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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 21 december 2019
2019 Breakthrough Entertainer: A star-making year for Majors

By JAKE COYLE a fishmonger and a play-
Associated Press wright who draws from the
NEW YORK (AP) — How is a dramas and characters
great actor made? For Jon- around him.
athan Majors, the 30-year- “The fact that he’s a young
old breakout star of “The black man and a common
Last Black Man in San Fran- outcast was something I
cisco,” it started in drama could relate to,” he contin-
school. It swelled with the ues. “Growing up in Texas
discovery of August Wil- and having this need of
son. It was provoked by expression — being called
teachers who pushed him a wimp because I was
to look deeper into himself emotional, getting picked
and into everything around on for blah blah blah. You
him. But it really began in take that. I took that like:
the pews, listening to his ‘It’s fine. It’s what it is. I sur-
mother, a Methodist pas- vived.’ But that became
tor, preach. my fuel for my artistry. I
“My mother’s a wordsmith saw that immediately with
and she was the first person Mont.”
to call me a wordsmith,” Majors was born in Califor-
Majors says. “She was the nia but raised around Tex-
first person to say, ‘You as. His father left at an early
have the gift of gab.’ She ter his professional debut, is packed. The day after, with unseen depths. age. He calls his mother
ordained me a performer, three years since his last se- Majors would fly back to In his shirt pocket, Majors “my enabler and my pro-
a storyteller.” mester at the Yale School Atlanta to shoot the Peele- carried a small notebook. tector.” Early on, a teacher
The education of Majors — of Drama. Abrams-produced HBO It’s a habit suggested by in an alternative education
where he came from, how “You just keep your head series “Lovecraft Coun- a formative drama teach- program exposed Majors
he got here — is a point down,” Majors says. “I find if try,” in which he stars as a er who instructed him to to acting, which he contin-
of interest because he so I do get frustrated or antsy man traveling the Jim Crow “write down everything.” In ued at the North Carolina
overwhelmingly burst on it’s because I allow ambi- South in search of his miss- it, he pens poetry, observa- School of the Arts. There, in
the scene in 2019, making tion to get in. It’s something ing father. Earlier this year, tions. He’s in that way not his second year, he played
him an easy choice for one to be wary of for myself. If he spent four months in so dissimilar from the Mont- Cory Maxson in “Fences”
of The Associated Press’ you trust the seed that’s Southeast Asia shooting gomery of “The Last Black and the full force of Wil-
Breakthrough Entertainers been put in you, a tree just Lee’s Vietnam drama “Da Man in San Francisco.” son’s work opened up to
of the Year. Majors’ tender grows. I feel fortunate that 5 Bloods.” He’s also set to The movie, directed by Joe him. At Yale, he mounted
and soulful performance as as it stands now, the tree in star in the Jay-Z produced Talbot, is a radiant and mel- all of Wilson’s 10-play cycle.
Montgomery Allen in “The me is to make art and to be western “The Harder They ancholic fable about one There have been other
Last Black Man in San Fran- an actor.” Fall.” It’s not hard to see man’s sense of displace- seminal teachers along the
cisco” has not only drawn Majors spoke on a recent why. In even smaller parts, ment in a rapidly gentri- way, including the actor
widespread acclaim but trip to New York for the IFP like his debut in the Gus Van fying San Francisco. It’s and “Lackawanna Blues”
brought the eager atten- Gotham Awards, where he Sant-produced ABC mini- based on the upbringing of playwright Ruben Santi-
tion of Spike Lee, Jordan was a nominee for break- series “When We Rise” or his Jimmy Fails, who plays a fic- ago-Hudson. But Majors’
Peele, J.J. Abrams and Jay- through actor (as he also Detroit gangster in “White tionalized version of himself, continuing education is in-
Z — all of whom have cast is the Film Independent Boy Rick,” Majors exudes a in is own big-screen debut. creasingly on the sets and
him in upcoming projects. Spirit Awards). It had to be singular presence. His char- Majors plays his best friend stages he now finds himself
All of this just two years af- a brief stay; his schedule acters suggest icebergs, and constant companion, — like Spike Lee’s. q

Singer Camila Cabello apologizes for past racist language

Associated Press rant and once I became past. But once you know
NEW YORK (AP) — Pop aware of the history and better, you do better and
singer Camila Cabello is the weight and the true that's all I can do," she
apologizing for past racist meaning behind this hor- continued.
language she used on so- rible and hurtful language, Cabello's hits include "Ha-
cial media. I was deeply embarrassed vana" and "Señorita" with
The Grammy-nominated i ever used it." Shawn Mendes. She re-
singer wrote on Wednes- The former Fifth Harmony leased a new album early
day that she is sorry for us- singer has been accused this month.
ing offensive and hurtful of using racial remarks She closed her statement
words on social media as in now deleted Tumblr saying she would use her
a teen, and now that she accounts. This week so- platform to "speak out
is 22, she has grown up. cial media users posted about injustice and in-
"When I was younger, I screenshots of Cabello's equality."
used language that I'm old and offensive posts, "I'll continue doing that,"
deeply ashamed of and forcing the performer to is- she wrote. "I can't say
will regret forever," Ca- sue an apology. enough how deeply sorry This sept. 12, 2019 file photo shows singer Camila Cabello at
bello shared in a lengthy "As much as I wish I could, I and ashamed I feel, and I the Save the Children's "The Centennial Gala: Changing the
World for Children" event in New York.
social media post. "I was can't go back in time and apologize again from the Associated Press
uneducated and igno- change things I said in the bottom of my heart."q