Mark Braboy
Associate Editor
On March 19, award winning actress Keke Palmer and Eric Hill arrived at Jackson State University to give students an advance screening on their new film, “Brotherly Love”. During their visit, the Blue & White Flash was able to have a conversation with the young actress about the new film, future projects, and her thoughts on the state of young African-Americans today.
Mark Braboy: Could you elaborate on how the film sheds lights light on young people and relationships?
Keke Palmer: Definitely, that’s probably the main reason why I wanted to be a part of this film, because the script had a way of exposing the issue without making you feel as if you were looking down on the children. I think a lot of times with our generation is that you have so many people talking at us as opposed to having conversations with us. We’re very aware of our issues and things that are going on today, but I think for instance it’s not easy to translate to the older generations. So with “Brotherly Love” you have a film that portrays us talking about the issues to one another. And instead of having to look at it as judgement, the writer, Jamal Hill, does a good job in making you have compassion for the characters and kind of understanding our position a little bit better.
MB: What do you think a lot of movies like this miss that this film captures?
KP: You know, every movie has its thing. Some movies are more so about the sexual activity of children today and them finding it funny. Sometimes it’s about the violence that’s going on and how it’s actually desensitizing the generation. Our movie is kind of… it’s not either one of those movies which I feel like we’ve had a lot of. I feel like we have not had many of these films. I feel like this film is a call back to the Higher Learning’s, to the Love and Basketball’s to the Wood’s, and that they’re not focusing on any of the extremes of the generation, they’re focusing on more of the realities.
MB: Right, I feel what you’re saying. So, do you feel like there are some similarities between you and your character, Jackie?
KP: Absolutely. Jackie is a young girl that’s kind of been kept under her family, under her brothers watching and she’s reaching a point in her life where she’s ready to spread her own wings as far as what her dreams may be and also what love may be. I’ve been through that as well, just kind of finding who I am outside of my mom. My mom and I, not only is she my mom, but she’s also my business partner through most of my career. So it’s kind of hard to imagine what it is I really want? What is it that I really think? Now it’s time for me to be an adult as well and not just the kid listening, but the adult having opinions and having ideas and it can be scary. So it comes to a point where you have to be confident in your own decision and having faith in what you want to do. That’s pretty much what Jackie was going through as well, especially in love.
MB: I was watching “Empire” the other day and I noticed that you have a new show coming out called “Scream Queens”. Could you tell me about that?
So the show is pretty much about these girls living in a sorority house and kind of like you know, it has a bit of the mean girls spirit cause you have the hierarchy to the sorority. You have the other girls that’s trying to be a part of the sorority, so you have a little bit of that cattiness but also there are people that are getting murdered on the campus so you have this horror aspect to it so it’s kind of like this horror comedy. It’s written and created by Ryan Murray so it kind of has a campy feel to it like “Glee”. There’s no singing in it, but it has an element of dark comedy to it.
MB: Tell me about the sororities. I noticed that there are two different sororities in each of the teasers.
KP: Well, not so much different sororities, but Emma Robinson’s character is the head of the sorority and my character as well as some other characters are trying to get into the sorority. We’re thinking about getting in because, you know in college, the dorms rooms are never cool. So it’s like we’re more so trying to get into the sorority in the hopes of getting into a more comfortable surroundings. The sorority house is very comfortable and amongst that a lot of crazy things occur.
MB: Is the show inspired by true events and did you guys actually go to a college campus?
KP: Not necessarily
MB: Based on the current racial tensions in America along with current events, what do you think it means to be young and black in America. Whether you’re successful or not, what does it mean in your opinion?
KP: I think it depends on what you feel it means. I think it means something different for everybody and for me especially. What I would want young African-American people to know today is that at the end of the day, they don’t have to be what they see. When you look at the media, when you see certain things about yourself, you don’t have to take that as that’s who you are. Because when you think about it, a lot of times these shows are created by African-American people.
So I really want young African-African people to know that if you want to change the images and if you want to see something different then get into a position of power to change it! You set the tone for who you are. You don’t have to look at the news or look at the papers that tells you who you are as an African-American person in this world. You decide who you are! And that’s the biggest issue that I have is that young African-American people allow other people to tell them who they are as opposed to setting the tone.
MB: Obviously, you’re a very positive image to our community. You’re somebody who people look up to. What’s it like to be a person that’s held at such a high standard?
KP: It’s difficult because there’s no such thing as perfect. Clearly, I got some skeletons in my closet like everybody’s got skeletons in their closet. Nothing’s perfect about me. But I think that I work very hard to try my best really. I had a great support system. My mom and my daddy they did a really good job in letting me know what should be important. It should never be just what you want, and yourself. What should be important is that you’re getting out here and helping somebody else. You’re using your gift for good. You’re giving what God gave you awakes others.
