Teyonah Parris Calls On White Americans To Join The Fight For Racial Justice

Actress Teyonah Parris, star of the breakout indie film “Dear White People,”  has a new message for white Americans in the wake of the police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile .

Parris, who has previously tweeted support for the Black Lives Matter movement, sat down with The Huffington Post Monday to discuss her latest role in “Survivor’s Remorse.” During the conversation, she delivered a poignant call to action for white people, encouraging them to become allies for the cause. 

“Dear white people... when your black brothers and sisters are in pain and hurting, it also affects you and it would behoove you to help, to be a voice, to stand in solidarity with them [against] these awful injustices that are so clear to everyone via cell phone videos, to stand with them and support them and to be a voice, and know that it matters,” she told host Alyona Minkovski .  

“It matters,” she continued. “Your voice matters just like ours, but obviously we are stronger together.”

Parris rounded out her message with a simple plea to her white counterparts. 

“We are human,” she said. “And we matter, and it would be amazing if you could join with us in this fight.” 

Hear her discussion of police violence in the video above.