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You are here: Home / HBCUs / HBCU Alumni Spotlight / HBCU Alumna Taraji P Henson Makes History with Empire

HBCU Alumni Spotlight

HBCU Alumna Taraji P Henson Makes History with Empire

Taraji P Henson as Cookie Lyon
Taraji P Henson as Cookie Lyon from the hit TV series Empire. Photo credit: Fox Broadcasting Company
Howard University located in Washington, D.C has been one of the leading historically black college and universities (HBCU) to produce students into future leaders of tomorrow. The school proudly has been the alma mater of many high profile black celebrities. One such renowned personality that Howard boasts of is the very talented Oscar nominated actor Taraji P Henson. Already known for her roles as Shug in Hustle and Flow, Yvette in Baby Boy, and Queenie in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is currently having her moment with the Fox’s No. 1 show-Empire.

The record breaking ratings of this hip hop drama is in large part due to Henson’s captivating performances as a newly sprung inmate Cookie Lyon who’s spent the last 17 years serving time for a drug-related crime while her ex-husband Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) and their three sons reaped the spoils of her street-running days. It’s a prime time soap opera that has a lot of melodrama and rests on the strength of an actor like Taraji P Henson to keep it from going over the top.

According to Fox, Empire is the only primetime scripted series to grow total viewers over each of its first five telecasts since at least 1991. In fact, this Lee Daniels production has broken a rating record that stood for more than 23 years. Now that’s called making history!

Undoubtedly, Empire-a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s King Lear, set in the world of fictional musical industry and Cookie are in line with Taraji P Henson’s previous jobs well done. Her characters always appear like real people the audience is familiar with, a big thanks to the measured way in which the actor portrays African-American women who have endured hardships.

February 12, 2015 by Anchal Bhatia

About Anchal Bhatia

An animal lover! Anchal is a blogger, writer and a creative entrepreneur. She loves to write about lifestyle and dreams to open a dog house one day.

Apart from scribbling on her personal wedding blog, she has contributed to several online blogs and magazines such as Stagetecture, Instamedia Networks, Bollywood Shaadis, Times of India and more.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Leon Chitman Sr says

    February 16, 2015 at 11:22 pm

    Keep up the good work. Your information is very inspiring and informative at the same time. HBCU’S are very instrumental in creating great leaders and teachers of the future.

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