Special to the Sojourner’s Digest
There is a scene in the Salt-N-Pepa biopic on Lifetime where Cheryl James (Salt) is introducing Sandra Denton (Pepa) to some of the other employees at the Sears call center they were working at before their shared music career took off.
Future hip-hop producer Hurby Azor. Future comedian and actor Martin Lawrence. Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin, who would become the future hip-hop duo Kid ‘n Play.
Can you imagine the dynamics of that workplace with all of that talent, energy and potential flowing from cubicle to cubicle? In the mid-1980s they were all just mere kids trying to keep their heads above water. The future multiplatinum female rap duo members were both pursuing nursing degrees at Queensborough Community College when their friend (Azor) convinced them to record a song. The rest is entertainment history.
The fact that these entertainers – not unlike others – came from such humble beginnings should be a testament to us all that a vision mixed with a little action can open doors that we have yet to imagine. Undoubtedly had they not been convinced by Azor to record “The Showstopper,” the two ladies would have eventually finished nursing school and embarked on steady careers in the healthcare industry. Or maybe they would have stayed with Sears and moved up the ladder to the administrative offices.
The movie is getting mixed reviews in part because the group’s DJ Spinderella (Deidra Muriel Roper) was not included in the production planning (There is a lawsuit currently pending.). Conflicts aside, even her entry into the group at the mere age of 16 is another example of how people shouldn’t let fear of the unknown dictate their future opportunities. The fact that Spinderella’s own musical career put her on the global stage is due to her parents being willing to take a chance and let their daughter join the newest female rap group.
We may not all be destined for stardom as rappers, producers and comedians, but we are each created for a divine purpose. Today’s laborer may be tomorrow’s CEO. Today’s secretary may be tomorrow’s analyst. Today’s babysitter may be tomorrow’s school superintendent. Today’s lab tech may be tomorrow’s cure for cancer.
There is a saying that “the road to success is always under construction.” The three-hour biopic gives fans a snippet of Salt-N-Pepa’s 35-year entertainment journey, but there’s always more to the story. The undisclosed personal struggles are the ones that build true character and resilience. The lesson for us all is to treat obstacles as detours on our own paths to success.
Remember: “Do not despise small beginnings.” Zechariah 4:10
Special to the Sojourners Digest by Toni Terrett
