone’s day or life. Your decision to be nice, talk to me and give me encouraging words is something that I will forever be grateful for.

Thank you for your contribution to theatre and television. Thank you for paving the way and becoming the first Black Actress to win the Best Actress (Play) Tony Award in 2004. Thanks for teaching me that education is important and that it is the gift that keeps on giving. Thanks for being one of the most extraordinary performing artists in the world. Thanks for having such an amazing range of characters that you have played over the years; showing that you are more than Clair Huxtable. Thanks for your dedication to the arts, and more importantly thank you for taking the time to talk to and encourage your number one fan.