Today we’d like to introduce you to Rita Parker.
Hi Rita, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in a small city in North Carolina. My mother left an abusive marriage and moved us to Washington, DC when I was four years old. I had two older sisters who were already married at the time of our move, so I grew up as the only child in our home. My birth father died when I was 10. My mother married a wonderful man when I was 12.
I was raised in the most loving home and would not trade that for anything. Being raised in DC afforded me a wealth of opportunities. The city was full of political events, cultural activities, museums and art galleries, music and so much more. That upbringing absolutely brought me to where I am today.
When I was in 8th grade I joined the DC Youth Chorale, an all-city chorus made up of singers from each public high school. We were able to travel to Romania as “Ambassadors for Friendship with Music as our Message”. We sang all over the city, raising money for that trip. There were 80 students and eight chaperones. We flew to Paris, then Romania. We traveled through the country as teenagers. The Romanian’s welcomed us, but we were definitely strange to them. Can you imagine 80 Black kids in a Communist country?
The experiences of my youth are second to none. I believed anything was possible!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As much as I loved my upbringing, it was not always smooth. I made a few bad choices along the way. I attended Southeastern University in DC instead of going away to college. My parents gave me the choice to stay at home and get a car or go away to school. I opted for the car. I became a cheerleader, ran for Miss Southeastern, and even played basketball. My parents were concerned that I put more time into my friends and extracurricular activities than my studies. They were right of course. They took the car back at the end of my sophomore year and I left school.
My choice to leave school was difficult but I was determined to be an adult. I started working for the phone company but was fired after five months for being late too many times. I moved in with my “boyfriend” and his family to prove to my parents I could do without them. That was definitely a mistake, but I was grown, at least in my own mind. I got pregnant at 21 and the boyfriend was not prepared for that. I moved back home briefly but that wasn’t the answer either. I got a full-time job and an apartment. My daughter was born seven weeks early by c-section. That was a pivotal time in my life. I was responsible for a new life. Seeing my baby in the incubator was scary but I was there every day, feeding and touching her. My preemie was in the hospital 18 days before coming home.
When my daughter was five months old, I met and married a wonderful man. He was enlisted in the Air Force and provided a great life for us. Three years later, we had a daughter together while stationed in England. Our family was able to travel and share memories to last a lifetime. I truly enjoyed being a military wife. Our marriage ended in divorce after 18 years.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The arts have always been a part of my life. As a young girl, I believed I would be in front of an audience for something. I thought it would be for singing but 40 years of smoking cigarettes may have had an impact on my voice. I graduated from Barbizon School of Modeling and thought I would model as a career, not runway but print.
I have always loved to entertain. I joined Taste Masters while in Dover, Delaware and learned about public speaking. I enjoyed it so much that I started volunteering to speak at events. I joined a group of models who traveled to military bases for fashion shows.
The move to Atlanta after my divorce launched me into the entertainment industry. My family had all types of connections. My nephew was a rapper at the time. My niece was an actress and writer. They each had contacts in the industry that I was able to connect with. I became a personal assistant of sorts. I was able to help artists with documents, travel, scheduling appointments. I worked for a management company with several music groups. I knew comedians, musicians, actors and other industry professionals.
I left the area in 2014 to care for my dad in DC. While there, I went to the Senior Center with him daily. One of the seniors was a writer and asked if I would act in one of her plays. I said yes and the fire was ignited.
After my dad passed in 2017, I returned to the Atlanta area. Another of my contacts was working on a play. She asked if I would like a small role and I said yes. Since then, I have been in several productions. I am an actor and love it. I have a profile on IMDb with four credited projects. I have an acting resume that is pretty extensive, especially considering my age and when I started. Most of my projects have been by recommendation. Someone I’ve worked with has thought I would be great for a role, I auditioned and got it.
What I am most proud of is my integrity and being committed. I show up on time and do what I am asked to do.
I believe what sets me apart is my faith. I believe I am right where God needs me to be. People are drawn to me, and they trust me. I treat people the way I want to be treated.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Most people are surprised to know I am a domestic violence survivor. I have survived more than one abusive relationship. I am grateful to be a survivor and not a victim. I am dedicated to helping people who need help. I am a friend, sister, mentor, advisor, and shoulder when needed.
Contact Info:
- Email: rpc0227@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpconfidential/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.moyerparker
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/grandiva227
