Bethann Hardison Instagram – This one hurt…
It’s taken me two days to get here to acknowledge someone who I knew and adored. I learned that my friend had transition. I left NY knowing she had not been well, prepared to hear the news, not prepared when I heard it.
I learned on Tuesday morning here in Marrakech. So that evening I had a couple of tequilas because the day had been too sad, poured some beer out in corner of the courtyard, and wished someone I had known for three decades a beautiful flight. Someone who believed in the fact that my story must be told. Toni would say..”if I was still in publishing there be no way you wouldn’t have a book published. You are are too important not to tell your story”.
That was years before the last waves of my achievements that probably confirmed how she felt and knew. We met in the late 70’s early 80’s through Ed Love, young actor/ dancer and dear friend to us both, who passed away too young.
Toni was brilliant as you all can attest to…seeing all the accolades the last two days has been more then I have seen for any contemporary, she has left a stream of quotes and written words beyond any other, in my humble opinion. Tribe of Baldwin and Maya.
Her interviews let you know, she never held back, she had no fear. She knew who she was. She wanted me to know who I was. To write it, share it, get it out. Toni encouraged us all to tell the story you would like to read. She knew I lacked the confidence, yet she would laugh at the idea that I would hesitate and not perform what she considered my duty.
Toni and I were very much a like when it came to keeping it real. We had no problem speaking our minds, or speaking about other people to each other. The laughter, especially her laugh. A tough time was when her home buried to the ground in late 80’s or early 90’s and her eldest son’s death in 2010. Not easy to lose a child.
Toni was a single mom like me, like many of us. She never felt she did a great job, but who of us think we did ? It just works out.
She did so very well in the work, and received the recognition.
I will always keep her in my heart.
And I will write the book, for me, for you, for her.
8/5/19 she joined the ancestors.
🖤 | Posted on 09/Aug/2019 03:53:33
