Actress Dr. Angela Bracey shares her experience with RCC students

“Stay ready,” was the message Dr. Angela Bracey tried to get across to students as she addressed them on Tuesday at Robeson Community College.

“Stay ready, stay on point, and that’s how you excel,” Bracey reiterated. “Stay focused on what you want to do.”

Bracey is an accomplished educator and actress, appearing in films such as Tyler Perry’s hit movie The Six Triple Eight, which honors the 855 women of the U.S. Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion.

“The Six Triple Eight is one of Tyler Perry’s most watched movies on Netflix,” Bracey said. “It’s been nominated for many awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Song.”

The film was based on a true story, what Bracey calls “A great love story of history.”

“It was filmed in Atlanta,” Bracey said. “It instilled in us that you should follow your dreams and never take anything for granted.”

This 6888th Battalion was the largest group of Black servicewomen to serve overseas during World War II. It was started to address a 3-year backlog in mail to servicemembers. The women within the battalion played a pivotal role in ensuring that mail reached American Troops during the war, shattering barriers as they sorted through over 17 million pieces of mail. It was the first and only unit of color to be stationed in Europe during the war.

Bracey says it was truly an honor to be asked to be part of telling such an important story in America’s history. She’s thankful to have been given a role in the movie where she had camera time, and opportunities to network with other aspiring actors and actresses.

“You should never think that something is too small to pursue,” Bracey told the audience. “Follow your dreams, no matter how big or how small… never take anything for granted or think it’s too small for you to go out and pursue because you never know how far that opportunity will take you.”

With one hit movie under her wings, she’s excited about future opportunities, but will never forget what it felt like to be on set on The Six Triple Eight.

“You know, just having that experience…it’s just been phenomenal,” Bracey stated. “And being able to work with Kerry Washington, who I sit next to and spoke with, you know I said, hey this is for sure a different space and a different place.”

As she worked on set beside stars like Washington, Perry, and others, Bracey says she saw a new life emerging from within herself.

“You have to take chances,” Bracey said. “Sometimes life will take you to other places, life may take you overseas, it may take you out of your comfort zone… I started this journey at 50 but I had put things in place that put me in line for this journey.”

Bracey mentioned her experiences growing up in Robeson County, being involved in the performing arts, and obtaining a bachelor’s degree in filmography from North Carolina Central University, all of which she says helped her in landing the role in the film.

“You have to plant those nuggets throughout your life,” Bracey said. “Perfect practices make perfect performances.”

Bracey encourages others interested in acting, or interested in other career pursuits, to continue to invest in themselves, to connect with resources available, and to communicate with a life coach who will mentor and guide them, as well as hold them accountable.

“I sought therapy, and my life coach helped me in getting goals set and putting those goals” into action,” Bracey said. “Soon things started happening in my life and my dreams became my reality… it takes steps, but you can get there.”

“You have to make sure you show up,” Bracey reminded students. “You have to live in the present, in the moment… treat people with kindness and embrace the community you are from.”

If you can do that, Bracey says, “You’ll find a way to make a way.”

In addition to Dr. Bracey’s talk, the campus community also enjoyed a collection of ensembles from the UNCP Music Department to honor and celebrate Black History Month. The Black History month event was organized and by the RCC Cultural Committee and the Student Government Organization.

Dr. Angela Bracey stands with Shirley Stockton, Chair of the RCC Board of Trustees, RCC President Melissa Singler, and Paul McDowell, a member of the RCC Board of Trustees.