*Janelle Monáe stars in the new psychological horror film “Antebellum.”
The film follows successful author Veronica Haney (Monáe) a woman who finds herself trapped in a horrifying reality and must piece together a mind-bending mystery before it’s too late.
The cast also includes Marque Richardson II, Eric Lange, Jack Huston, Kiersey Clemons, Tongayi Chirisa, Gabourey Sidibe, Rob Aramayo, Lily Cowles, and Jena Malone.
EURweb correspondent Jill Munroe spoke with Monae, and her co-stars Kiersey Clemons & Tongayi Chirisa about the film, how white allies can pull up, and self-care during these unprecedented times.
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What were your thoughts when you first read the script?
I thought I knew what the film was going to do and how it was going to end. But then there was a twist, and I was pulled in. I wanted to talk to the director. I think that this film connects the dots very effectively. Connects the dots to the past, the present and what could be the future.
In this film, me playing Veronica Henley – this successful author, Black woman, mother, sister, friend – who finds herself trapped in this horrifying reality. She’s forced to confront the past, present and future before it’s too late. This film highlights her burden, and the burden that so many Black women carry on their shoulders and back every single day to dismantle white supremacy. To dismantle systemic racism. That needed to be highlighted. And when I think about all the racial injustices, and when I think about what the police have done to us… And how many people they have killed. You can’t talk about that without talking about the past, without talking about the civil war and how the police institutions started with slave patrols. Policing to make sure that runaway slaves were caught. Making sure that the enslaved people didn’t start a revolt. The police weren’t built to protect, help and serve. Especially not for Black people. It was meant to terrorize us. That’s why we’re screaming defund the police. That’s why we say abolish the police. That context is important.
Janelle recently spoke on a roundtable panel interview where she said it wasn’t on Black people to educate White allies. She offered more insight into that comment and what is being done within her own circle to satisfy that requirement.
I’ve seen some change, but I want to say, I’m not looking for allies, we need accomplices. We need you in the trenches, ride or die with us. That is the level that I’m looking for. Within my circle, definitely.
I think that people are reading more, there’s this book, ‘How to be anti-racist’ – I think it’s important that not just white people read it, but all of us. I think context is important. You have to understand how we got here. What racist policies enabled white supremacy. How Donald Trump is even doing the horrifying things that he’s doing. All of this is connected, but the real work has to come from white folks. That work may be getting done, but it’s not enough. It’s all in or nothing.
“Antebellum” is produced by Lionsgate and available on demand starting September 18.
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