Taraji P. Henson is fascinated by the long run and inspiring her fans to do the identical. Throughout her profession, the award-winning actress has been an advocate for causes starting from mental health to politics. Whether through her nonprofit work or public speaking, Henson explained why advocacy is so essential to her in a recent interview with Message:

“I understand that God put me here for a reason, and it wasn’t for vanity, for me to be pretty, to go on the carpets, to just get rich, buy nice things and shove it in everyone’s face,” she told the publication. “You have to empower people to be better.”

This summer, Henson raised alarm concerning the significance of the election while hosting the BET Awards. During the awards ceremony, the star went viral for shedding light on the hazards of Project 2025.

“Show up and show up when it’s time to vote, because this isn’t just about the presidential election,” Henson said. he told the audience“It’s time for us to play chess, not checkers. This is about making decisions that will affect us as people… our careers… our next generations… Be careful, this is not a secret. Check it out! They are attacking our most vulnerable citizens. The Project 2025 plan is not a game.”

Project 2025 is a conservative political platform that has been billed as a playbook for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. While former President Trump has tried to distance himself from controversial policies, his vice presidential running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, has shown ties to the conservative agenda.

“I was just worried. I was nervous. Honestly, I was just talking out of anxiety. Because I thought no one was paying attention. I don’t understand a lot of the things they’re saying, but I know what’s right and what’s wrong,” she added, explaining her mind-set during her viral BET moment.

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In 2023, Henson also became popular for shining a lightweight on the pay inequality faced by women, particularly black women, in Hollywood. While promoting the brand new adaptation of The Color Purple, the actress revealed how the inequality nearly caused her to quit acting.

Now, almost a 12 months later, Henson hopes to finally reach some extent in her profession where she will be able to say, “You know what, I’m going to take this year (or) the next two years off,” which she calls retiring.

“When I say ‘retirement,’ I don’t mean I’ll never, ever work again. But I do want to eventually get to a place where I don’t have to act to pay the bills,” she said. “I think that’s when it’ll start being fun for me again. … I just still rely on my acting income a lot right now to pay the bills and do things. My brand is growing. Things are growing. But I don’t think sitting on my ass is an option for me.”

Eboni K. Williams can now add her mother to her collection of accolades.

“I am forever changed,” Williams captioned the post. “I am responsible for ensuring her well-being and for Liberty enriching the spaces she occupies. This little girl was born with a great deal of privilege. As such, she bears a great deal of responsibility. As her ancestor, Toni Morrison tasked her with… Because she was born free, her birthing duty is now to free someone else.”

In addition to celebrating the divine arrival of “Young Liberty,” The Real Housewives of New York alum shared what inspired her little girl’s name. Williams says that along with her connection to New York City, she drew inspiration from the wealthy history of the Statue of Liberty. While the statue has long been considered a monument that welcomes immigrants from around the globe, historians have learned that Lady Liberty was created to honor slavery. In 1885, the Statue of Liberty was gifted to America by French creators to honor the recently emancipated and formerly enslaved Africans/Black Americans.

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“Unknown to most, our nation’s iconic monument, the Statue of Liberty, was created as a tribute to recently freed black Americans,” Williams added. “Although modifications have been made, the original broken shackles that were a tribute to the end of slavery still remain at Lady Liberty’s feet. The broken shackles are hidden away for most to see.”

“At age 40, I decided to embark on a very personal, very exciting, but also (an) apparently very heated journey, and that was to become a single mother by choice,” she said on the episode “Choosing Motherhood.”

Ultimately, Williams shared her enthusiasm for the longer term.

“Similarly, much of our truth as a nation and our truth as a people is hidden. I, along with my offspring, exist to speak that which is hidden,” she said, concluding the announcement. “If she chooses to accept this, Liberty’s work will far outweigh my own, and I pray her influence will as well. Welcome to the world my beautiful baby girl. … The world is ready.”