WCW: Jenifer Lewis
Welcome to my Woman Crush Wednesdays (WCW) where I’ll be celebrating the black women I stan (and you should too).
This week’s WCW is a hilarious and legendary queen. Actress, singer and activist: Jenifer Lewis.
Her career started on Broadway and as a back-up singer for Bette Midler before appearing in films Beaches (1988) and Sister Act (1992).
Jenifer has earned the title “Black Mother of Hollywood” for playing black mothers in films such as What's Love Got to Do With It (1993), Poetic Justice (1993), and Think Like a Man (2012).
What’s Love Got to Do With It
Think Like a Man
She also voiced Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog (2009), Disney’s first black princess film.
Mama Odie from The Princess and The Frog
She’s also held recurring roles in TV series such as A Different World and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Girlfriends.
A Different World
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Most recently, Jenifer stars in one of the best (and blackest) shows on TV, Black-ish, which has earned her two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations.
In November 2017, she released a memoir titled “The Mother of Black Hollywood.”
In 1990, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but hid it for years. Now she speaks about it openly including this quote: "you have to look in the mirror... and say—before you can go or grow into anything—you have to say you love yourself."
Jenifer also stars in one of my favorite internet videos of all-time.
And she just turned 62 January 25!
75.1k Likes, 2,343 Comments - Jenifer Lewis (@jeniferlewisforreal) on Instagram: "Love my Blackish family. ❤️🎉🎁 * * * #ItsMyBirthday #HappyBirthdayToMe #BirthdayGirl #Blackish..."
Jennifer, as someone born in ‘93, I grew up on your work without even realizing it. Your role on Black-ish and the “fucking with me in these streets” video led me to some research that’s made me a big fan of yours. I love your spirit and energy. Your graceful, hilarious, and real personality as well as your characters remind me so much of my mother and grandmothers. Seeing that representation in tv and film is something I’ll cherish forever. Thank you for sharing your work with the world and for using your voice as a catalyst of change and positivity. I send nothing but love, positivity, and metaphorical flowers to you!
