Oprah’s Super Soul Special: Yara Shahidi – Next-Generation Actress and Activist
Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Oprah Winfrey
Guest: Yara Shahidi
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.
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]
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]
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]
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.
Summary prepared for listeners who want to understand the heart of the conversation without missing its wisdom, inspiration, and generational insights.