Super Soul Special: Yara Shahidi: Next-Generation Actress and Activist

Summary

Oprah’s Super Soul Special: Yara Shahidi – Next-Generation Actress and Activist

Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Oprah Winfrey
Guest: Yara Shahidi

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Overview

In this Super Soul Special, Oprah sits down with Yara Shahidi, star of "Black-ish" and "Grown-ish," and a prominent next-generation activist. Their conversation explores identity, generational change, activism, the transformative power of art, and the deep influence of family and heritage. Yara shares her journey as a young woman of mixed heritage navigating fame, education, and political awakening, and discusses her drive to engage her generation in social change.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Authenticity, Support, and Freedom

• Pressure & Expectation: Oprah observes the pressure on Yara as a young spokesperson for her generation, drawing a parallel to a speech Oprah gave as a teenager.
  • Oprah: “It’s really hard when everybody expects you to.” [01:40]
• Yara’s Response: Yara feels little pressure, thanks to strong familial and societal support for her authenticity.
  • Yara: “I’ve had the great fortune of not having to perpetuate a facade for the sake of love or support.” [02:20]
• Freedom Defined: Oprah defines true freedom as the ability to wake up and decide your day, “to never have to pretend to be anybody else other than yourself.” [02:47]
• Gratitude for Past Generations: Yara is conscious of benefiting from civil rights advances and does not take such freedoms for granted.
  • “Being able to benefit from the work of previous generations is something I do not take for granted." [03:27]

2. Generational Awareness and Social Media

• Generational Labels: Oprah clarifies that Yara is Generation Z, not a millennial, noting Gen Z's heightened social and political awareness. [04:16]
• Digital Access: Yara credits access to inspiration and information via social media and the digital age for Gen Z’s maturity and drive.
  • "We've had...the great fortune of an incredible amount of access at such a young age.” [04:56]
• Political Moment: She discusses how current politics have accelerated her generation’s activism.
  • “We understand that the policies...will affect us as young adults.” [05:44]

3. Historical Inspiration and Family Roots

• History as Motivation: Yara is inspired by prior movements, feeling a “fire” is lit by times of uncertainty. [06:07]
• Family History: Her maternal grandfather was a Black Panther and civil rights activist.
  • “My papa, my mother’s father, was involved in the civil rights movement...he was a Black Panther.” [06:30]
• Young Activists: Noting John Lewis’s age as a Freedom Rider, Yara emphasizes youth’s power in movements.
  • “Age has never been the limit in terms of social activity.” [07:39]

4. Identity and the Humanity Mandate

• Intersectional Identity: Yara, half Black and half Iranian, sees herself as a “child of the world.”
  • "Being half black and half Iranian and very proud of being both...” [08:13]
• Shared Humanity: She stresses the fundamental similarities between cultures and critiques arbitrary divisions.
  • “So many of our issues...stem from somebody deciding that a difference is worth making a political...statement.” [08:31]
• Systemic Injustice: She references Reconstruction’s failures as root causes of persistent discrimination.
  • “They just put us into a system without making actual adjustments to say, how can we be inclusive?” [08:31]

5. Activism in Action: 18 by 18

• Voting Initiative: As she turns 18, Yara launches “18 by 18,” aiming to boost youth voter turnout for the midterms.
  • “I'm launching an initiative called 18 by 18, which is to increase...youth voter turnout for first time voters..." [12:22]
• Quantifiable Action: She wants to translate her platform into tangible impact.
  • "Trying to turn that into quantifiable action with this initiative…” [12:32]

6. The Impact of TV: Black-ish and Grown-ish

• Black-ish’s Influence: Yara describes the set as a space for real conversations on social issues, with cast and crew supporting open dialogue.
  • "It was the first place...I was in an environment of people who really wanted to continue conversations.” [13:47]
• Extension to Real Life: The show's influence continues off-set, prompting broader discussions among fans and her peers. [14:32]
• Balancing School and Career: Yara is committed to both education and acting, working with “Grown-ish”’s creators to support her college ambitions.
  • "The end goal is to make sure that I'm not being mediocre in both my job and my school.” [16:14]
• Cast as Chosen Family: She values the camaraderie with both casts.
  • “We’ve had a group chat from...our first episode. It hasn’t stopped since.” [16:46]

