Sheryl Lee Ralph isn’t staying silent in the face of critics who think Hollywood actors should steer clear of politics. Instead, she’s encouraging other artists to speak out and use their platforms for good.
“If you have a platform, use it,” the “Abbott Elementary” star said in a recent interview. When asked about celebrities being criticized for voicing their opinions on politics, Ralph didn’t hold back. “How dare people try to tell artists—whether they’re painters, dancers, filmmakers, or authors—that they should just stick to what they do?”
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She continued, “I wish people would stop with this ignorant conversation that actors should just act, and writers should just write. I’m an American like every other voting American in this country.”
Ralph is currently using her voice to highlight National Geographic’s “The Real Red Tails,” now streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. The one-hour special, narrated by Ralph, unravels the mystery surrounding the discovery of a World War II-era plane flown by Frank Moody, one of the Tuskegee Airmen—Black military pilots known as the “Red Tails.”
“People often think our armed services have always been diverse, but that wasn’t always the case,” Ralph explained. “There was a time when Black people, including the enslaved, weren’t allowed to fight for this country. When they finally got the chance, they were sent to battles deemed unwinnable, often without proper clothing or even shoes.”
Ralph went on to share the significance of the Red Tails, who overcame immense challenges to defend the country during World War II. “These men flew higher than anyone ever expected, fighting for freedom. And now, when Frank Moody’s plane is found, some want to act like he doesn’t matter.”
Ralph emphasized the importance of telling these stories, particularly those of Black individuals and other people of color who made significant sacrifices. “It’s crucial that people understand the true sacrifice made by so many, especially Black people, and what it took to fight even for those who would fight against them.”
The National Geographic special, according to Ralph, is especially timely. “There are people who want to put a color on American history, as if the contributions of others, especially immigrants and those forced to come to America, don’t matter because of their skin color or culture. But stories like Frank’s and the Red Tails’ refuse to be silenced. They demand to be told, heard, and included in the full story of American history.”
Ralph, who has always had a deep love for politics, comes from a family with strong political ties, including an uncle who was the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Jamaica and her godfather, PJ Patterson, who was Jamaica’s prime minister.
“I love politics so much I sleep with it,” Ralph joked, referring to her husband, Pennsylvania state Sen. Vincent Hughes. She recently appeared with Vice President Harris at a Biden campaign event to advocate for reproductive rights.
When asked if she’d ever consider running for office herself, Ralph’s answer was swift and firm. “Oh, hell no. No, no, no, no, no,” she exclaimed. “I will run for nothing. I will use my platform the best I can to do what I do the way I do it.”
Ralph explained that while she admires those who serve in office, she has no desire to follow that path. “People who run for office have either great passion or great ego, or a combination of both, because when you choose to serve people, they often don’t say thank you. They don’t understand the sacrifices you make for them.”
And on a lighter note, Ralph added with a laugh, “Politicians don’t get paid a whole lot of money. I look at those bank accounts and think, ‘My God, I need lipstick. I need shoes. And they can’t buy them.’”
