Yara Shahidi

Why you should listen

Yara Shahidi rose to prominence during her adolescence through her notable contributions to the field of television entertainment. Her breakthrough came with her portrayal of a teenager in the acclaimed ABC television series black-ish, a role she continued to excel in while also assuming executive production responsibilities in its spin-off series, grown-ish. In a pivotal moment of her career in 2019, and in collaboration with her mother and business partner Keri Shahidi, she established a multi-year producing partnership with ABC, resulting in the inception of 7th Sun Productions.

Beyond her on-screen endeavors, Shahidi has emerged as a steadfast advocate for the advancement of inclusive media programming and a passionate champion of equity and education. Her intellectual pursuits have led her to Harvard University, where she earned her degree with a concentration in "Black Political Thought under Neocolonial Landscapes" within the esteemed Social Studies and African American Studies Department. Her undergraduate thesis, titled I Am a Man: The Emancipation of Humanness from Western Hegemony Through the Lens of Sylvia Wynter, served as an interdisciplinary exploration of the intersection between art and social justice. Within this framework, she probed the transformative potential of creative practices employed by marginalized communities in dismantling colonial systems.

Shahidi's contributions have garnered recognition and acclaim on multiple fronts. She has been featured in TIME's "30 Most Influential Teens" list, acknowledged in Forbes's "30 Under 30" compilation and celebrated as a driving force for change by British Vogue. Inspired by her collaborations with notable figures such as President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and Stacey Abrams, Shahidi established Eighteen x 18/WeVoteNext — a platform aimed at shedding light on the involvement of Generation Z and BIPOC communities in the political landscape. This endeavor reflects her unwavering commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in the realm of civic engagement.