H.E.R. is making her big screen debut in The Color Purple. Although she wasn’t born when the original premiered, she well aware of the impact the movie and the role of Squeak has on the community. She gives flowers to the original actress Rae Dawn Chong in the latest issue of ESSENCE available now on newsstands. Disclaimer: We recognize Black creatives are still fighting for their respect and equity; this fight has been displayed through this year’s labor strikes. It is important for us to let our readers know that ESSENCE conducted these interviews and photo shoot for our cover story in May 2023.