On April 13th, Amandla Stenberg, a famous feminist activist who also appeared as Rue in the famous film trilogy “The Hunger Games”, released her first short film, entitled “Blue Girls Burn Fast”.
Amandla Stenberg has recently been acclaimed for speaking out on social media platforms in support of feminism as well as against social injustices. Recently, the actress/director came out as non-binary and bisexual (she still prefers to utilize she and her pronouns). Since then, Stenberg has been an active supporter and representative of the POC LGBTQ+ community, and has appeared at multiple events in order to spread a positive message for both communities.
Recently, Stenberg gave a speech at “Black Girls Rock”, a BET Awards Show that was hosted this year by Tracee Ellis Ross. Amandla received the “Young, Gifted, and Black Award”. Sternberg began her acceptance speech by reciting a poem entitled “Ivory” by Nayyirah Waheed, quoting that
“I do not feel I need a name or a movement to legitimize the defense of myself. I am a woman of color. My bones have been bought and sold every morning, so now I carry a machete in my mouth”.
Stenberg continues to thank the POC women in mainstream media who she claims helped to shape her identity and break away from society’s oppressive ideologies. Stenberg continues to use an analogy from her childhood, recalling that she used to feel as if her blackness and her boldness “took up too much space”.
Amandla finishes her acceptance speech by stating that:
“My blackness does not inhibit me from being beautiful and intelligent. In fact, it is the reason why I am beautiful and intelligent. I have learned because of all of the women in this room right now that I, my power and my beauty, is intertwined with my black womanhood”. Black womanhood is a radiant revolution against misogynoir and hatred and it says ‘despite the pressures that i face, despite all this prejudice, i glow and i golow more each and every day, and you can’t stop me’”.
Amandla Stenberg has recently taken a break from acting and, instead, focused her talents behind the camera. Her first short film, “Blue Girls Burn Fast” explores the connections between emotion and friendship, as well as the importance of letting go of your past and focusing on your future.
Amandla Stenberg also shared that her short film “Blue Girls Burn Fast”, which she wrote, directed, shot, and edited, was also used as her application film for film school. The young director will be continuing her education at NYU’s film school.
Stenberg’s debut film has received massive amounts of praise, and we can’t wait to see the edifying content that she will produce in the future.
You can watch Stenberg’s first short film here. (https://vimeo.com/162605571)