7. Changing Hollywood’s Possibilities

• Shifting Perceptions: Oprah references Yara’s Forbes interview about expanding what’s “deemed possible.”
  • Oprah: “You said your greatest accomplishment...is being able to shift the perception of what is deemed possible within your generation.” [17:10]
• Standing on Shoulders: Yara credits previous generations of trailblazers, seeing her role as expanding their legacy in her own voice.
  • “Our goal is not to take on the same role but figure out where we have our strengths.” [17:41]

8. Inclusivity, #MeToo, and Family Support

• Hollywood & #MeToo: Yara discusses the importance of inclusivity and family protection in industries that can be isolating or unsafe.
  • “This entire industry moment has been a family affair… They've always been there for me on set…” [20:02]
  • “There is now a support network of women and a support network of allies who are there with them.” [20:51]
• Mother-Daughter Relationships: Yara cherishes her close relationship with her mother, mirroring her on-screen dynamic with Tracee Ellis Ross. [21:13]

9. Art, Activism, and Representation

• The Artist’s Duty: Yara believes art is synonymous with activism, essential for disrupting and remolding society.
  • "Art is synonymous with activism and...the role of the artist is to disrupt and remold and to create.” [22:27]
• Intentional Storytelling: She underscores intentional, stereotype-busting character portrayals, especially as a young woman of color.
  • "It was important that what you saw was more than just her on her phone or her being self absorbed.” [23:36]
• Blackness on TV: Black-Ish shows the multidimensionality of Black families, challenging monolithic narratives.
  • Oprah: "We get to see black people the way most of us who are black people know that we are." [24:33]
  • Yara: “Our blackness is not monolithic. It is constantly being defined and redefined and hopefully undefined..." [25:02]

10. Staying Grounded

• Family as Foundation: Yara credits her parents for balancing normalcy and humility, treating acting as “something we do, but it’s not who we are.” [26:00]
• Educational Priorities: She enjoys learning and travel, keeping perspective outside of showbiz.
• Creative Vulnerability: Turning to family for support in new projects helps her remain humble.
  • “To have somebody to turn to, to say I am unsure of myself, I think is something that has kept me grounded.” [27:48]

11. Oprah’s Parting Blessing

• A Future So Bright: Oprah shares a cherished blessing she once received from Quincy Jones:
  • "Baby, your future's so bright it burns my eyes." [28:24]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On authentic support:
  Yara: “I’ve had the great fortune of not having to perpetuate a facade for the sake of love or support.” [02:20]
• Defining freedom:
  Oprah: “My definition of freedom is that you get to wake up in the morning and decide for yourself what to do with the day.” [02:47]
• Generational agency:
  Yara: “Age has never been the limit in terms of social activity.” [07:39]
• Art and activism:
  Yara: “Art is synonymous with activism and...the role of the artist is to disrupt and remold and to create.” [22:27]
• On representation:
  Oprah: “We get to see black people the way most of us who are black people know that we are.” [24:33]
• On possibility:
  Oprah (paraphrasing Yara): “Being able to shift the perception of what is deemed possible within your generation.” [17:10]
• On her future:
  Oprah (quoting Quincy Jones): "Baby, your future's so bright it burns my eyes." [28:24]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• The Pressure of Representation & Freedom – [01:40]
• Digital Access & Political Awareness – [04:56]
• Family, Civil Rights History, and Meaning of Activism – [06:30]
• On Identity and Humanity – [08:13]
• Introducing ‘18 by 18’ Initiative – [12:22]
• Impact of ‘Black-ish’ and ‘Grown-ish’ – [13:47], [16:14]
• On Shifting Perceptions in Hollywood – [17:10]
• #MeToo, Family, and Support Networks – [20:02]
• The Role of Art in Activism – [22:27]
• Representation on TV – [24:33]
• Staying Grounded through Family – [26:00]
• Oprah's Parting Wisdom – [28:24]

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Tone & Atmosphere

The conversation is warm, affirming, and deeply reflective, with Oprah’s signature encouragement and Yara’s articulate, thoughtful insights. Both share a tone of gratitude—for the work accomplished and the promise ahead—and Yara’s humility and drive shine through her words.

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Summary prepared for listeners who want to understand the heart of the conversation without missing its wisdom, inspiration, and generational insights.

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Oprah Winfrey]

I'm Oprah Winfrey. Welcome to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. I believe that one of the most valuable gifts you can give yourself is time. Taking time to be more fully present. Your journey to become more inspired and connected to the deeper world around us starts right now. Wow.

