The Narrative's 7053 Profile: Angelica Ross

Originally published 2/27/18

Industry: Entertainment

Occupation: Actress, Transgender Advocate, Businesswoman

Target community: Creatives/LGBTQIA

Question: Give an idea on how we can move forward as a Community?

Idea: Increase LBTQIA inclusion within the Black community

“White supremacy could be done tomorrow if we took inventory of all of our power,” proclaims Angelica Ross, rising star of the critically acclaimed FX series Pose and Emmy nominated series Her Story, with regards to collectivity in the Black community. “If we understand that there is no place where Black people don’t exist and learn to love LGBTQIA, trans, addictions, mental disabilities, etc. it can be done.”

Believing that the Black community must collectively embrace all of itself in order to advance and move beyond such obstacles as white supremacy in America; Through her work, Ms. Ross targets some of the most afflicted and less privileged within the Black community such as LGBTQIA persons, pushing their issues to the forefront. On top of her acting work, Ms. Ross is a leading figure of social justice in the movement for trans and racial equality demonstrated through her company TransTech Social Enterprises, an incubator for the LGBTQIA community. She’s been named “1st Foot Soldier of the Year” in 2015 by political commentator and MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry, as well as received the HRC Visibility Award in 2016 among many other accolades.

“We need to show all Black folks, especially in institutions and organizations that only show hetero-normative Black folks. In order to end white supremacy, we need to show that there is not a single space where Black lives do not exist. All Black lives matter,” states Angelica. Pushing for Black collectivity to overcome the hurdles of this country, she encourages organizers in the LGBTQIA Black community to flood major media outlets, organizations and institutions that promote, help or advance the Black community; with pro-LGBTQIA images.

“We [LGBTQIA] need to utilize organizations like the NAACP that have been specifically at the forefront of our civil rights movement, and flood them.  They are open to this,” says Ms. Ross. Going on to list out actionable steps, she states, “Go get a membership and apply pressure for the NAACP to be in a Pride parade across the country. This would make a statement that we’re trying to stand collectively in the Black community.” Ms. Ross was recently on the panel of a town hall at the July 2018 NAACP National Convention in San Antonio, Texas; which focused on how the Black community has been slow to embrace LGBTQIA people and provided ways to overcome this.

But despite how slowly the Black community has been to embrace LGBTQIA people within its own community, Ms. Ross points back to white supremacy being a considerable barrier to the Black community’s advancement and progression within the country. That in order to overcome this, collectivity is required and with a sense of urgency concludes, “We have no more time left if we want this to end tomorrow.”

Please find out more about her work here: https://missross.com/

Photographer: "Shot by James Anthony at crowdMGMT” 
Hair: Hair by Nikay Higgins at crowdMGMT (@NikayHigginsHair) 
Makeup: Nichole Ray (@NicholeRayArtistry) 
Fashion Stylist: Apuje Kalu (@Apuje)