GERALD GARTH

“With so much shade in the world, why not walk in light… when you can at least? We’re all human, but strive for better. Try for different.” It’s okay to be inspired! Oprah's Top Ten: What you put out comes back. You define your own life. Don’t let other people write your script. Whatever someone did to you in the past has no power over the present. Only you give it power. When people show you they are, believe them the first time. Dr. Maya Angelou Worrying is wasted time

Today would have been the 75th birthday of my grandfather, my PawPaw. “Frog,” as he was affectionately called was a spitfire of a man—a lion and a lamb. A man of average height, but built like a tank. He got the nickname Frog from his running days. While he was strong and low to the ground, he moved with grace and speed. Of course, by the time I came around, Frog’s running days were long gone, but he still had that spring in his step that made Frog, Frog. Something that

I once read that an oppressed people long for a group to oppress. Does this explain why groups are so quick to divide? All these subcategories! I won’t even begin to ramble off the titles and designations groups have. Preferences are one thing, but to be rude, bitter, and just down right ugly is unacceptable. And it’s generally some extreme sub-sect that seeks this high horse. Now I will say, there are some things that turn my head (and stomach) more than others. But a w

As an actor, as anyone knows there are always dissenters in this business. You’re always too “something,” add a little of this, less of that, blah, blah, blah. Still, I was actually a bit surprised to hear that I was “too tall” to be a leading man. Gratefully so, I do know better and have played the leading man several times. My first roles ever were actually as leads. But even knowing that, I did have a moment. I had to ask was this person right or what? So this showc

I have a longstanding mantra about being specific, always purposing myself to be as specific as possible—that goes from prayers to potential mate to orders at the drive through. But one example especially is last New Year’s Eve as I was flying into Las Vegas with my friend, Shana. A longstanding dream of mine-- one I would say aloud quite often was “I will see Celine Dion in Vegas for New Year’s Eve.” As we bustled through the lobby of the McCarran International Airport, I

All it takes is one. One person to get you. To see your talent. To take a risk on you. To believe in you. And we’ve all seen it; it can all change in a heartbeat. The business is all about perception. Nobody knows who you are or what you’re about or how extraordinary your talent might be—and then one day it changes. Or it changes once you show them. And then all of a sudden, everyone’s interested. But to get to that “one” you have to create opportunities to be seen. And it ta

If you’re going to think thoughts you might as well think big ones. First off it’s free. Second it feels better to think in terms of possibility and creativity, rather than thinking thoughts that are tethered to our conditioned way of seeing things. That is, incorrectly. Third, that’s how science works. Scientists call their experiments fields. Fields of study. Fields of research. Fields of discovery. Fields of possibility. Fields of dreams. It’s open. Wide open spaces. I

Viola Davis has openly addressed the comments made by New York Times writer Alessandra Stanley. Stanley recently said Davis was “less classically beautiful” while referring to Shonda Rhimes, producer of How to Get Away With Murder, as an angry black woman. In response to that article, New York Times public editor, Margaret Sullivan, said it was “astonishingly tone-deaf and out of touch.” Sullivan also noted, “The readers and commentators are correct to protest this story.” Sh

Sesame Street has become synonymous with childhood wonder and knowledge. For generations, the show has offered learning of ABC’s and 123’s through songs, activities, and the like. But outside of these key lessons, Sesame Street has made it a point to showcase diversity. Celebrities, the child actors, and even the puppets themselves gave young viewers faces that looked like theirs. One of the latest new faces is that of Lupita Nyong’o. As a dark-skinned actress, Nyong’o’s

It’s real easy to get caught up in being the next who’s who, especially as an artist. It seems our work, our presence, our very being is compared to someone else. “With your voice, you could be the next James Earl Jones?” or “You look like Morris Chestnut!” Now of course these are compliments, but how about be yourself? “Originality is nothing but judicious imitation. The most original writers borrowed one from another,” wrote Voltaire, at the same time, Julian Schnabel cla