[Yara Shahidi]

Hi everybody.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Get your love on for Yara. It's so much pressure to be you at this moment. I think to. Yeah, I'm feeling it. You are being heralded, rightfully so, as this great spokeswoman, person, humanitarian for your generation. And I just ran across recently an old speech I had done when I was about your age, about 16 or 17, and it was entitled what Young People Want Today. I was talking about something crazy like the generation gap between parents. But what I realized when I was looking at that, I. I really didn't know what young people want today. And it's really hard when everybody expects you to.

[Yara Shahidi]

Do you feel that quite honestly? Well, first and foremost, I'm honored to be here. Thank you sitting. Thank you for saying yes, but of course. But quite honestly, I have to say I haven't had to feel too much pressure because I've been so fortunate to have support not only from my family, but from the world around me for being authentically myself. And so I've had the great fortune of not having to perpetuate a facade for the sake of love or support.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Every little thing you say sounds like a tweetable moment. Well, do you recognize how incredible that is? That you get to be a true. I say this to my daughters from South Africa. They literally are the born free generation, born after Nelson Mandela was elected president. But to be born free to not just physically free, but in heart and spirit, where you get to be. Cause my definition of freedom is that you get to wake up in the morning and decide for yourself what to do with the day. To be born free in your heart and your spirit, to never have to pretend to be anybody else other than yourself.

[Yara Shahidi]

It is surreal to even think about. And I do have to say, I mean, just being able to benefit from the work of previous generations is something that I do not take for granted. I come from a family of humanitarians. I mean, you mentioning Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela was freed from prison, I think, February 11th.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Yep.

[Yara Shahidi]

And I celebrate that because I was born February 10th. And even though the years don't line up, there's still a semblance of symbolism behind that. And I mean, I have to agree with your definition of freedom, and I think it continuously changes, given our socio political landscape, from the freedom to breathe and the freedom to have space and to be able to accept that freedom and have that freedom at this age is something that our generation, I'm pretty sure, is fairly aware of and isn't taking for granted.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Well, I think for so long, not just your gender, because you're Generation Z.

[Yara Shahidi]

Yes.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I don't even know who the Y's.

[Commercial Voice]

Are.

[Oprah Winfrey]

But a lot of people get lumped in with millennials. But you clearly are not. You're Generation Z. But, you know, the millennials, I think, have been labeled, I think, many times unfairly as being this sort of me, me, me, me, me generation. When in fact, I think that this generation is probably more woke than a lot of previous generations have been and are certainly aware of what they need to do to step into the moment.

[Yara Shahidi]

Quite honestly, I think it is a matter of access, though. Millennials and Gen Z. We've had, again, the great fortune of an incredible amount of access at such a young age, whether it's social media, whether it's just in general the digital age of being able to watch people who inspire us, being able to watch you, being able to watch all of these people and absorb wisdom now in which it doesn't matter where you are in the world, to be able to learn these lessons at such a young age. And so there is a general awareness, and I think administration has put extra pressure on my generation in particular, who felt as though they had time to grow into their political awareness, to really speed up because we understand that the policies that are being implemented not only are a detriment to all of the work that's been done before us, but really will affect us as young adults.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Well, do you think that. I think it's interesting that you say this generation has put pressure on because. Has this police political moment that we're in right now has put pressure on this generation, or has it just lit a fire? Has it allowed you to be more lit?

[Yara Shahidi]

Definitely. I love that.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Yes. May I say.

[Yara Shahidi]

Definitely. I mean, I think being such a history nerd and being somebody who is fascinated with the civil rights movement, fascinated with the women's movements and really any major movement, it is these moments of, I guess, terror in which we are so unsure of our future that I think does light a fire under everybody.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Interesting. You say you're fascinated by the civil rights movement. What fascinated you?

[Yara Shahidi]

What fascinated me? I mean, first and foremost, my own family's involvement. My papa, my mother's father, was involved in the civil rights movement. He's an educator, but also he was a Black Panther. And so. So I have family. My family is here actually supporting me. This is very cool.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Oh, I see her. Hi, fam. Hello.

[Yara Shahidi]

Hello.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Hello. Hi.

