Racialicious Crush Of The Week: Kerry Washington

And Washington holds the best for humanity in her civic life, too. Feministing’s Anna Sterling says this about the actor:

Kerry Washington is one of those few actresses who reminds us that Hollywood can actually serve as a vehicle for progressive change. She openly identifies as feminist in interviews and backs up her words with political activism. She was a supporter of the Obama campaign back in 2008 and is an active member of the V-Counsel, a group of advisors to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls. She appeared in Howard Zinn’s documentary, The People Speak,and serves on the board of Voices of a People’s History, a non-profit arts and education group using education and performance to bring to life the material inspiring the book Voices of a People’s History of the United States.

Washington says this about her political life, including her feminism, in her interview with Sterling:

I always say to people I don’t participate in the political process as a “celebrity” or person in the public eye. I come from a political family. Talking politics and social issues, it was at the dinner table. It was a part of how I was raised. Giving back and participating in our democracy is part of how I was raised. When I became of the age to vote, it was like a big rite of passage party. My parents took me out to dinner, we talked about who I was going to vote for, and how I was going to decide. I participate in my democracy because I feel really lucky to live in a representational democracy where my leaders only know how to lead if I’m in communication with them. I know how many people have died for me to have this right. I know that the original Constitution of the United States, according to that document, I would be 3/5 of a person, as a person of African-American descent. I know that women went to prison in petticoats for me as a woman to have the right to vote. I don’t take my identity as an American, as a member of this democracy, lightly. I feel that we should all be participating. I don’t feel a responsibility as a celebrity, I feel a responsibility as an American, as a person of color, as a woman.

…

The term feminist is so inclusive now. There isn’t one way to be a feminist or to practice feminism, to exercise feminism. You can be feminist in lots of different ways because the point is freedom of choice.

I also want to say that I very much identify with the term womanist, but I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. I also identify as a humanist. I don’t think that either of those terms are mutually exclusive.

Wait…I think those drawers aiming for Washington’s head are Arturo’s.

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