In celebration of Black History Month, LaDuca is honored to spotlight eight inspiring performers who not only exude Black Excellence on Broadway, but who are also an integral part of modern Black History themselves.
I have spent most of my artistic entire life attempting to be someone else.
Someone who craved light caramel skin.
And straight hair.
That belts high.
Who can kick their face.
With perfect feet.
Thin.
Could cry on cue when the director said action.
I am happy to say RIP to her.
~ Vasthy Mompoint
Vasthy Mompoint is an Actress, Dancer, Singer, by way of Alabama, North Carolina, and Haiti. On-screen Vasthy has appeared in Nora from Queens (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert), The Prom Movie (dir Ryan Murphy), Dick Johnson is Dead (Kirsten Johnson) The Mysteries of Laura (Norman Buckley), The Detour (Jason Jones) and the cartoon show, The Winx Club. On stage, Vasthy has appeared on numerous Broadway stages in THE PROM, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS, MARY POPPINS, ROCKY, SOUL DOCTOR, GHOST THE MUSICAL, HOT FEET, and GOOD VIBRATIONS. As a dancer, Vasthy has performed with James Corden, Yolanda Adams, Brian McKnight, Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Gloria Gaynor and more.
I have spent most of my artistic entire life attempting to be someone else.
Someone who craved light caramel skin.
And straight hair.
That belts high
Who can kick their face.
With perfect feet.
Thin.
Could cry on cue when the director said action.
I am happy to say RIP to her.
When that man stepped on George Floyd’s neck he unleashed a mighty fury that I could not run from.
I had been silent for so long.
I spoke of it but not loud and always edited to make non blacks around me feel safe….when they listened to me.
Watching other activists fight the fight for me.
Wanting to fit in.
I am happy to say that now, I. DON’T. CARE.
Was I really holding myself back because of people like that guy dressed as a squirrel that stormed the capital?
Really?
Yeah, no.
Nope.
I feel free.
I feel a wave of strength and togetherness in the Black community.
I am no longer waiting for someone to see me as me.
I am creating my own path and showing up fully as myself
I am not going to spend the rest of this life being someone else for people I will most likely never meet.
So I’ll be the real me…
A dark skinned
Nappy haired
Low alto
Old lady battlement (I did kick my face that one time after hot yoga…that counts right?)
Average feet (very biscuity but well moisturized)
Curvy
Sometimes hard-as-nails woman.
I thank those who came before me. I think of you everyday.
How tired you must have been.
(Cause ’m tired)
There are a long line of souls who gave their lives for us.
Who had a life of slavery, Jim Crow, Lynching, and hate.
They did not do that for me to tiptoe through life and hide who I am.
So, I won’t.
So, I won’t.
You can follow Vasthy at @frostyvasthy on instagram.
Life in LaDucas 