“Becoming” Sallee Jay Mother’s Day Edition
So, I was going to drop a blog about a virtual zoo event that I attended and then Michelle Obama and Netflix wrecked my entire life 😳🤯🥴 with “Becoming” the latest special.
And I’m sure for many and in particular black people and POC (and specifically black WOMEN 😀) it made you think of your community and all of the great examples of excellence that you’ve witnessed over your own life. Watching Michelle’s story made me feel seen and reaffirmed that my work and civic engagement is not in vain. It made me think of all pillars in my life and my “Becoming” story and how I would tell it. Since it is Mother’s Day weekend, it also made me think of my own mother, my “Mom in Chief.”
I am reminded of my first trip to Paris, as an eight year old. I remember ordering drinks without ice and thinking how odd it was, given how warm the temperature that Parisian summer. I was intrigued by the road signage and steering wheels being on the opposite side of the vehicle. I remember splashing around in a public fountain, with wild hair and a “Paris” fannypack with my mother looking on with part delight and part exhaustion. It was always very important to my mother that I travelled and explored the world and she established that early on securing employment with one of the worlds largest air carriers at the time. She worked over 20 years to go from the flight kitchen as a line worker, to a senior leader in the organization. A model corporate citizen, community advocate, mother and friend.
At the helm of her very successful career, she was responsible for 1000+ people in Los Angeles, CA. However, that’s not what amazes me. What amazes me about “Ms.Adrienne” as so many of you know her, is that she fed all of those people when they had to be away from their families working for the holidays! She loved her teams like family. Funerals, birthdays, graduations, helping people move, financial support, coaching/mentoring/counseling, feeding people, clothing people, housing people… you name it, there is NOTHING that I have not seen my mother do for others. I have seen my mother work with and develop people from all walks of life. Black, white, refugees, immigrant, gay, straight or whatever! She’s one of those people sent here to make a difference.
However, access to the world came with a price. My mom was almost fired from her line job once her supervisor learned that she had a masters degree and deemed her overqualified. Yet, she pressed on and overcame, ending up with more power and position then her troubled supervisor. Over her career in airline operations she worked in mostly white, male dominated and non traditional spaces, where she witnessed and experienced harmful and discriminatory behavior. Not to mention, working in Los Angeles she had to be cognizant of cultural bias, customs, traditions and the like to be an effective leader. She’s worked with people from all around the globe; all around the globe. And what I’ve enjoyed most about watching my mom lead, is her ability to win others over.
She is also a great leader in crisis, having had to lead large teams through catastrophes such as 911, the AIDS epidemic, and SARS! Ms. Adrienne is sharp, calm, focused and curious in a way that most people are not. She can be a pain to work with (she’s a driver), however, you cannot deny the results or dedication that comes with her reputation and her work ethic. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
As I child, she and I would volunteer for a program called “Fantasy Flight.” This program was for underserved youth in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. During the holidays they were bused to LAX to Terminal 6 or 7 and then flown to Santa Barbara and back where they landed at Terminal 8, returning to the North Pole, gifts and Santa Claus. My mother has always been extremely committed to serving the community with time and resources.
My mom is a very thoughtful woman. I remember when I was 17 and on an international trip for two weeks to Australia and New Zealand my mother made sure I was greeted with messages from her at each new hotel stop. Mind you this is the pre email era, right at the beginning of the explosion 💥 of the internet. So she called each hotel and left messages with the desk for me to receive upon arrival. As the only black kid on the trip, who was designated as the group “Aborigine,” knowing that I was loved that far away made me feel special and gave me what I needed to not let social and economic factors ruin a trip of a lifetime.
She’s the kind of woman like Michelle Obama who likes to win! She’s a very hard worker, not to many people gonna out hustle Ms. Adrienne. She’s been on the Oprah stage, as well as on her knees in the garden pulling weeds and on her knees in prayer. In her retirement she is still active in her church and community. Be it handing out school supplies and sack lunches for displaced students in COVID19, or disinfecting the sanctuary for worship, she’s out here and she’s active.
She takes life seriously, that said she’s a lot of FUN!! She’s rides a motorcycle and can make a mean pound cake! She naturally loves to travel, she’s a great cook and host and she LOVES music! Ms. Adrienne also likes a good cigar and old fashioned 🥃. Genuine, compassionate, classic and tried and true. The lord broke the mold when he created my momma.
After watching “Becoming” I feel compelled to share more of my story. Not to brag or boost. My story is a great way to bridge gaps and create meaningful connection. Last night, I saw many reflections and iterations of myself and I want to use my platform to do the same. With that, Happy Mother’s Day and I hope you enjoyed learning a bit of my Becoming, Sallee Jay and travel story.
Love you Momma! Hope your day is extra special. ❣️ Enjoy them sheets girl 🤩🤣🤑
Sallee Jay ❣️