Taraji P Henson To Play Ann Atwater

Taraji P. Henson Werked Her Way To A New Role!

Taraji P. Henson To Play Civil Rights Activists In New Film

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Taraji P. Henson has been on fire lately!

She has been on the covers of W, and Allure in recent months. She will be reprising her role of “Cookie” on Empire in the fall, and now she will channel Civil Rights activist Ann Atwater.

According to Deadline, Henson will play Ann Atwater, a Civil Rights activist in Durham, NC, in a movie entitled, The Best of Enemies. Atwater was brash and assertive, and was best known for her 10-year battle with C.P. Ellis, the Exalted Cyclops of Durham’s Klan.

Their feud ended in 1971, after a court-ordered school desegregation decree threw the Southern city into turmoil. Atwater and Ellis, although respectively apprehensive, agreed to co-chair an intensive, two week community meeting to try to reach a compromise.

The events that followed changed Durham forever. Atwater and Ellis’ partnership showed that Black people and White people could find common ground, even when they had contradictory views on race relations.

Danny Strong, who is co-creator of Empire, is producing the film, with hopes of beginning principal photography early next year.

This is a good look. Yes to more biopics featuring strong women!

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