ACTOR, PRODUCER TRACEE ELLIS ROSS PUSHES EMPOWERMENT AT N.C. A&T’S SPEAKER SERIES
North Carolina A&T started this year’s Chancellor Speaker Series with guest speaker Tracee Ellis Ross.
According to their site, North Carolina’ A&T’s Chancellor’s Speaker Series at North Carolina A&T State University provides that platform, bringing nationally distinguished guests to Greensboro for campus dialogue on matters of current and abiding importance to the university community and the world. Tickets to Harrison Auditorium were sold out with hundreds of students in attendance.
Tracee Ellis Ross’ topic of the night touched on Women’s Rights. The conversation was titled, “Empowered: A Conversation About Women’s Rights.
Ross spoke on the recent Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, stating that she was in shock and had to gather her thoughts through journaling. “I am worthy. I am more than the parts of my body. I am a whole being,” she reminded herself.
Additionally, the conversation touched on entrepreneurship, including how women are overcoming barriers, beating the odds, and developing the services and products they need/want.
Ross shared her entrepreneurship journey and how she built her successful haircare line, Pattern Beauty. “Pattern has been 10 years in the making,” she said. “I’m excited to have total creative control.” She even spoke about her own barriers such as doubt and having to pause the launch process in order to deliver the best quality product. “I want to promise something with the [Pattern Beauty] brand … everything with the company runs through the mission.”
As the conversation came to an end, Ross empowered the room through her words of encouragement.
“Don’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides. Genuinely make space for yourself in the world and honor your heart. Don’t live a life that’s anyone’s but your own. I just want you guys to thrive.”
