Lighting the Spark

By Twin Cities Actor Dwight Xaveir Leslie

I’ve always been into singing — I grew up singing in church. Later I would get to middle school and my brother was very into band, so I hopped on that train. Then he started doing chorus and drama, but I was a little hesitant for those courses. I later jumped into a competition in high school called Palm Bay Idol — the drama teacher ran it — and she told me to join her musical which was The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. After opening the show, I was struck with something on stage that let me know that I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.

The drive and want to be better, do better, and produce more is my motivation. I think I’m great, and that’s not being cocky; I just want to step into my greatness and let it breath across the community in which I reside and spread to the world.

My peers and the high level of constructive jealousy I hold is what inspires me. There’s is no real animosity or hate in it. I love to see people doing well, so when I see that especially with other Black artists, it’s exciting.

Black history is all history and it’s a shame the only time we truly hone in on it is during February.