Black excellence runs in the family!
Yara Shahidi recently sat down with actress and talk show host Sherri Shepherd to discuss her new podcast, “The Optimist Project.” The show launches November 20th, and Shahidi and her mom/business partner, Keri Shahidi, chat weekly with changemakers who they say are “activating optimism” and inspiring others through their life’s work.
While Shahidi shared details about the new podcast, she reflected on her own journey as an actress, producer, and showrunner. She also talked about her amazing accomplishment of graduating from Harvard, revealing that her cousin, legendary rapper Nas, inspired her to attend the Ivy League institution.
“There’s so many artists in your family. I did not know that Nas is your cousin. And that Nas, the great, inspired you to go to Harvard,” Shepherd told Shahidi
“Yes! I think the one thing people know about him just through, even his music, is just how smart he is. And he has such a deep passion for our culture and for education. And so, the first time I got to step foot on Harvard’s campus was when he was announcing a fellowship for graduate students that were studying hip hop,” Shahidi explained.
The pioneering Queens MC launched the Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellowship at Harvard in 2013. It is the first academic fellowship named for a hip-hop artist and was designed for scholars who show exceptional creativity in connection with the musical genre. Shahidi said that while she was always academically bright, she never really saw herself at a place like Harvard, crediting Nas with convincing her mom to let her come for his fellowship launch.
“He had the foresight to …[call] my Mama and [say] ‘Hey, I think that Yara would really enjoy coming,” Shahidi recalled.
“I just remember it made such an impact on me that I worked so hard through high school to then be able to claim my spot at Harvard, but it started because of the experience he created,” she added.
Even with Shahidi’s massive success as an actress and producer, she stunned fans when she revealed she was accepted into every single college she applied to, even receiving a recommendation letter from Michelle Obama. Shahidi chose to attend Harvard University, graduating with her degree in 2022.
Nas reposted the clip of Shahidi on the “Sherri” show to his Instagram stories, writing, “You inspire me cuz.” Check out the heartwarming moment below.
Cover photo: Watch Heartwarming Moment Yara Shahidi Reveals Nas Inspired Her to Attend Harvard/Photo credit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images