By Ron Wynn
NASHVILLE, TN — Taraji P. Henson has had a prolific career as an actress in film and television, among them the recent hit show “Empire.” But she also is a proud graduate of Howard University and has frequently participated in events to benefit it and other HBUCs. Now she’ll be in a position to do even more. She was named last Thursday to President Joe Biden’s HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Board of Advisors. Henson –– who studied musical theater at HBCU Howard University before graduating in 1995 –– revealed the news with a throwback snap of her wearing an alumni hat at a football game.
“I am excited to announce that President Biden has appointed me to serve on his HBCU Board of Advisors,” she captioned the photo. “Since taking office, the President and Vice President [Kamala] Harris have invested $5.8 Billion in HBCUs and I look forward to working with them to continue efforts to support these important institutions.” In the comment section, she received congratulatory messages from her peers. “This is Awesome news!!!” wrote Holly Robinson Peete while Niecy Nash applauded Henson with several clapping emojis. Supermodel Iman added, “CONGRATS” and Oscar-winning actress Ariana Debose wrote, “Now this is fire”
In October, Henson revealed that she has an EP in the works. “I’ve been singing,” she told Women’s Health for its cover story at the time, adding that cutting dairy from her diet helped her range in hitting high notes. “It just came out of me!”
She continued, “I’ve been secretly working on an EP. But it wasn’t like, ‘Taraji wants to sing,’ and then 20 writers come and bring me their songs.” Henson said instead, she penned the songs herself and teamed up with well-known producers for her feel-good tracks.
“[It] makes you want to dance until the sun comes up,” she told the outlet. “I want people to know that it’s never too late for anything,” she added. “You can get your health together and live out your wildest dreams.”
Henson went on to say that singing brought her a new world of possibilities and “it felt as if the sky opened up.”
