Amina Faye on Black Girl Resilience in ‘The Seat of Our Pants’

In the new musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder’s classic, “The Skin of Our Teeth,” titled “The Seat of Our Pants,” actress Amina Faye steps into a role that resonates deeply with the concept of Black girl resilience. Faye portrays Gladys Antrobus in this production, which explores the enduring human spirit facing existential dread and constant catastrophes over 5,000 years.

Resilience as an Inherent Trait

When asked about tapping into her character’s resilience, Faye explained that for her, and many Black women, it’s not something that needs to be conjured; it’s inherent. “It’s literally like in our DNA. It’s in our ancestry. It’s how I’ve known my mom and grandma, and, you know, all the strong women in my life to be,” she shared with Madamenoire. Faye believes this inherent strength allows Black women to carry heavy loads and navigate challenges, even within demanding industries like acting.

Faye, a dark-skinned Black woman in Hollywood, sees her chosen profession as something she’s uniquely built for, thanks to this ingrained resilience. “It’s something that’s just in my DNA,” she stated, highlighting that this strength often doesn’t require conscious effort but flows naturally from her heritage and lived experience.

Vulnerability as the Ultimate Strength

A pivotal aspect of Faye’s character, Gladys, is her ability to express vulnerability—a trait often suppressed by the expectation for Black women to always appear strong. In the play, Gladys’s mother sings a song called ‘Stuff It Down,’ embodying the tendency to hide weakness to keep the family together. However, Gladys breaks this cycle by confronting her father after he harms her family, declaring, ‘No. You hurt me.’

Faye finds this moment incredibly powerful, as it challenges the societal equation of strength with stoicism. “I think as Black women, that’s what we do. We’re not allowed to fall apart… But this character actually gets to say, ‘No. Everybody stop. This guy did something to me, and it hurt me, and I’m gonna let him know what it is,’” Faye explained. She sees this act of speaking her truth and showing hurt as the epitome of strength, a quality rarely afforded to Black women characters in mainstream narratives.

Lessons in Survival from Gladys Antrobus

1. **Put Your Life Vest On Before You Give It To Anybody Else:** Prioritize your own well-being before focusing on others, just like the safety instructions on an airplane.
2. **Take It Day By Day:** Avoid getting overwhelmed by the entirety of a situation. Focus on the present moment and control what you can.
3. **Vulnerability Is Strength:** It’s okay to express your feelings and let others know when they’ve hurt you. Asking for what you need is a sign of strength, not weakness.
4. **Take Up Space:** Don’t wait for others to make room for you. Claim the space you deserve and assert your presence.

Faye’s portrayal of Gladys offers a profound exploration of resilience, emphasizing that true strength lies not just in enduring hardship, but in the courage to be vulnerable and to demand recognition of one’s pain. This character provides a powerful representation of Black women’s experiences and their capacity for profound emotional strength.