Virtuous

[nacholibraascendant-deactivated]

“Today is a great day in Hollywood.”

Me: When I first picked up a camera and discovered I wanted to do nothing more in this life than tell stories through the lens of a camera, everyone else thought I was dreaming too big. I didn’t have many mentors or peers that wanted to pursue a career in cinema and television that looked like me or came from neighborhoods similar to mine. Representation was scarce. Now, I pull energy, good vibes and high hopes from these faces: black and brown men and women telling OUR stories whether it be in front of the lens or behind it. I finally feel like my dreams are closer than they appear, obtainable even more so. Seeing this masterpiece created by Lacey Duke (as seen below), finally makes me feel like a part of a really cool, exclusive club. These are the portraits that will decorate the walls of my home someday. Follow #strongblacklead on IG now for more!

(Director Lacey Duke)

(Photo: Kwaku Alston/Netflix)

This project featured:

Ajiona Alexus (13 Reasons Why) Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage; Juanita) Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why) Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People) Antonique Smith (Luke Cage) Ashley Blaine Featherson (Dear White People) Ava DuVernay (13th, Central Park Five) Brett Gray (On My Block) Britney Young (GLOW) Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things) Chante Adams (Roxanne Roxanne) Cheo Hodari Coker (Luke Cage) Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black) Dawn Porter (Bobby Kennedy for President) DeRay Davis (How to Act Black) Derek Luke (13 Reasons Why) DeRon Horton (Dear White People) Gabrielle Dennis (Luke Cage) Hayley Law (Altered Carbon; Riverdale) Justin Simien (Dear White People) Justine Simmons (All About The Washingtons) Kano (Top Boy) Kat Graham (The Holiday Calendar; How It Ends) Kia Stevens (GLOW) Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) Lena Waithe (Master of None; Dear White People; Step Sisters) Logan Browning (Dear White People) Marlon Wayans (Naked; Woke-ish) Marque Richardson (Dear White People; Step Sisters) Mike Colter (Luke Cage) Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage) Nia Long (Roxanne Roxanne, Dear White People) Nia Jervier (Dear White People; Step Sisters) Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things) Quincy Brown (The Holiday Calendar) Rapsody (Rapture) Rev Run (All About The Washingtons) Russell Hornsby (Seven Seconds) Sacha Jenkins (Rapture) Samantha Logan (13 Reasons Why) Sierra Capri (On My Block) Simone Missick (Luke Cage) Spike Lee (She’s Gotta Have It) Steven Silver (13 Reasons Why) Sydelle Noel (GLOW) Vaneza Oliveira (3%) Yance Ford (Strong Island)

This photo was inspired by ‘A Great Day in Harlem’, a 1958 black-and-white group portrait of 57 notable jazz musicians photographed in front of a brownstone in Harlem, New York City by Art Kane. 

Netflix’s Strong Black Lead project even featured behind-the-scenes footage and photos of the talent celebrating this milestone in Hollywood together. 

Let’s keep it up!

[flawlessbeautyqueens]

As for acting, I’ve always been interested in performing in any way possible. I started dance classes at 4 and thrived on recitals. When my mom and I moved to LA, I filled my time with dance classes and performing, and eventually I took an after school acting program where we would sit in a circle and read out famous shows or plays. One day, I played Michelle from Full House and I came home and told my mom I wanted to be an actor. And that was it.

[thelovewitch2016dirannabiller-d]

Alisha Boe on instagram

[13reasonsvvhy]

Alisha Boe photographed for W magazine.

[virtuous81]

[selfished]

“maybe you’re right

i’m exactly what you think of me

maybe you’re wrong

who knows

but for a fact

i’m more than what you know of me

and less than what you would suppose”

— Jhené Aiko, 2Fish

[we-the-dreamers]

“It was written in the stars It was written in the scars On her arm In her palms Where she wept In her bed Where she slept Or Hardly slept at all What a doll With her skin made Of plastic And tears made Of acid She could not hide the Tragic Damage Of sadness That burned through her pores And straight to her core Where she learned to keep quiet And not cry anymore.”

— Jhene Aiko

[amyylouadams]

[dracaryns-deactivated20190506]

“ There’s nobody on this earth who can tell you that what you’re feeling is wrong. ”

[guardiansofthegalaxy]

Zoe Saldana for Instyle Magazine by Paul Maffi

[vanessacarlysle]

I’m very accepting with my age. It’s like notches on your belt: experience, wisdom, and a different kind of beauty. There comes a day when you’ve become comfortable in your skin.

[cozygurlll]

Princess Nokia G.O.A.T lyrics pt2

[blckxcvi]

gif by blckxcvi.tumblr.com

[reynabiddy]

“One of the most freeing things you can do is recognize who, in your life, has the most power over you - then set them free. let them go so you can reach a point of understanding of what it means to truly “be”. let them go because you deserve emotional peace. let them go because nobody, other than YOU, deserves to be the source of your own well being.”

— Reyna Biddy

[reynabiddy]

“sending a friendly reminder that everyday is a new start. let go of any bad feelings you’re carrying over from the past. free yourself.”

— Reyna Biddy

[reynabiddy]

“my condolences to anyone who’s ever lost me and to anyone who got lost in me or to anyone who ever felt they took a loss with me. my apologies. for the misunderstanding or the lack thereof. i’m sorry you missed the God in me. and i’m sorry you missed the light. i’m sorry you forgot the way i arose like the moon, night after night. with the burden to forgive eager to feed you everything. see.. i’m a holy woman. i know what it’s like to give life to a being without ever needing to press skin against one another. i’ve practiced how to hold my tongue long enough, i’m afraid i forgot to say goodbye. i’m afraid you’re under the impression that i was made to please you. i was under the impression, you understood me better. the truth is, i’m a super woman. and somedays i’m an angry woman. and somedays i’m a crazy woman. for still waiting.. for still loving harder even if i’m aching. for still trusting that I’m still worth the most. for still searching for someone to understand me better.”

— Reyna Biddy

[reynabiddy]

“you exist for a reason. even if, or when, you cannot see it. there are people out here who genuinely LOVE you. even if, or when, you cannot feel it. there’s a god protecting you. even if, or when, you don’t believe it. you matter. i promise.”

— Reyna Biddy