Taraji P. Henson Had to Fight for WHAT on ‘Empire’?

Taraji P. Henson continues to discuss her Hollywood struggles as a Black actress very openly. In a new interview with The New York Times, the 53-year-old Oscar-nominated actress talks about her illustrious career and how she wants longevity and “work that matters.”

“The fact that I made it through is a blessing because a lot has happened.” Henson cited that a monthlong trip to Bali and her beauty brand TPH have helped her stay afloat. “I have a brand now, so I have other things to pay the bills,” Henson stated.

“Because the way I’m getting paid in Hollywood, I sure won’t be retiring off these sorry checks.” Despite the immense success of her new film, “The Color Purple,” she admits that getting herself and the cast paid fairly was a difficult battle:

“It hurts my feelings when it’s not reciprocated, but I know this world is cold and nobody really cares, and you got to go out and fight for what you want. What else do I need to do to prove my worth? Now that I’m singing and dancing for you, and I climbed up on the table 88 times with my knobby knees and had to ice my knees in between takes, what else do I need to do?”

She elaborated on how her fight for equality almost led to her turning down the movie. “But I’m really getting tired of fighting, I’m tired of proving myself. It seems like every time I break a glass ceiling, when it’s time to renegotiate for another job, I’m right back like I did nothing. I almost had to walk away from ‘Color Purple.’”

Henson also shared that while on “Empire” she had to fight over trailers even though she was the biggest star on Fox at the time, to which she replied: “You understand what I mean by ‘I’m tired of fighting?’” She said that her approach to working ultimately changed after the pandemic.

“If I didn’t have nothing else lined up, I was yelling, ‘Where’s my next job?’ So once the pandemic came and you realize you have no control, I was like yeah, when the world opens back up, I don’t think I want to work like that anymore. I want to enjoy it,” she recalled.

Henson remains adamant on not giving up just yet—even though the deck remains stacked against Black women. “Serena Williams almost died in the hospital. It’s like we can’t win for losing...I’m tired of Black women having this conversation, and I’ll be glad when it’s a different conversation we’re having.”