feature: actress and activist amandla stenberg stands tall in new issue of dazed & confused

Check out Actress Amandla Stenberg’s latest editorial, in the new issue of Dazed & Confused – a bold editorial shot by Gregory Harris, accompanied by an in depth writeup on the young activist by Caroline Ryder. As Ryder writes, Stenberg (who came to fame playing Rue in ‘The Hunger Games’) is “one of the most incendiary voices of her generation”; using her growing platform to provoke necessary conversations on a range of topics. In April, the 16-year-old became a viral sensation after her school video project targeting the appropriation of black culture became an internet hit; and her fearlessness when it comes to addressing celeb cultural appropriation or the social injustices faced by black people (as well as women and the LGBTQI community) is garnering her more and more fans. See some images from the Dazed editorial below (styled by Robbie Spencer), plus some extracts.

By Alexander Aplerku, AFROPUNK Contributor

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“I think people discredit teenagers and how wise they can be,” says Stenberg. “Sometimes I meet teenagers who are much wiser than many adults I’ve met, because they haven’t let any insecurities or doubts about themselves get in the way of their thoughts.”

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For Stenberg and her community of friends – Tavi Gevinson, Willow and Jaden Smith, Lorde, Kiernan Shipka – it’s not enough to excel in your chosen line of work, be it acting, singing or publishing. What matters is inspiring others, sharing information and starting a dialogue. Far from the apathetic millennials of media lore, these kids have more in common with the politicised youth of the late 60s. 

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In May, her (platonic) prom date was Jaden Smith – she wore a septum ring and her hair in show-stopping grey braids, and he wore a long skirt with sneakers, a look she fully approved of. “Guys aren’t allowed to express femininity; they have to always appear masculine and that’s bullshit,” she says. “I love it when guys can be feminine and express their emotions and creativity; it shows strength.” 

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“Tumblr has totally informed what I’m interested in and what I care about, especially when it comes to social justice,” she reflects. “It’s such a cool platform for learning about black and trans rights.” Stenberg talks about the ‘Art Heaux’ movement, a community of black kids taking selfies and Photoshopping themselves in the name of art. “That is so amazing,” she says. “(It’s) black kids saying, ‘Look how beautiful I am,’ and defying the notion that they’re not allowed to be indie in that way.”

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“I want to make things that have an impact on how we look at the world. I know it’s a tall glass to fill, but it’s a glass that really does need to be filled, as an African American woman.”