Amandla Stenberg ready to be a voice of her generation

CEBU, Philippines - Actress, activist and all-around talent Amandla Stenberg is okay with being considered a voice for her generation.

“I kind of accept that responsibility,” she said. “I realize I have this unique privilege of gaining attention from a lot of people, and so I feel like I have no other option than to try to utilize that well, otherwise I feel like it would all be pointless.”

Stenberg has gotten attention for her non-binary gender identity, interviewing Gloria Steinem and making a video for her high school’s senior class project that went viral, in which she calls out Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus and other stars for appropriating black culture. It’s enough to make you forget she played Rue in 2012’s “The Hunger Games.”

Now Stenberg stars in the young-adult romance opening today, “Everything, Everything.” She also recorded a song for the film’s soundtrack, then starred in, directed and edited its music video.

Stenberg said she wanted to make the movie because it’s a whimsical love story with a black girl at its center, yet it has nothing to do with race.

“When I was a kid, I wish I could see myself in media that wasn’t necessarily pointing out or creating a dialogue around my race,” she said.

“I wish I could have just seen myself existing onscreen, so with this film I got to fulfill that desire in a powerful and incredible way.”

Getting an opportunity to record one of her favorite songs (Mac DeMarco’s “Let My Baby Stay”) and make her own music video was an unexpected bonus.

Now that she’s gotten a taste of recording and directing, she intends to do more of both. Of course, she’ll continue acting, writing and speaking out.

Stenberg says activism is a part of her and thus a part of her work, and chances are she may not always get everything right.

“I think there are times when people assume because I’ve said some things or have certain mentalities that I know everything and I definitely don’t. I’m only 18 and still collecting information about the world by observing and living in it,” she said.

“It’s inevitable that I’m going to make mistakes. Or not make mistakes, but just be someone who’s figuring it out.” (AP)(FREEMAN)