What were some challenges you faced growing up, and how did they influence your outlook on life and work?
We didn’t have a lot of money, but that never felt like a problem to me. Until that time my mother and I were in Saks Fifth Avenue looking for a dress for her. We were going to a wedding and my mother had not bought a dress for many years. The salesgirl was showing my mom dresses and getting frustrated because they were too expensive for us. She said, “if you cant afford a
dress here, why did you come in here? Sales are in the basement.” My mom was mortified. I wasn’t embarrassed. I was so pissed off; I couldn’t see straight. That’s why the amount of money someone has does not mean anything to me. It’s about character and kindness and treating everyone fairly and without judgement.
Also, the blatant racist back in the day was appalling. My father was from Mexico and spoke English with an accent. The criticism and rudeness he endured was heartbreaking. He would laugh and take it with a grain of salt because that’s who he was. He loved life. He loved us and if a person was racist and hateful, he would let roll off his shoulder. That’s why I make a conscious effort to never make someone uncomfortable because of race, religion or sexual orientation. Let’s hope we don’t ever go back there and keep going forward with light and love.