"Free" To Be Me

(Marie “Free” Wright)


Former host of the hit show 106&Park “Free”, whose real name is Marie Wright, came to Colorado State University’s North Ballroom fired up and ready to discuss being a woman in the rap world and how her journey through life has shaped who she is now as a person. The spunky former talk show host turned popular radio host approached the podium with pizazz and passion. Wright began the program, which was sponsored by CSU’s own Black Definition, by prompting the crowd to recite the phrase, “Find your dreams, find your drive, and just do it!”

“To me if you don’t get up and go to work every day you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing, that’s just how I was raised and I was fortunate for that,” Wright said.

She then schooled the crowd on her methods for success especially being a woman in a male dominated society. She even went so far as to mockingly beak into a solo of the infamous James Brown song “It’s a man’s world” during her beginning remarks. But she quickly moved into the details and significance of Internships, networking and knowing yourself before you get into tough and potentially life changing business situations. Many fail to recognize that Wright made her start not as a television personality but as an aspiring rapper. She began getting recognized at a very young age for the rap game and especially for the female rap game.

“I was only sixteen when I got my first offer,” Wright said.

But at that tender age Wright got her first look at the cutthroat business that is hip-hop and she knew as a woman she would not only have to be two steps ahead of everyone, but she would have to keep track of herself and the decisions she was making along the way more critically then a male would.

“I remember they wanted 80% of my earnings. I mean, I was only 16 but I knew that they weren’t supposed to get that much of my money,” said Wright.

Wright became engulfed in the rap lifestyle and began rubbing elbows with rap moguls such as Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, Missy Elliot, and Wyclef Jean. But she soon figured out that the expectations of women in the rap world were not what she expected and she was not willing to compromise her morals just for fame and fortune. She soon left her label and informed Wyclef Jean that she would not rap in that type of environment again.

Wright decided that she would attend school pursuing a major in Criminal Justice and started working at the Conservation Law Foundation in her hometown of Boston Massachusetts. The job turned out to be everything she had dreamed of and she made a note of stressing to the audience the significance of finding a job that not only suits your employment needs, but your needs as a person.

“You want a company that wants to help build your future with you,” Wright said.

But little did she know that her big break was just around the corner, and it didn’t involve her current job or anything she had ever done before. She met up with an old friend of hers at a party, Steven Hill, and they discussed a new show that the Black Entertainment Network (BET) was working on called 106&Park. The network had most of the major things handled but was still searching for male and female hosts for the show. Hill encouraged Wright to try out so she did.

“I was so nervous at the audition as a woman, it was crazy,” said Wright.

Wright captured the attention of the producers and was immediately signed as the first host of the now world famous 106&Park. Her co-host, AJ, was signed second and Hill even looked to Wright for advice on whether or not to hire AJ or not. Wrights career took flight and so did the show, but behind the scenes she was extremely displeased with the way the television network tried to make her appear as a woman.

“I had never worn a mini-skirt or booty shorts until I got on 106&Park. I had to tell them that the wardrobe was not okay with me,” said Wright.

Eventually the blatant sexism that Wright felt on the show was too much for her to bear.

“I felt like there was a glass ceiling over me at BET. I made the decision to leave BET myself because I know they wouldn’t have done it right. They would have been like, “bye Free bring on the next girl” and I wasn’t having that,” said Wright.

Wright left the spotlight with tears in her eyes and her life fell into turmoil. She was unable to find peace in another environment, her fans and co-host AJ felt as if she had abandoned them and her mother was terminally ill with cancer.

“My family and I are very close so I made the decision to leave it all and go home until she died,” said Wright.

On the 15th of December in 2009 Wright’s mother passed. But before she did she told Wright to keep pursuing her glamorous career.

“She kept telling me that she wanted me to be set,” said Wright.

To take a turn away from the sad tone the speech had taken Wright finished with powerful and motivational words of advice that seemed to move the crowd as soon as the words left her lips.

“Look in the mirror and fall in love with yourself before you fall in love with someone else.”

Sophomore Ed Harlan said he thoroughly enjoyed the speaker and her passionate tips on life and for women.

“I thought some of the women really needed to hear the things she was saying because we as men can tell them all day and it’s like water off a ducks back. But coming from a role model like her I’m sure it meant so much more,” said Harlan.

Sophomore Raven Olivia also found the words inspiring and very necessary for the women on campus and especially the women of color.

“It’s just a lot different for us and people seem to forget that. It’s hard enough being a woman but being a woman of color just makes it that much more difficult,” said Olivia.

Junior Marray Napue, who is also an aspiring musician, thought that the speech was insightful and thought Wright’s story was one that needed to be shared nationwide.

“I mean as a guy trying to make it in this game I felt like this speech wasn’t just for the women but it was for the men too because a lot of the times we are the ones causing this gaps in the gender spectrum. I really appreciate what she is doing for all of us and her story definitely needs to be heard around this nation because we have a lot of people that want the fame and the fortune. But they don’t know the price some women have to pay to get it,” Napue said.
(Marie Wright in the Lory Student Center)