A Letter for Taraji P. Henson
Written By Nakiyah McCafferty
Dear Taraji P. Henson, We cordially invite you to have a seat at the table with The Dinner Table Documentary. If more women could hear about your story, then there will be more women open to following their dreams. Many girls/women see you as their role model and I know that if they hear words of encouragement from you then they will have hope in following their dreams. Sometimes all people may need is a push towards their dreams and I believe that you will be a huge push for some women. Thank you for everything that you have done for African Americans and our community.
Growing up, I have seen you on several movies and tv shows such as Baby Boy, Acrimony, Empire, and I Can Do Bad All by Myself. As you have grown, I have grown with you. In your inspirational speech, you stated, “I will be 46 this year. I am just touching the surface. I am just getting started.”. As a 20-year-old, in my mind, I already have my life set up. By the time I graduate from college in 2022, I would like to come out of college with multiple sources of income. Because of you, I have learned that I should not worry about the age I accomplish things, but I should just worry about accomplishing the things that I have set for myself. No matter what gets in my way, I will continue to strive towards my goals and accomplish them.
My Black is Beautiful, Your Black is Beautiful, and together Our Black is Beautiful. You are a phenomenal woman who has impacted many lives and your story should continue to be heard. Upon moving to California, you only had $700 and your son who was a toddler. You were only 26 years old. There were plenty of naysayers that were telling you that “You were too old to be going to California” or that “It was too late for you to accomplish your dreams”. There are many African American women with stories that are similar to yours, but the difference between their stories and yours is that you continued to follow your dreams even when people told you that you would not be able to become the woman that you are today.