[Yara Shahidi]

But, I mean, I think part of it is coming from a family who was able to thrive, but really made a commitment to the society around them, too, which has made me so interested. But also just the parallels between the work that was done in the 60s and my being able to exist now.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Well, you know, it's always so fascinating to. To me is how young they were. When I think about those freedom Riders.

[Yara Shahidi]

John Lewis was 19.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Was 19. And, you know, the year I ended the Oprah show, I had all of the remaining living, because, of course, I couldn't have the dead ones on, but I had the living Freedom riders on the show. And what a stunning thing to know how young they were and how committed they were and how they were willing to stand up for. For justice, knowing that they might not even live through it. Yes. Yeah.

[Yara Shahidi]

It's quite honestly incredible. And I think seeing or really reading about our history puts into context this political moment for our generation, realizing that age has never been the limit in terms of social activity. And being able to look back at the civil rights movement, for example, and see that it does not matter how old you are to be engaged. And if anything, it is so important to make it our mission, especially if we have the privilege to do so, to be socially aware and to help our global community.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Okay, so what are the issues that you are most passionate about.

[Yara Shahidi]

Most passionate about. It's really hard to pinpoint. I think first and foremost, I guess I would have to say the one thing that I feel like I'm continuously speaking about is just our underlying humanity. Being half black and half Iranian and very proud of being both. I think being a.

[Oprah Winfrey]

You call yourself a child of the world?

[Yara Shahidi]

Yes. If I couldn't be so presumptuous, I would. But it gave me an appreciation for the world around me. But just how similar culture is at its core. And so I think so many of the problems that arise from today are by these arbitrary borders that we put up, these arbitrary distinctions we make between people. And so many of our issues, whether it is economic, whether it is discrimination that has been integrated into these systems, stems from somebody deciding that a difference is worth making a political, I guess, statement. I go back to the reconstruction era and thinking about how we were as black people integrated into a system that did not include us. They just put us into a system without making actual adjustments to say, how can we be inclusive? And it's something that we are bearing the effects of even right now.

[Oprah Winfrey]

That's so brilliant that you actually even understand that.

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[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

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[Elf Drew Ski]

Zoe, this thing weighs a ton.

[Elf]

Drew Ski, lift with your legs, man.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Santa.

[Yara Shahidi]

Santa, did you get my letter?

[Elf Drew Ski]

He's talking to you, Bridges.

[Elf]

I'm not.

[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

Of course he did. Right, Santa.

[Elf]

You know my elf Drew Ski here. He handles the nice list.

[Elf Drew Ski]

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[Oprah Winfrey]

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[Elf Drew Ski]

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[Oprah Winfrey]

Visit t mobile.com you described yourself as living proof of the beauty of connectivity because you were just talking about your father being Iranian. I know your, your mother is African American. American Choctaw. So you are living proof of the beauty of connectivity. What does that mean to you?

[Yara Shahidi]

I mean, it really speaks to being able to have two wonderful families who are, I mean, theoretically from opposite parts of the world who understand and appreciate the beauty of the world.

[Oprah Winfrey]

And you embrace both sides?

[Yara Shahidi]

Yes, definitely. I mean, I have a name, Yara Salya Shahidi. And when you see me, you see a black girl. So you can't. I can't help but to embrace both sides, but I think being able to come from a family that's both sides are very proud of our heritage, it made me interested in culture. I remember one Christmas I asked for a Bible when I was 4, and then the next Christmas I asked for the Quran. And then like the next Christmas it was if I could have a book of all the major cultures.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Really?

[Yara Shahidi]

Yeah.

[Oprah Winfrey]

And your mother said, or your father said?

[Yara Shahidi]

They both said. Yes, here it is.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Wow. And so how do you describe your role right now in the culture?

[Yara Shahidi]

Oh, goodness. Well, I guess I'd have to say the one thing that I'm doing or one thing that I can point to that's happening currently is I'm turning 18 on Saturday. And it's also. Thank you. This is my early birthday present.

[Commercial Narrator]

Okay.

[Yara Shahidi]

I'm launching an initiative called 18 by 18, which is to increase voter turnout and youth voter turnout for first time voters for midterms.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Yes.

