Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Pays Homage to Prince and Nina Simone in Exclusive Black History Month Interview
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, the acclaimed actress and King Richard Oscar nominee, opens up about her enduring inspirations during Black History Month and beyond. The focus keyword for this article is “Black History Month.”
“Let’s talk about Prince,” Ellis-Taylor exclaims with a beaming smile. The actress, currently starring in Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin,’ shares her admiration for the late Prince, citing his cinematic sensibility as a major influence. “He was also a filmmaker,” she notes, emphasizing the cinematic quality of his music videos.
“Of course, the month is too short,” Ellis-Taylor remarks, expressing the sentiment that Black History Month should be celebrated every day. She goes on to include another iconic figure in her list of favorites, saying, “Let’s talk about Prince and Nina Simone!” According to Ellis-Taylor, Nina Simone’s music has the power to “sing us into knowledge,” resonating with the themes explored in ‘Origin.’
Ava DuVernay’s ‘Origin,’ currently in theaters, brings to life the findings from Isabel Wilkerson’s book ‘Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.’ Ellis-Taylor emphasizes the film’s timely release for Black History Month, stating, “Books like Caste, films like Origin, invite us to talk about racism and caste systems, allowing us to build bridges.”
“I feel like Black History Month is useful if it makes us pause and face those truths to do that bridge building,” she adds. Ellis-Taylor commends the film for its impact, noting the recognition it received from the Critics Choice Association, the Seal of Female Empowerment in Entertainment.
In her closing remarks, Ellis-Taylor highlights the importance of building bridges, inspired by Isabel Wilkerson’s mission to tear down social divisions. “She is a builder of bridges, of tearing down these social divisions that are so fraudulent and stupid and allowing us to build bridges between each other.”
As Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor celebrates the rich legacies of Prince and Nina Simone, her insights and reflections serve as a powerful reminder of the ongoing relevance of Black History Month.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, the acclaimed actress and King Richard Oscar nominee, opens up about her enduring inspirations during Black History Month and beyond. The focus keyword for this article is “Black History Month.” “Let’s talk about Prince,” Ellis-Taylor exclaims with a beaming smile. The actress, currently starring in Ava DuVernay’s…