For me, seeing our history told in this light, the ones who did rebel, the ones who did revolt, the revolutionaries, excited me. Seeing this story of the Underground Railroad ... and that is such a proud part of our… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
But really, for me, I tried to find first-person accounts. I tried to read stories from men and women who had survived slavery because… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
There are so many people who will try and make you feel like your opinion doesn't matter, and I've learned how important it is… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
You go through those awkward, dorky, geeky stages, and growing up in the industry amplifies all that. Fortunately, I have a mother who encouraged… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
When I was younger, I really struggled with confidence. You go through those awkward, dorky, geeky stages, and growing up in the industry amplifies… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
I read slave narratives, books like Bullwhip Days, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. [The Root's chairman] Henry Louis Gates has an… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
Fortunately, I come from an activist mother, so I didn't have to rely on the history books. The history books teach us nothing about… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
Maybe you should think about the choices in your life, how someone can come and spit some kind of game to you and make… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
One of the most tragic things about slavery was the mental enslavement, the way they made us believe that we were worth nothing; and… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
For me, seeing our history told in this light, the ones who did rebel, the ones who did revolt, the revolutionaries, excited me. Seeing… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image
There's a level of shame attached to our history, and we need to replace that shame with pride and own our history. These are… — Jurnee Smollett Copy Share Image