[Yara Shahidi]

And I think being blessed enough to be on a show like Black Ish, being on shows like Grown Ish, and to be able to work with people who I align with more than creatively but politically and philanthropically has given me such a lovely platform to then say, I have these opportunities to speak about what's affecting our generation. I have these opportunities to speak about what's affecting our world. And so now trying to turn that into quantifiable action with this initiative and impress upon everyone that midterms are such an important moment for us to reclaim our government.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I was just thinking, when I was 17, I remember going to drug store, waiting on Seventeen magazine. I didn't. I don't think I ever knew the word Quantifiable. Action at 17. Well, happy birthday early. Let's all say happy birthday to you. Oh. So. So how has the black ish experience informed more of who you are? I know it's not who you are.

[Yara Shahidi]

Right. But it has played such an integral part in who I am because I signed onto Black ish. I was 13, turning 14, and it was the first place in which I was in an environment of people who really wanted to continue conversations. So many times I've fellow actors, fellow peers who aren't as supported by production, by writers, to have politically aware conversations. And so to be able to be on a show in which that is our core goal really allowed us to have so many more conversations at such a young age in which we were talking about our Hope episode, in which we discussed police brutality, and they want to know how we feel as actors. So more than just how our characters feel, how do we feel? And so each episode brought with it a new conversation.

[Oprah Winfrey]

And.

[Yara Shahidi]

And more importantly, I think it translated because then when I stepped off of set, more people wanted to continue the conversations that black ish started. And so it allowed me to go from there and just pick up where black ish left off.

[Oprah Winfrey]

And so when grown ish came about, which grown ish just got picked up for 20 new episodes.

[Commercial Narrator]

Yes, it did.

[Oprah Winfrey]

When grown ish came up, were you really excited or were you thinking, this is going to interfere with my school plans?

[Yara Shahidi]

It was a bit of both. So grown ish came up. And funny enough, it happened the day after I submitted my own college applications. That's when Kenya at Paris had called with the idea, and he'd already called my parents a week beforehand, and they let me finish my applications in peace before calling me with the idea. And I think it was really being able to sit down with him, to hear his vision that sold me. And to have a creator of the show that is as dedicated to your education as you are is something that I'm very fortunate to have. And so they understand everybody from writers to production, understand how much I value my education. And we're doing our best to figure out how we want to make it work. But I feel pretty lucky to be able to make a commitment to a school and to be able to make a commitment to a show and going to do my Best to figure it all out.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I just believe you will.

[Yara Shahidi]

Thank you.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I have no doubt.

[Yara Shahidi]

You said it. So now it's going to happen.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I know. So it's going to happen. Are you thinking about postponing though now? Because you've gotten picked up for 20 seasons, so you're thinking about 20 episodes, 20 seasons. You might not want to do that. Okay, you've gotten picked up for 20 more episodes. Does that mean you have to think about postponing, delaying college even more now?

[Yara Shahidi]

Can't really give you anything definitive, but we are trying to figure it out because the end goal is to make sure that I'm not being mediocre in both my job and my school. And so that is what we are keeping in mind when proceeding with the 20 episodes. In mind.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Yeah. Is it as fun as it looks doing it?

[Yara Shahidi]

It really is. I have the best cast. Walking off of Blackish, it was a nerve wracking moment. I mean, I'm not gone from black ish, but leaving a set that I've been on for four years with a cast that we.

[Oprah Winfrey]

It's like family, right? Yeah. Another form of family.

[Yara Shahidi]

I was stepping away from that only to walk three yards away to the next stage. But nonetheless, it was pretty scary. And right away, I mean, pretty immediately, everyone in the cast became friends. And we've had a group chat from the first moment that we met each other at like the very first table read of the first episode. And it hasn't stopped since. And so we've all actually become friends and it's made the experience just 10 times better.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I think that's so great for you. I remember reading somewhere that you had told Forbes magazine that your greatest accomplishment so far is that you've been able to shift the perception of what is deemed possible. Yep, that's what you said. Did you say it?

[Yara Shahidi]

I hope I did.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Okay. Okay. That's a quote deemed possible within your generation of actors and entertainers. So do you see your generation becoming the change makers in Hollywood? I know you can't speak for all.

[Yara Shahidi]

Of them, but I think if anything, we are assuming the roles that have been set for us because this is not a new concept. Seeing whether it's the iconic Sidney Poitier or Harry Belafonte or Dorothy Dandruge. There are so many amazing iconic entertainers, you, for example, who have really shifted perception. And so if anything, I see my generation beginning to embrace that and embracing it as soon as possible and finding our own ways that are true to ourselves to figure out how we want to expand because our goal is not to take on the same role, but figure out where we have our strengths.

