Shreveport Spotlight
DOMINIQUE WASHINGTON:
The Bough May Bend, Never Break
By
Marcinho Savant, Staff Writer
Shreveport native, Dominique Washington demands no less of others, than she does of herself.
Someone fell in love. They had a child, one of several, and what a gem they raised. Dominique Washington, a thirty-something, corporate, manager is hard to take. For some. As for this writer, I have been intrigued by the solid, steady figure I met. She isn’t for everyone. Especially not for people unwilling, or incapable, of accepting a strong, erudite black woman, endlessly self-possesed, confident, skilled, experienced, and daring as she is. A Shreveporter, from birth, Washington has solid experiences for a woman of her age. Upon first glance, one could wonder what they could expect from the petite figure with the keys to the castle.
Ms. Washington is the Assistant to the General Manager of a senior living facility within the city limits. Her path to the role has included managerial turns for the, legendary, Job Corps program, a resident advisorship of her dorm in college. She even performed the solitary, fundamentally-thankless, job as the night auditor of a local hotel. She possesses a degree in Mass Media/Journalism, with a minor in English. She would, later, “quit” writing, which opened the doors to Job Corps, and hospitality positions. But what makes Washington special? Simply stated, she has a solid upbringing, clear values, a broad, and scintillating intellect, while never losing her own, personal, lagniappe--- in life.
Asked what equipped her for her life path, and she instantly replied, “I’m a Washington, first and foremost. We are fearless. We might bend, a little, but we (when pressed), never break. My father taught me that. He taught me that we have a “zero tolerance policy for foolishness.” She claims the family embraces a get-it-done attitude when challenged, and doesn’t quit when roads get hard. She refuses to wallow in should have… rather in soaring from challenge to challenge with grit, skill, fire, and strength.
Washington attests to being an outspoken, fiery, creative, friendly-enough persona, who was popular in school, and a self-proclaimed “Tom Boy”. She seems to have it all together. Confidence, culpability, firm and sensible, no-nonsense, talent for performing to expectation. Those not prepared for whom they meet in her, might find her brash, direct, candid, and unflinching. In sitting down with her, I detected a woman, unafraid, and, indeed, fearless. Having interviewed many people since 1977, I detect a far deeper essence within her.
She is pensive. Honorable. Reliable, and yet, quite able to keep core and job quite separate, and with clear boundaries. Washington also touts a very vital approach to management, and life. She believes in motility in management style--- reluctant to fall into a corporate rut, per se, but to explore the efficacy of an experimental resolutions style. This requires an acceptance of the constancy of change. “With me comes change”, Washington said. She believes that there are several approaches to a resolution. “Try several options to check outcomes”, “I don’t like to get stuck in just one way to achieve a goal. One way works, or doesn’t, so why not try something new and see if you can add a different approach to solve an issue.
She isn’t lacking for answers. Washington’s most-uplifting utterance in our brief session, was that she takes quite seriously, the challenge of choosing one’s words very carefully. She believes that the words we speak can manifest, therefore, we should be rigorously attentive to the power that words possess, within and without.
Lesser men could find Ms. Washington off-putting. “Too strong”, and a host of other flaccid dismissals of a woman in charge of herself. She managed to find a, greater, man, whom she describes as her polar opposite. “He balances me. Where I’m up here, he’s over, and down, there.” The six-foot-three man in her life seems more than capable of walking beside Dominique with all the support he can muster, while keeping his own life on course. Travelle is his name, and there’s such a ripple when she speaks of him. It’s not my place to define what it is. Suffice it to say, that their bond is vibrant, healthy, and special. Obvious. They celebrate their 2-year anniversary.
Washington declares that, while she wants to be a mother, --- for reasons that are hers to know and share--- that is a facet of her life which will be addressed at a later time. She confided that concern in me, which I will secret for life.
Shreveport is blessed with some remarkable titans of survival, self-evaluation, strength, and power. So very many of them, too, happen to be women of color. So many others still, are scholarly, intellectual, but also centered, and real, in the extreme.
Another Shreveport daughter has staked her claim, and worked to accomplish greatness in all she does, while honoring her spirit. She didn’t disagree when I posited the opinion that she can, often, be her own worst enemy. Someone far wiser, and for more accomplished than this writer, has said, “knowing is half the battle”, in resolving a challenge.
