Ladies of Hot 105
dish on sisterhood and facing fear
By MICHELLE HOLLINGER
Each one has a voice so distinct you recognize it as
soon as you hear her speak. When you’re laughing
and jamming along with the Tom Joyner Morning
Show, it’s Traci Cloyd’s (TC) assured delivery that
brings us morning news and community happenings
in a way only the Spelman grad can.
Jill Tracey (JT) brings with her distinguished voice a
heavy dose of authenticity, humor and sensitivity as
she keeps it real on hot topics and current affairs.
Rounding out the trio of personalities on
the newly returned Michael Baisden Show
is homegirl Tamara Gant, better known as
Tamara G (TG). Hers is the intelligent voice
of reason also serving as the no-non-
sense buffer to George Wilborn’s ‘no holds
barred’ shenanigans.
We got two of the three together for a
photo shoot (Tamara G and Traci Cloyd)
that was full of laughter, sisterhood and
gorgeousness. Jill was photographed solo,
and her shoot was full of the energy and
good humor she has become known for.
We asked each to share her thoughts about
a variety of topics, including sisterhood,
overcoming fear and their plans for the fu-
ture.
SISTERHOOD
TC: Although I have no biological sisters, I’ve
had the great fortune to become dear friends
with women across the age spectrum, from
millennials to seniors. It is impossible to imag-
ine life without the beauty of laughing with
and learning from each of them. In the larger
sense of sisterhood, I am a graduate of Spel-
man College, so that means I literally have
thousands of sisters, some extremely close,
others I’ve never met…and there is a ‘bond
and I do feel a sense of support from them.
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THE SISTER HOOD | M AY 2017
TG: It’s very important to me. I don’t think that ANY
women should be in competition with each other. We
should all be cheering it other on and elevating each
other to the next level at all times.
JT: One of the great things I learned from Iyanla Van-
zant is I am not my sister’s keeper, I am my sister. I
think that is one of the greatest bonds I have in my
life is my relationship with my female friends. I know
it doesn’t matter what the conflict is, at the end of the
day, men will kill each other before they come to a
conclusion; but women, we’ll get together and order
something to eat and we’re going to work it out. One
of the greatest powers of women, at the end of the
day, we will do what’s best for everyone.
OVERCOMING FEAR
TC: How I deal with fear? Poorly. That’s unfortunate,
but I’m aware of it and consistently trying to become
more courageous. When I’m confronted with fear I try
first to understand it.
TG: It’s just something you have to do. Even if you
don’t know the outcome, sometimes you just have to
take that leap.
JT: When I do, I’ll let you know! Martin Luther King
said “courage faces fear and thereby masters it. In
every situation that’s my first thought. That gets me
through the fear.
LIVING ON PURPOSE
TC: I’m always trying to figure that out. I think, as a
rule, we have more than one purpose -- so for me, as
long as I know I’m doing the best I can in any given
situation, I am living on purpose.
TG: Everyone has a purpose and a gift. Find out what
it is and follow it. It is what is going to make you the
happiest and with that, you are more likely to give
back and give often because you are happy--inside
AND outside.
JT: Living on purpose is a life long journey. What I
thought my purpose was ten years ago, it’s complete-
ly different now. Living on purpose is being resilient,
no matter how it ebbs and flows and how it changes;
being able to be resilient and keep your purpose in
mind.
COMFORT ZONES
TC: Book stores, libraries, beautiful spaces, art galler-
ies and New York City.
TG: I have many including my family and friends.
I make new friends and acquaintances easily, but
there are but a handful of people who TRULY know
me. Also, there’s something that is reassuring about
what you know already, but I am always open to new
adventures and trying something new. I don’t turn
anything down “just because”--I think about conse-
quences before I step out on anything.... and FAITH is
a huge part of that.
JT: My family. The memories of my family, so much of
my family has passed on. My greatest comfort zone.
I was raised well. And I could always take solace in
that, I may not do the best thing in that moment, but
I know better. Even if I do the wrong thing, I recover
well and I’m humble enough to ask for forgiveness
when I’ve been wrong.
Stepping out of your comfort zone is the only way to
grow. It’s very, very, very hard. A therapist drew three
circles - one is the circle of you, the outside circle was
fear and the last circle was near death. She drew a
line to the near death line and said this is where you
want to be if you want to grow. As much as you want,
you have to risk just as greatly.
BOOKS THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE
TC: My devotional, Jesus Calling. It’s a great source of
comfort and it’s helped me explore the bible more
fully. Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns.
It’s about the great migration and every American
should read it, especially every Black American. Black
Robes, White Justice by Judge Bruce Wright. The book
is 30 years old and it’s still fascinating.
TG: Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger; The Color Purple,
Alice Walker
JT: You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay is my main
one, All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes by
Maya Angelou and the Bible, Volunteer Slavery
by Jill Nelson.
HOW DO YOU RELAX:
TC: I hang out with my incredibly wonder-
ful husband, H arold L. Young Jr. We cook,
watch movies and make each other laugh. I
also take yoga classes and get massages.
TG: Sleep in, read, go to the beach and just
CHILL
JT: Sleep
THREE WORDS TO DESCRIBE YOURSELF
TC: Three words, “I is kind, I is smaaaaaaart,
I is important.” Seriously I am energetic, I’m
resourceful and I’m compassionate.
TG: Honest, loving, professional
JT: Blessed, vivacious and developing
WHERE DO YOU SEE
YOURSELF IN 10 YEARS?
TC: I can’t honestly answer that. I don’t
think in terms of looking a decade ahead.
TG: Oh gosh, I truly don’t look ahead. I
have some plans, but I’m also a person
who believes in living one day at a time
and being in the moment. If you are al-
ways looking towards the future, you
can’t enjoy the right here, right now.
JT: traveling the world, writing books with
a syndicated feature chronicling the
view from here – wherever that is then.
THE SISTER HOOD | M AY 2017
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