As Black History Month comes to an end, it doesn’t mean our appreciation and recognition for our black community ends. I want to shine a light on an extraordinary new upcoming artist Serenity Okpara. I sat down with Serenity to hear her opinions on Black History Month, the internal and external celebrations that take place, and the need for accurate representation of black people in film and TV.
Serenity is currently studying acting at university. I asked her where the passion for acting stemmed from.
“I got into acting very young, I just enjoyed being enraptured in a story from a screen. And I just thought it was a really exciting concept. I also wanted to make people smile or laugh or cry or be moved by a performance, that's how I got into it in terms of my creative process.”
“I know that I prefer screen work and working from a script instead of improvising, but I also know that it's good to be versatile.I just try and be open to views because being an actor is like stepping into the mind of another and I want to be empathetic to the world around me.”
As film and TV have progressed throughout the ages I wanted to hear Serenity's thoughts on the portrayal of black people.
“There can be a lot of stereotypical representation of black females in the industry and I want to be real and show an accurate depiction of society. I want people to watch something and be able to relate like this to my life. It's not unrealistic or unachievable. People have assumptions of how you should act or behave like you're just the like. I see a lot in the industry where the female is the sassy loudmouth character giving advice and stuff like that. But you know, I want there to be real depictions of everyday life, and not every single time I want to see the same depiction of someone like me.”
“I've been in most of the work that I've been in like plays that have been previously written and not like things that are created and I have been in things that maybe there aren't any black representations in the play. So you're playing a character that does not represent who you are. So if I were to want to be a character that represents who I am, and I feel like I do, I might have to create these opportunities where I can be realistic and relatable. I just think I feel like we're seeing more of those representations. The media can change your view on certain things if we show a more realistic depiction of people. Maybe society will begin to see black females in a positive and unique light, as people with the same experiences and who don't always follow stereotypes, so they have individual characteristics that make them unique and special.”
Black History Month is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States, where it is also known as African-American History Month. In the UK Black History Month happens every October gives everyone the opportunity to share, celebrate and understand the impact of black heritage and culture.
“I feel like I'm still learning and still growing on this topic of Black History Month. I think there's so much more that I need to learn on this topic and I am now realising maybe that History Month isn't as it is, it can be very positive in some senses,”
I asked Serenity if she felt connected to a movie, character, or book that she explored during Black History Month to embrace her culture.
“When I watched the first Black Panther I was so happy that an African coach was being represented even though it wasn't specifically male and it's fictional. I felt that sense of kinship and that like, I wanted to present the positive light because Black Panther shows our beautiful world in Africa, which is so full of life. Resources and it's so rich, which is like Africa, but people assume Africa is full of poor people, for these are prevent aspects, but there is so much richness to Africa, into the heritage and to see this portrayed positively made me like really want to be involved in an industry where you can make people gather and support each other and you know feel represented.“
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