The Historical Bias of Black Men towards Light skin – RASHIDA STROBER

RASHIDA STROBER aka The Dark Skinned Activist since 1998, The Expert on Dark Skin Female Issues

“A HELL OF A SUCCESS STORY”

Even if you’re going through hell keep going! This is one of Rashida’s most inspiring quotes by the motivational king Les brown. Rashida knows about going through hell. A Florida native, Strober is the only girl in a bunch of 5 boys. Strober was born into what seemed like hell on earth. Yet through it all she discovered a burning desire and gift as a talented actor and performer. At a young age Strober was destined for success. She was the winner of numerous acting awards including a prestigious Ruth Eckerd Hall Scholarship and a Florida Thespian Festival Superior award.

The St. Petersburg Times wrote about her crowning achievements at the tender age of just 13. However, at an early age life’s trials shook the foundation of Rashida’s chances at achieving her dream. Her self- esteem was brutally assaulted at every turn by classmates who made her life a living hell. Known as “black and ugly” “monkey mouth” and African Booty Scratcher, she was told by many that she would never make it as an actress. On the streets and alone by the age of 14, Rashida endured poverty and sexual exploitation. Although homeless, beat down, busted and disgusted, Rashida held fast to her dream of acting.
She tenaciously escaped the poverty and abuse of the streets. At 17 she earned a GED, found employment, saved money for an apartment and enrolled in college. After graduating from the University of South Florida with a Master’s Degree in Political Science, Strober moved to LA to pursue her lifelong dream to act. In 2006 Rashida wrote, produced and starred in her auto-biographical one woman show, The Ice Cream Lady’s Dream. Inspired by the dark skin mental abuse of the main character from the Ice Cream Lady’s Dream and a speech Rashida delivered on dark skin in 1998 at St. Petersburg College, in 2006 Rashida decided to write A Dark Skin Woman’s Revenge. This groundbreaking play spurred an international movement recognizing the beauty plight of dark skin women and girls.

After three years in LA she relocated to St. Petersburg. After returning she continued to write, speak and perform the play with the theme of uplifting dark skin. She taught at Pinellas County Schools and St. Petersburg College. She appeared on television’s The Forensic Files, various theatrical productions and a TV Commercial. Strober launched the website Actortube.com, a video-sharing site to promote actors, actresses and performers. She also founded ICLD Productions, producing plays about the dark skin female experience. Rashida’s performances playing 5 characters in the groundbreaking play, A Dark Skinned Woman’s Revenge took off nationally and has spurred a demand for repeat performances.

Rashida was recognized by her peers for her stellar acting talents. She won the 2012 Playwrights Red Carpet Award for actress of the year for her heart wrenching performance as Georgana Nelson, a badly treated dark skin mentally ill young woman in A Dark Skin Woman’s Revenge. Rashida has been featured in local and national newspapers and on television. In 2013 she made the Cover of the Floridian Magazine.

Her talents as an actor and orator are reflected in her ongoing efforts as The Dark Skinned Activist. Rashida is on a mission to change the world for dark skin women and girls. In 2014 Rashida made history. Inspired by the play A Dark Skin Woman’s Revenge, Rashida created the International Dark Skin is Beautiful Campaign, the first in the world to uplift the beauty of dark skin women and girls. An expert on the plight of dark skin women and girls Rashida tours the country speaking about the issue of dark skin beauty. Sought after for her unique views and expertise on dark skin, Rashida has appeared on The Tommy Sotomayor Show, Questions of a Lifetime and was seen by millions as the feature story on Bay News 9 for the award-winning play A Dark Skin Woman’s Revenge. The book version of the play will be available in 2015.
Strober is one of the lead panelist on the Girls Change the World Workshop in Pinellas County Schools. She is also a keynote for the Great American Teach–In. From High school students to churches, and community organizations Rashida inspires audiences through her unique style of energetic, entertaining, raw, honest and engaging insight. The Dark Skin Activist since 1998, Rashida is passionate about using her talents as a performer and speaker to change the course of history for dark skin women and girls.

To Book Rashida Please submit your budget and request to icecreamladydream@yahoo.com