Caribbean American Heritage Awards: Interview with Hazelle Goodman

"Come on out and enjoy the 18th annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards where we are celebrating Caribbean people who are making a difference in the world. AND there is going to be plantain, ackee, saltfish, peas and rice, nonstop - so come!"

-Hazelle Goodman

Trinidadian born actress, Hazelle Goodman was raised in Queens and Brooklyn, and was inspired to become an actress after seeing the Sound of Music.  She lights up the stage and screen (big and small) with her dramatic and often comedic characterizations of people that we could possibly know, or could very well BE from time to time.  She was the first African American woman to be cast in a major role in a Woody Allen film, and has appeared in the movie Hannibal, the TV show Homicide: Life on the Street, the stage production of the Vagina Monologues, and had her own HBO comedy special.

Ms. Goodman is being honored at the Caribbean American Heritage awards on November 11, 2011 in Washington, DC, and as a media partner for the Awards, Socamom.com was invited to ask Ms. Goodman a couple of questions about her influences growing up and how she was encouraged to enter a field that is non-traditional for Caribbean American people.

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ICSDC.org: What does this award mean to you and what is its significance to your career path?

Hazelle Goodman: Well, I think it is a great honor. It is always nice to be recognized by your people, you know, the land that you are from. There is a funny saying that 'a prophet has no honor in his own land', so when your 'land' recognizes you, it is a good feeling.

ICSDC.org: In the Caribbean, the arts are not a traditional profession, and most parents might find it a little unstable, and I wonder how your Caribbean ancestry has actually influenced your decision and how it has helped in your success.

Hazelle Goodman: Growing up with Carnival, and mas, and the costumes and all of the different characterizations, I think that was influencing me as a child and I didn’t even know it.

So that now, as I create my shows, and I do solo performances, and I do characters that are from the Caribbean, old women, young women, old men, I use costumes and change my language, my dialect – all of that I realized stemmed from growing up with Carnival. De mas! You know runnin’ from de mas… sometimes you see characters… I remember as a chile… somebuddy dress up as a devil and dey chasin’ yuh. All those things grew into me and brought me into my own artistry, my own voice, my own vision. And what I found too was that that artistic expression was a way to talk about political issues and to talk about social issues.  In Carnival, the calpysonians are talking about what’s going on in the world. They are talking about what the president might be doing or what the people might be struggling with. So growing up with Carnival has influenced me and allowed me to create my own art – giving voice to the issues and things going on in the world around me.

ICSDC.org: Calypso has historically been seen that we make commentary on things that may be contemporary or emerging in our society. It is certainly very strong [for] political commentary for may of the islands. Considering what we still have as a very limited view of the arts, what would be your advice to young Caribbean Americans living in the United States who may or may not pursue the arts but may consider something that is considered non-traditional for Caribbean people? What do you consider your formula for success?

Hazelle Goodman: My formula for success is very simple. God. Faith in God. I think that regardless of what your profession is, whether you are an attorney, a doctor, a lawyer, or an artist - that is the foundation.  That is the bottom line.  Your faith in God.  That for me is critical. That to me is the bottom line for success.  Making ones self connect[ed] to other people and getting to know other people and other cultures, broadening your vision - broadening your horizons, not staying limited to just your clan. It is very important to be rooted in history, who you are, and your culture, but you must expand, because it is a huge world out there.  Extend yourself.  Do business with people of other races and other nations to get to know them, to know their culture, to know what they are interested in - to expand one's vision - to expand one's horizon, I think is really critical to success anywhere.

Socamom.com: If a parent of a parent of a 6 year old African American or Caribbean American girl comes to you and says, “My daughter wants to have a career in the arts,” what would you suggest that their first step be?

Hazelle Goodman: I would suggest that the first step be to get her involved in an after school program because there are so many programs that train children in acting, singing, and dance, as well as [programs in] the school itself, they may have an artistic program. Also, take her to shows. Take her to theater shows whether they are happening locally or if you live in New York, you can take her to Broadway to see her dream on a big [stage].  I would do those kinds of things because that would encourage her, and prepare her – get her on the right track. Parenting is critical. In any profession and certainly just going through life, definitely in the arts, you really need a solid foundation, you need the parental guidance and support to make it through.

Socamom.com: Now that you are a role model to your African American and Caribbean American women who are looking to pursue a successful career in the arts, when you look back, who were your role models, from the Caribbean or not, that inspired you?

Hazelle Goodman: I guess my earliest role model would be Cicely Tyson.  She was just memorable in my mind for many reasons, so I think, definitely, growing up as a child, Cicely Tyson had a large impact on me. And also, Lily Tomlin.  The kind of work I do – I do characterizations – and Lily Tomlin also did a lot of characters. I don’t know if people will remember her as far back as Laugh In days.  She did all these different characters and I know that impacted me, along with Carol Burnett as well.

Hazelle Goodman's Personal Invitation to the Gala Event on November 11th: "Come on out and enjoy the 18th annual Caribbean American Heritage Awards where we are celebrating Caribbean people who are making a difference in the world. AND there is going to be plantain, ackee, saltfish, peas and rice, nonstop so come!"

This is part one of three, stay tuned for more with Trinidadian actress and comedian, Hazelle Goodman. On November 11, 2011, she will be receiving the  Award for Excellence in the Arts, at the Caribbean American Heritage Awards.

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Eva is the administrator and blogger for SocaMom.com. Follow her on Twitter at @socamomdc.