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[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

Guys, thanks for helping me carry my Christmas tree.

[Elf Drew Ski]

Zoe. This thing weighs a ton.

[Elf]

Lift with your legs, man.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Santa.

[Yara Shahidi]

Santa, did you get my letter?

[Elf Drew Ski]

He's talking to you, Bridges.

[Elf]

I'm not.

[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

Of course he did.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Right Sam?

[Elf]

You know my elf Drewski here, he handles the nice list.

[Elf Drew Ski]

And elf. I'm six' three. What everyone wants is iPhone 17 and at T Mobile you can get it on them. That center stage front camera is amazing for group selfies. Right Mrs. Claus?

[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

I'm Mrs. Claus much younger sister and AT T Mobile there's no trade in needed when you switch so you can.

[Elf]

Keep your old phone or give it as a gift.

[Mrs. Claus's Sister]

And the best part, you can make the switch to T Mobile from your phone in just 15 minutes.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Nice.

[Elf Drew Ski]

My son of the tree is slipping.

[T-Mobile Announcer]

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[Commercial Voice]

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[Oprah Winfrey]

Visit t mobile.com does the current movement, particularly of women in Hollywood and the MeToo movement and women standing up for themselves and speaking up and telling their stories, how has that impacted you?

[Yara Shahidi]

Well again, I have to go back to my family because this entire industry moment has been a family affair from the beginning. My mother's a commercial actress, my bubba is a DP director. But more than that, they've always been there for me on set and even becoming a legal 18 year old, there wasn't a day where they weren't there for me on and when my brothers are on shows Then we're all there together because we understand that this industry can be divisive and try and separate child from parent prematurely, or try and make us feel like we're adults who have to make adult decisions prematurely without having the actual power to feel empowered and say, this is what I want, this is what I desire, this is what keeps me safe. And so being that I've been able to benefit from that, I'm really excited about these movements that are happening and how we've become increasingly aware of how we need them to be inclusive. Because then people will be able to have the same experience that I've been able to have with the protection of my family, knowing that even if they don't have a family there with them, there is now a support network of women and a support network of allies who are there with them.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Your relationship on set on Black Ish with Tracee Ellis Ross, who plays your mom. So fresh, so honest. Do you have the same kind of relationship with your mom?

[Yara Shahidi]

Yes, I live right under her arm. Called Quite honestly, she is right there. But, yeah, I think that's what's made me so close to my family. Family has always been first, and my parents have always been so extremely honest with me. Of course, there are certain things where, depending on my age, they're not gonna tell me everything. But when it's time, when they feel like I have the awareness or maturity to know something, then they've been very honest from the get go. And so we're able to have those conversations, conversations that usually aren't seen between teenagers and their parents. And so rather than using these moments of adolescence to turn into Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye, I've decided to go the opposite way.

[Oprah Winfrey]

I think that's great. What can we say about this girl? You know, Rainn Wilson told me once that. That there's no difference between art and prayer. I never forgot that interview. And you have said. I've heard you say that art is synonymous with activism and that the role of the artist is to disrupt and remold and to create.

[Yara Shahidi]

That I definitely said, because I wrote it in the car on the way you said that.

[Oprah Winfrey]

So. So what does that look like to disrupt and remold and create?

[Yara Shahidi]

Well, art informs society, I think media, especially now, has become so prevalent in our world and our first touch point for so many experiences before. We live it in real life. We'll see it on tv, we'll see it in the movies, we'll see it on billboards. We'll see it in magazines. And so that first time is so important that we make it complex and multi dimensional. And so people get a full picture of what's being experienced. And I guess to use black ish as an example, to be able to be on primetime TV as a black family, and as Kenya Barris, the creator of the show, says, an unabashedly black family.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Right.

[Yara Shahidi]

Has been important because I don't know how many times we've been able to see a successful businessman right now. And what we're witnessing, I call it the renaissance of black tv. And the renaissance of tv, because we have, of course, have shows in the past that just done the same thing.

[Oprah Winfrey]

But this is like activism through art. Right.