Washington’s is a personality, a presence, perhaps even, a force which simply cannot be ignored. A throaty, telling, confident, powerful laugh lives within this very earnest, diligent, person. While a steadfast team player, evidently, equally clear is that she is a woman fully capable of living her life, and on her own terms. “I want to become the best me, in the long term”, she beamed. As for short term goals, I just want to live each day as it if is my last. To make sure to learn something new, every day.”
Ms. Washington is the Assistant to the General Manager of a senior living facility within the city limits. Her path to the role has included managerial turns for the, legendary, Job Corps program, a resident advisorship of her dorm in college. She even performed the solitary, fundamentally-thankless, job as the night auditor of a local hotel. She possesses a degree in Mass Media/Journalism, with a minor in English. She would, later, “quit” writing, which opened the doors to Job Corps, and hospitality positions. But what makes Washington special? Simply stated, she has a solid upbringing, clear values, a broad, and scintillating intellect, while never losing her own, personal, lagniappe--- in life.
Asked what equipped her for her life path, and she instantly replied, “I’m a Washington, first and foremost. We are fearless. We might bend, a little, but we (when pressed), never break. My father taught me that. He taught me that we have a “zero tolerance policy for foolishness.” She claims the family embraces a get-it-done attitude when challenged, and doesn’t quit when roads get hard. She refuses to wallow in should have… rather in soaring from challenge to challenge with grit, skill, fire, and strength.
Washington attests to being an outspoken, fiery, creative, friendly-enough persona, who was popular in school, and a self-proclaimed “Tom Boy”. She seems to have it all together. Confidence, culpability, firm and sensible, no-nonsense, talent for performing to expectation. Those not prepared for whom they meet in her, might find her brash, direct, candid, and unflinching. In sitting down with her, I detected a woman, unafraid, and, indeed, fearless. Having interviewed many people since 1977, I detect a far deeper essence within her.
She is pensive. Honorable. Reliable, and yet, quite able to keep core and job quite separate, and with clear boundaries. Washington also touts a very vital approach to management, and life. She believes in motility in management style--- reluctant to fall into a corporate rut, per se, but to explore the efficacy of an experimental resolutions style. This requires an acceptance of the constancy of change. “With me comes change”, Washington said. She believes that there are several approaches to a resolution. “Try several options to check outcomes”, “I don’t like to get stuck in just one way to achieve a goal. One way works, or doesn’t, so why not try something new and see if you can add a different approach to solve an issue.
She isn’t lacking for answers. Washington’s most-uplifting utterance in our brief session, was that she takes quite seriously, the challenge of choosing one’s words very carefully. She believes that the words we speak can manifest, therefore, we should be rigorously attentive to the power that words possess, within and without.
Lesser men could find Ms. Washington off-putting. “Too strong”, and a host of other flaccid dismissals of a woman in charge of herself. She managed to find a, greater, man, whom she describes as her polar opposite. “He balances me. Where I’m up here, he’s over, and down, there.” The six-foot-three man in her life seems more than capable of walking beside Dominique with all the support he can muster, while keeping his own life on course. Travelle is his name, and there’s such a ripple when she speaks of him. It’s not my place to define what it is. Suffice it to say, that their bond is vibrant, healthy, and special. Obvious. They celebrate their 2-year anniversary.
Washington declares that, while she wants to be a mother, --- for reasons that are hers to know and share--- that is a facet of her life which will be addressed at a later time. She confided that concern in me, which I will secret for life.
Shreveport is blessed with some remarkable titans of survival, self-evaluation, strength, and power. So very many of them, too, happen to be women of color. So many others still, are scholarly, intellectual, but also centered, and real, in the extreme.
Another Shreveport daughter has staked her claim, and worked to accomplish greatness in all she does, while honoring her spirit. She didn’t disagree when I posited the opinion that she can, often, be her own worst enemy. Someone far wiser, and for more accomplished than this writer, has said, “knowing is half the battle”, in resolving a challenge.
Washington’s is a personality, a presence, perhaps even, a force which simply cannot be ignored. A throaty, telling, confident, powerful laugh lives within this very earnest, diligent, person. While a steadfast team player, evidently, equally clear is that she is a woman fully capable of living her life, and on her own terms. “I want to become the best me, in the long term”, she beamed. As for short term goals, I just want to live each day as it if is my last. To make sure to learn something new, every day.”