Raiya E. Goodman
Human - Artist - Activist
Raiya E. Goodman
Human - Artist - Activist
About Me
Who is Raiya? Raiya is a human, artist, and activist. Raiya is fierce. Raiya is strong. Raiya is bold.
Hi there! I am Raiya E. Goodman, if you haven't caught on yet. I am an outspoken, passionate, bisexual black woman. There are so many different sides to my being, and they all hold the same weight. This has made intersectionality a big part of who I am. I grew up in the best city in America, Houston, Texas. Being born and raised in Texas gives you a sense of pride that you can never take away. I'm also a pastor's kid, or PK as we used to say growing up. Being in church my whole life and growing up as a Christian woman greatly shaped who I am and my values. I was blessed to find my passion in theatre at the early age of seven. Being in theatre as well as gaining the friends and mentors that I have, has greatly molded me and helped me to be clear in who I am and to not shy away from any part of myself. I used to think that some of my life directly contradicted each other, but I now know that every part of my being helps to inform the next. That is being human.
Art radicalized me. At first, theatre was just a safe space for me and somewhere that I felt comfortable. However, that illusion can be broken easily as a black woman. During my freshman year of high school, I had my first glimpse of racial injustice in this country with the death of Trayvon Martin and subsequent not guilty verdict of George Zimmerman. That trial broke me, but seeing how the artist community responded helped to keep my light. Art as social justice. As artists, it is our duty to use our talent and platform to inform and spread awareness. That is what I crave to do! I want to make and be apart of art that matters. Art should move you! There is a saying I often heard growing up in church, "don't leave the same way you came." That is always my goal when I step on stage. Don't let the audience leave the same way they came.
Light up your world!