Danielle Brooks is really worried about the future of the U.S—especially when it comes to young black men.
"When it comes to Black Lives Matter, I feel like it's very important," the Orange is the New Black actress told ELLE.com at the SAG awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. "Now our president is talking about more law and order. It made me nervous."
Brooks, who shared in OITNB's award for best cast in a TV comedy, is concerned about new presidential crackdowns that could lie ahead. "When it came to Ferguson, when it came to Eric Garner—we as the cast of Orange Is the New Black marched for Eric Garner—it makes me nervous that if something else was to happen in this country, what would happen? What would the actions be? So I just want to make sure that our young black men feel supported and that they feel worth being on this earth, and being in the U.S."
As for other causes championed by Brooks, she says standing for women's rights is an obvious choice. "I went to the Women's March in D.C., so I definitely stand for women's rights. I am a woman. Why wouldn't I?"
Despite her concerns, Brooks is determinedly optimistic that telling diverse stories will bring positive change. "How do I stay hopeful? I would have to say through the arts—being on a show like Orange, where we get to actually talk about so many topics that are important to our country, and people are listening. Our former president, President Obama, did a wonderful thing where he allowed 500 people that have been incarcerated to have a second chance, and I'm not saying that's solely because of Orange Is the New Black, but I do feel like he's a person who's watched it. I feel like they're listening. So I think with telling stories like Orange, telling stories like Moonlight, telling stories like This Is Us, things will start to happen."
