| Life’s not easy. It unravels, it’s messy. There’s never a straight line between struggle and success; the two are intertwined for everyone — from those who can barely make ends meet all the way up to billionaires.
OZY’s latest TV show, the first episode of which is now available on Hulu, offers a window into those journeys for some of the most culture-defining figures of our time. People often admire the success of figures like Pose star Dominique Jackson, actress and activist Jameela Jamil or billionaire Mark Cuban — but this groundbreaking series asks them to share the moment they nearly lost it all. The moment of pain that has shaped their far-from-inevitable paths forward. Welcome to Defining Moments With OZY.
For me, my first defining moment was probably getting kicked out of kindergarten in Miami. A lot of the research highlights how many young Black boys get derailed early in life. Thankfully, I had the most wonderful parents who figured out how to prevent me from tumbling into the “disruptive kid” lane.
Sadly, that came full circle with my most recent defining moment: when my mom fell ill, and ultimately passed. My grandmother lived to 102, and her mother lived to 100 too, so we always assumed my mom would live a long time — until she was a buck and a quarter (125!) at least, we’d say. She was as good a soul as you’re gonna find in this life. So when she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer, it was the worst day I’ve ever had.
These are the moments that shape my daily outlook. My path may be unique, but we all have events that impact how we approach new challenges. In the case of Dominique Jackson, the subject of the first episode of Defining Moments With OZY, she’s fighting to remain strong and positive when some people don’t like her for who she is. Follow her inspiring and, for many of my colleagues, tear-jerking story below.
Dominique’s episode is being released to celebrate International Women’s Day. Additional episodes will be rolling out monthly on Hulu, as well as on YouTube. Trust me — it’s worth a good watch. Having people be as open and as honest about their messy, provocative, spectacular and utterly fascinating journeys is truly special. I hope that you will walk away not only entertained but also inspired.
What’s the Defining Moment that’s shaped your unique journey? Simply respond to this email to send me your story and we’ll feature some of them on OZY. |
