Amandla Stenberg is no stranger to the spotlight and certainly not a newbie to criticism. The young star has received much backlash for her stance regarding racial and gender equality. Still, Amandla strives to present a different perspective on pressing issues in society.
“I’m always walking this precarious line of having my actions over-politicized,” the actress tells TIME. “But at the same time, there’s political intention in the actions,” Stenberg adds.
It may be safe to assume that Amandla’s passion for social justice is what led her to the upcoming film, The Hate U Give. The movie is based on the book by the same name, which is written by Angie Thomas, and addresses the notion of police brutality with regards to people of color in the United States.
It's wonderful to see young people play these significant roles to their fullest potential and understand the importance of this movie. You're great advocates for the movie and it's message! Congratulations to all involved! #TheHateUGive #AmandlaStenberg #AlgeeSmith #TheAAFCA
— Tanya Miranda (@tanyadmiranda) October 9, 2018
“It was a reflection in confrontation and grieving and finding closure,” Stenberg says of her starring role in the upcoming film. “The trauma was really intense,” the actress admits. “It didn’t necessarily scare me because I understood the significance of it.”
Understanding the significance of a film such as The Hate U Give is steepled in Amandla Stenberg’s thirst to advocate for the marginalized. “That’s what I strive for in terms of being [visible] for black girls [and] marginalized people who don’t get representation for themselves in the media,” she tells TIME. “If [having millions of fand watch a film] has any sort of political weight or social weight, that’s fantastic,” she shares. “There could be moments or periods of time where it has none, and that would also be fantastic.”
You can see Amandla Stenberg in all of her acting glory when The Hate U Give comes to theaters on Friday, October 19, 2018. Check out the film’s trailer below!
Photo: TIME
