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Keke Palmer Shows a Mature Quality in Her Response to Zendaya Comparisons

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I have been a fan of Keke Palmer since 2006’s Akeelah and the Bee. She was 13 years old at that time, and already had that effervescent glow, one-to-watch quality, along with more than a few crucial credits in television and film under her belt. This quality and pedigree helped carry her into even bigger roles. Now at 28, she has built a career not only as an actor, but as a singer, producer, writer, and now talk show host.

Most former child stars have either worn out their welcome or imploded, so, it’s exciting to see Palmer still choosing quality roles, creating buzz, and forging new paths for herself. Palmer is showing her quality and exuding class. With mentors and role models like Angela Bassett and Queen Latifah, it is no surprise. They are also class acts, and they are compared to no one.

Palmer has a featured role in the latest Jordan Peele film, Nope, so she has been making the late-night show rounds for film promotion and interviews. In this recent Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon interview, Palmer radiated her star power and stole the show from the host.

WATCH:

Palmer not only channels the magnificent Angela Bassett, but can mimic powerhouse voices like Shakira and Cher. That’s not only someone with massive talent, but who knows when to cut loose, and when to take herself seriously.

In a recent viral tweet, Palmer showed how seriously she does take herself. Twitter user Melinda E decided to talk about colorism in Hollywood, and compared the careers of Palmer and fellow star Zendaya (Euphoria) to emphasize her point.

I’d like someone to do a deep-drive on the similarities and differences between Keke Palmer and Zendaya’s careers. This may be one of the clearest examples of how colorism plays out in Hollywood. They were both child-stars, but their mainstream popularity is very different.

For those who want the skinny on colorism, look no further than the debacle of casting Zoe Saldana (Guardians of the Galaxy) to play singer and activist Nina Simone. This is usually when Hollywood shows its racist and classist roots: taking a revered icon of a certain culture or race, and reducing them to a cookie-cutter cliché. As if there isn’t some starlet in Hollywood who not only has the star power that Saldana radiates, but who can actually sing and more closely matches Simone’s physicality, which was an essential part of her presence and persona.

Epic Fail.

As Melinda E said above, the mainstream popularity of Palmer and Zendaya is very different, but she seems to see this as a negative. The point is, they are very different, but it requires looking at more than skin color to acknowledge this. Palmer and Zendaya have shown their differences in the choices about what roles they took, the trajectory of their careers, and the body of work they decided to build. These artists are incredibly beautiful and talented, but they could also not be more night and day. Palmer and Zendaya have in common their early experiences in show business, but the comparison ends there, and none other than Palmer drew that bright line between difference and distinction.

A great example of colorism is to believe I can be compared to anyone. I’m the youngest talk show host ever. The first Black woman to star in her own show on Nickelodeon, & the youngest & first Black Cinderella on Broadway. I’m an incomparable talent. Baby, THIS, is Keke Palmer.

This is admirable because Hollywood makes its bones off insecurity and pitting one talent against the other. Palmer is having none of it.

I’ve been a leading lady since I was 11 years old. I have over 100+ credits, and currently starring in an original screenplay that’s the number one film at the box office #NOPE. I’ve had a blessed career thus far, I couldn’t ask for more but God continues to surprise me.

Another admirable quality: Palmer acknowledges God’s hand in her success, and recognizes that she is blessed to have such a career at any age. I sense no ax to grind and no chip weighing her down. Some of the commenters on her tweet wanted to fixate on the gap in net worth between the stars, and why Palmer would chafe at being compared. As if the validation of a satisfying and successful career is dollars and constantly measuring yourself against someone similar.

No, Palmer has it right and set it straight. Her uniqueness, her focus on not only being her best self, but promoting that self to the world, and pushing herself to new and different challenges is not only an example of a person who chooses to grow, but who is not afraid to take risks.

Palmer’s younger Millennial generation, and Zendaya’s Gen Z generation could take some serious lessons and cues from Palmer’s attitude, insight, and career. So many in both of these generations are devoid of vision and afraid to abandon comfort in order to pursue real purpose.