Two Colored Girls Chat
Angela catches up with Anika Noni Rose to chat about her history making turn in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”. The two “Colored Girls” chatted about her ground breaking roles.
The black experience in America has changed. Our early history was shaped in large part by the contributions of African-Americans to the political landscape with leaders like W.E.B. DuBois who created the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People during the Civil Rights era.
In modern times, a young man born in Hawaii who burst on to the scene with the simple statement “Yes We Can” channeled the statement into a movement which helped Barack Obama to become the 44th President of the United States of America.
Political contributions aside, today the everyday lives of colored people in the U.S. and around the world are often shaped by those that we see in popular culture. The White House acknowledging the cultural impact of African-Americans will celebrate Black History Month this year by celebrating Motown its founder Berry Gordy Jr. and the artists that made an indelible mark on African American History. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host “The Motown Sound: In Performance at the White House.
I caught up with one such African-American cultural icon, Anika Noni Rose. The singer and actress is known for her Tony Award winning performance in the Broadway production of Caroline, or Change and her starring roles in the films Dreamgirls and For Colored Girls.
For Colored Girls marks the largest cast of African-American actresses ever assembled. The 2010 drama film was adapted from Ntozake Shange’s 1975 stage play “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf”. Written, directed and produced by another African American cultural figure Tyler Perry, the film featured an ensemble cast which included Janet Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Phylicia Rashad, Thandie Newton, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Kerry Washington and Anika Noni Rose.
Anika said of the film “It was ground breaking work and we were excited to able to work together instead of against each other competing for the same role.”
Ms. Rose is no stranger to ground breaking accomplishments. Anika Noni Rose made history as the first African American princess in a Disney animated film, voicing Tiana in the Academy Award-nominated “The Princess & the Frog.”
The role has inspired young black girls to dream in color. I recently caught up with Anika who shared how her role as Tiana has impacted black girls and inspired to believe that anything is possible.
Anika Noni Rose will be seen next performing a solo cabaret act at the Venetian Room. She can also be seen at the Abrons Arts Center in April performing alongside fellow Tony award winner Jason Robert Brown.