[Yara Shahidi]

And it's about making sure that we are so intentional in the stories that we tell and that we aren't trying to perpetuate stereotypes, because that's how stereotypes become reality, is when people, not only for ourselves, but for the society around us, who are now making assumptions based off what they think see on tv and now making assumptions, because this is what has been perpetuated in the media. And so even with my character, Zoe, in particular, being a teenage girl and representing a young woman of color, it was important that what you saw was more than just her on her phone or her being self absorbed. And that's why there were those episodes where, of course she's gonna take a selfie. And of course she has those moments of being unabashedly self confident, even when it wasn't deserved. But. But also having those moments in which you see her as the unifier of her siblings. When you see her as a child who is worried, as you see her as somebody who's coming into her own, that was something that was very intentional on behalf of myself and Kenya and the entire team.

[Oprah Winfrey]

You know what's so great about that show? We get to see black people the way most of us who are black people know that we are. We get to see ourselves reflected back to us as multidimensional, complex people.

[Yara Shahidi]

And that's what I love.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Even the who are also funny. Yes. Yes.

[Yara Shahidi]

I mean, I thought they were bugging our house after reading the first three episodes because they had taken conversations that we had had the night before, and then we'd be reading them in scripts.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Really?

[Yara Shahidi]

Yes. And so to see the intergenerational aspect of black ish, which I think is so important, but to even see how each character goes, differs, to again, go to your point of, like, our blackness is not monolithic. It is constantly being defined and redefined and hopefully undefined so that we can now exist in our fullness and not have our ethnicity be questioned.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Quantifiable action here.

[Elf]

Oh, wow.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Okay. So when you have all of this going for you. All of this going for you. First of all, your parents have done an incredible job. Incredible job. You've done some stuff right there, creating this powerful, independent woman. How do you keep yourself grounded?

[Yara Shahidi]

Well, one, you've heard the jangling of my shotgun necklaces in my mic, so that's one way for sure. But also, I think my parents have done, again, a great job of giving me my semblance of normalcy. And I guess my normal may be different than everyone else's normal, but at the same time, they've always treated me as being a kid and being a human to be most important. And it may sound counterintuitive, but the one thing that they've always said is acting as is something that we do, but it's not who we are. And that we're not allowing this one role in our life, even as instrumental as it is, and even with as much time as we've dedicated to it to define our very existence. And so I've been able to enjoy school. I remember the first movie that I auditioned for. It was Imagine that. I ended up booking it. I played Eddie Murphy's daughter. And I remember it was the first big audition process ever. And I was 7, and there were like, 10 auditions, or it could be hyperbole. I was young, so it felt like a lot. And I remember halfway through, they were like, you know what? They haven't called yet. So let's go travel. And we went to travel, and we actually went to Italy, which was amazing because I was so into Renaissance art and Renaissance history that I was able to see.

[Commercial Narrator]

But.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Of course you were.

[Commercial Voice]

Yeah.

[Yara Shahidi]

But it's those moments of being able to whether turn to my father. I just directed my first short film, and being able to turn to my father and have that conversation for him as a DP and a director of just, like, creatively, how am I gonna go into this world? But to have somebody to turn to, to say I am unsure of myself, I think is something that has kept me grounded because it's one I'm fully sure of myself that you realize that there's so much that you don't know.

[Oprah Winfrey]

You're a powerful girl. You are a powerful girl about to be 18 years old. Thank you. Happy birthday. Just amazing to talk to you. I just want to say something. I just want to say something to you and I'm going to pass. You don't even need it. But when I did the Color Purple, it was the thing I most wanted to do in the world. I never wanted anything and haven't wanted anything more since doing the Color Purple. And when I finished it, because it was the thing I most dreamed of, I thought, I guess everything's over now. I guess it's all done. And Quincy Jones said something to me that I want to say to you. Baby, your future's so bright it burns my eyes. Oh, I receive that. Thank you. Your future's so bright it burns my eyes. Really, really.

[Yara Shahidi]

Really really really really really really.

[Oprah Winfrey]

What a wonder girl you are. Wow.

[Yara Shahidi]

Thank you.

[Oprah Winfrey]

Yara Jaidy I'm Oprah Winfrey and you've been listening to Super Soul Conversations, the podcast. You can follow Super Soul on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. If you haven't yet, go to Apple Podcasts and subscribe. Rate and review this podcast. Join me next week for another Super Soul Conversation. Thank you for listening.

[Yara Shahidi]

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[Yara Shahidi]

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[Oprah Winfrey]

That's music to my ears.

[Yara Shahidi]

I can only talk.

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