Taraji P. Henson rejects 'strong black woman' label - 'We don't magically rebound from pain'

Taraji P. Henson has taken issue with the "strong black woman" label so frequently associated with her, insisting it's "dehumanising".

The 49-year-old actress opened up about why she finds the term offensive and explains that using it dehumanises and tokenises the person. "It dehumanises our pain - it belittles our tears, it belittles our pain," she says. 

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Taraji goes on to say, "We're supposed to be able to watch our brothers and sons and fathers get murdered in the street but we can take it because we're strong. We can deal with it. We can handle it. And that's just not true.

"We're not fairies. We don't magically rebound from pain. We hurt and suffer just like others."

She insists people need to be very careful when using the label. The Empire star urges others to also show their vulnerabilities. 

Compiled by Phelokazi Mbude

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