Taraji Penda Henson Research Paper

Chapter 1: Growing Up in D.C. A Family of Fighters Taraji Penda Henson was born on September 11, 1970, in Southeast Washington, D.C., the only child of Bernice Gordon, a corporate manager, and Boris Lawrence Henson, a janitor and metal fabricator. Her first name means "hope,” and her middle name means “love” in Swahili, reflecting her parents’ African heritage and aspirations. Taraji’s parents divorced when she was two years old, and she was raised mostly by her mother, who worked hard to provide for her daughter. Taraji described her mother as “one of the first black women to be a manager at Woodward & Lothrop, a department store chain in the D.C. area. Her mother also instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth and independence, teaching …show more content…
He was often absent from Taraji’s life, but he also showed her unconditional love and support. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams and talents, and he gave her the nickname "Cookie," which would later become her iconic character’s name in Empire. Taraji said of her father, “He always told me I was beautiful, that I could be anything I wanted to be.” She was also exposed to the arts and culture of D.C., taking her to museums, theaters, concerts, and festivals. She grew up with a passion for performing and entertaining, thanks to her idols, including Diana Ross, Tina Turner, and Diahann Carroll. She also learned to appreciate the diversity and history of her hometown, which she called “Chocolate City”. A star in the making, Taraji attended Oxon Hill High School in Maryland, where she excelled academically and artistically. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the student government, and the drama club. She also participated in several musicals and plays, such as Dreamgirls, The Wiz, and Ain’t …show more content…
She said, “Some people looked down on me. Some people thought I was crazy. Some people thought I was throwing away my future.” However, she also received support and encouragement from some of her friends and mentors, who admired her courage and determination. She graduated from Howard University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater Arts. She was one of the few students who completed the program in four years, despite having a child. She also received the Best Actress Award from the university for her performance in a play called Spell #7. A Dreamer and a Fighter After graduating from Howard University, she decided to pursue her acting career in Hollywood. She packed her bags and her son and drove across the country to Los Angeles, California, with only $700 in her pocket. though she faced many hardships and rejections in Hollywood as she struggled to find an agent, a manager, and a steady income. It was very hard because she was homeless. She was auditioning for everything but was getting nothing.” She also faced discrimination and stereotyping, as she was often offered roles that were demeaning, degrading, or

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Taraji Penda Henson Research Paper