taraji p. henson in sag speech: “they are hidden figures no more!”

”Hidden Figures,” the film about Black women working at NASA preparing for John Glenn’s launch into orbit. At the SAG-AFTRA awards this weekend, they won the most coveted award of “Best Ensemble,” with Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Butler, and Janelle Monae at the helm. As she accepted the award, Taraji expressed her gratitude and the brilliance of the women they portrayed exclaiming, “They are hidden figures no more!” This story, although not told perfectly, is still a story worth telling. The critiques of Hollywood that most people take offense to is “diversity for the sake of diversity” but the real power is in the telling of stories that otherwise would be left to rot in history’s grave. The impact and contributions of Black women, Black people, people of color, indigenous peoples, queer people, religious minorities, immigrants and refugees must be told, or we’ll never live to see a day where we’re valued as equals. Huge congrats to the cast for this honor! Go see “Hidden Figures” today!

By T. McLendon, AFROPUNK Contributor