Phylicia Rashad on Her Lasting Legacy and the Power of Authentic Representation in Entertainment

In a captivating appearance at the C-Suite Luncheon during the 24th annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), legendary actress, director, and producer Phylicia Rashad enlightened attendees with her wisdom on career, legacy, and the current state of television. The event, sponsored by AARP and co-founded by Stephanie Tavares-Rance alongside her husband, Floyd Rance, aims to uplift, support, and connect executives, business owners, and women leaders of color within the industry.

This year's luncheon, themed around Rashad's illustrious career - from "The Cosby Show" to her recent roles in "The Gilded Age" and the "Creed" movies - delved into a new study from AARP’s Movies for Grownups, “Bridging the Gap: The Path to More Authentic Portrayals of Black Adults in Movies and TV.” According to the study, black adults attend movies and consume television and streaming content at higher rates than the general U.S. population.

Furthermore, it was found that older Black women are viewed as influential cultural figures, and their representation on television leads to more positive feelings about aging. When probed about her legacy, Rashad humbly attributed it to those who have come before her. "My mother, my father, my grandparents, the communities in which they were born, and I was privileged to know as a child - that's what comes to mind when I hear the word 'legacy,'" she told AARP’s CEO, Dr.

Myechia Minter-Jordan. Looking forward, Rashad elucidated on how legacy continues. "It's something we become very conscious of. Something we speak of consciously together. Something we now consciously convey to our young people," she shared. "But it's really about the way we live. About the way we interact with each other. The way we hold ourselves, think of ourselves - this is what creates legacy.

When it came time to play Lena Younger [in 'A Raisin in the Sun'], I understood who the woman was. She was not a piece of furniture with a wig on it. She was a woman who knew how to grow things. And I knew that from my greater family. I am so proud of the legacy that has been handed to me. I am so proud of this heritage." Currently acting in HBO's "The Gilded Age" and Paramount+'s "Diarra From Detroit," the Emmy-nominated actress also recently directed the Tony-winning Broadway play, "Purpose." Rashad expressed her passion for delving into history through her roles.

"I love getting a script and going back into history," she shared. "I love learning because I'm looking at humanity and saying, 'OK. We’ve done this a few times now. Let’s get it right now. Let’s get it right.' And especially right now, being a human being is so important. I look for the humanity in every world. I’m not considering anything else, and I’m not thinking anything else.

This is what my mother taught me. This, for me, is freedom." When asked about roles and shows that don't accurately depict the Black experience, Rashad made it clear that she takes a stand on what she chooses to support. "And if there's something on television that I don't like, I simply don't watch it," she asserted. Reflecting on her extensive career, Rashad expressed pride in the way her work emphasizes our collective humanity.

Whether it’s “Ma Pop, Aunt Esther, Clair Huxtable or whoever,” Rashad stated, "I want my work, more than anything else, to demonstrate that as human beings, we are much more alike than we could ever be different."