She deserves all her flowers!
A national treasure, Regina King first burst onto the scene in the late ‘80s, landing a role on the hit sitcom 227 when she was just 14 years old. The ‘90s brought her even more fame, thrust into the cultural zeitgeist after starring in a string of cult classics including Boyz n the Hood (1991), Poetic Justice (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Friday (1995), and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996). King became known for her range as an actress, starring in both serious and comedic roles and earning crossover appeal with films like Jerry Maguire (1996) and Enemy of the State (1998).
Year after year she continued to reinvent herself, venturing into animation as the voice behind characters Riley and Huey on Aaron McGruder’s hit series The Boondocks. She also continued trying her hand behind and in front of the camera on various television shows, earning Emmy Awards for her role in the American Crime anthology, Seven Seconds miniseries, and HBO’s Watchmen. Her ability to stretch the limits of her craft and commit to telling the stories that matter is impressive to say the least. King is one of few who has stood the test of time, remaining relevant and in the forefront of culture for nearly four decades.
In 2021, the Academy Award winner was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, choosing to add a special heartfelt message to her hand and footprints that read, “there’s no place like home.”
“A lot of people are gonna see this and they’re going to think it comes from The Wizard of Oz, but it comes from my beginning 227, where the theme song started off ‘no place like home’ ‘cuz this is home…and I’m gonna be home forever and ever and ever and ever!,” King said.
The year prior, she made history with her directorial debut, One Night in Miami, becoming the first Black woman director to have her film selected at the Venice Film Festival.
“It’s interesting because how this film performs will open doors or maybe close doors for more Black female directors…that’s how things seem to work. A woman will get a shot, and if she does not succeed, that shuts things down for years to come until an opportunity comes again for another woman to get that shot…So I am so grateful for our film to be a part of the festival, but I really, really want it to perform well, because there’s so much talent out there and there are so many talented directors,” King told reporters.
A force to be reckoned with, King has single handedly increased representation for generations of Black girls, proving that there is no limit and no ceiling for your dreams. Whatever you can imagine within your wheelhouse, it can be done. A champion for Black women and a shining example of what’s possible, we pay homage to Regina King, a true staple in Black culture. These flowers are for you.
Cover photo: Flowers for Regina King: A staple in Black culture/Photos courtesy of Fair Use Images