ESSENCE MAGAZINE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

How could one not notice that this year was full of African American movie bangers?? According to Necole Bitchie "Last year, was a good year for black actor and actresses in Hollywood as they starred in acclaimed films and racked up numerous award nominations. Just in time for Black History month, Essence magazine is highlighting some of the African American veterans and rookies who are out here making #NewRules.

"Sharing the cover of the March 2014 issue are “12 Years a Slave” star Chiwetel Ejiofor, “Fruitvale Station” actor Michael B. Jordan, and from “The Butler,” Forest Whitaker and his co-star (and only female) Oprah Winfrey."

In this special collector’s issue, each of the actors talk about their art and the showstopping roles that had black cinema at the center of attention in 2013. ,p/> I have to say, I was proud of how Hollywood showed real African American stories that we all could relate to, and told the truth about who we are now, and back then. See some high-lights:

Oprah on her acting coach telling her to be more sexy in “The Butler”

“I don’t think of myself as being sexy and I’m not even sure how one is sexy,” she admits. Her acting coach instructed her: “Every time Gloria walks, pretend that she has a tail. And when Gloria sits down, she doesn’t sit without making sure there’s room for her tail.”

Chiwetel Ejiofor on how it took two months to come out of the ’12 Years a Slave” role “[It was a] fine line in between sanity and insanity.[...]Even though there were emotional moments to shoot, overall I think every member of the cast and crew was there for one reason: They felt it was a tale that deserved to be told.”

Oprah on growing up wanting to see black people portrayed as normal people in film One of the things that has always been frustrating to me all those years I was doing “The Oprah [Winfrey] Show” is that I would get criticism from black people in particular because they would think there was only one way to be black. There isn’t just one story. There’s many stories as there are us.

I always just wanted when I was growing up to see movies with black people where we were just normal people because our stories are real. We make meals for each other. We have parties. We play cards. You come over to my house. We have these conversations. We get into arguments. We call each other names. We forgive each other. It’s just about life. I think the more that we can tell stories that normalize and actualize the African American experience, that’s really is how you break down the barriers of racism.

Michael on being the newcomer in the game It’s so much out of your control, and that’s not why we do what we do. Concentrate on the word. That’s what it should be about. Being in some great company like Forest Whitaker, it’s kinda cool. I’m like the rookie in a locker room full of veterans.

Necole Bitchie.com

God Bless!!!