Grown-ish actress Yara Shahidi graces the cover of this month’s edition of Harper’s Bazaar Arabia.
During her cover interview, Shahidi opens up about her multi-cultural upbringing, the US election and the legacy of late Black Panther star, Chadwick Boseman.
“Having a family that’s Iranian, I’ve always had a global sense of community and culture. It goes back to why I’m a total history nerd. I think [we should] continue to create a more realistic version of history that doesn’t push forward this [idea] that Europe was the centre of the world,” she tells the publication.
“What we’re ignoring are the levels of contribution that everywhere else in the world made to our development and wellbeing. I don’t know if people would equate technological innovation to the Middle East, although if there was a fair portrait in our history, there would be a better understanding.”
Last month, the world was rocked by the news that Black Panther star, Chadwick Boseman, passed away after a four year, private battle with colon cancer. Shahidi praised Boseman’s determination and courage.
“I don’t know how many times we’re lucky enough in the world to receive somebody who is an unabashed artist, who cares so deeply about his community. To even think that we didn’t know that for four years, while he was making some of his best work, he was fighting this fight… and also doing great work [for the community] outside of that… I’m rambling because there’s just so much I want to say about him. For the couple of instances that I was lucky enough to be in his presence, his artistry and his grace was felt.”
The 20-year-old actress also had some words about Trump’s presidency:
“I really don’t believe that responding to Trump’s behaviour is a partisan issue. It’s not that you have to be part of a certain political party, it’s really a large moral question of who is allowing this… who are the enablers not calling into question what he’s doing?”
Click here to read the full interview.
