Kerry Washington Emphasizes Action and Empathy in Social Justice Efforts: "Give Your Heart"

Updated on Aug 7, 2020 at 11:30 AM

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Kerry Washington is shedding light on the impactful behind-the-scenes work taking place in the US court of law. The 43-year-old star stepped behind the camera to executive produce the now-released documentary The Fight, which follows the legal battles being fought by American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyers Brigitte Amiri, Joshua Block, Lee Gelernt, Dale Ho, and Chase Strangio. Some of the cases they confront involve protecting transgender rights, immigration rights, and voting rights. In an interview with Town & Country magazine, Kerry and the featured legal practitioners opened up about the significance of taking action and the different facets of social justice efforts. Keep reading to see some of Kerry's standout quotes, then check out the entire interview.

On working with the real-life lawyers featured in The Fight: "At [my production company] Simpson Street, we really believe that heroes look like all of us. These lawyers are real life superheroes. So it's just such an honor to bring this film to the world because what they each do so beautifully and vulnerably in the film — they're much more courageous than I am, I would never let cameras in my bedroom and kitchen — is show us that while they are truly taking on the greatest challenges to our civil rights in our lives, they are also just people."
On galvanizing young lawyers to take action: "One of the other goals of the film for me is to have young people be inspired to join this fight. Part of that for me is to have young people who are thinking about law school or are in law school, to understand how gratifying and important this work is. And we do that by celebrating it publicly."

On using her skills for a larger purpose: "One of my favorite prayers is, 'use me God that I may know the joy of being used by you,' because the thing that makes us feel most full and alive, I think, is when we're contributing our efforts toward something that's bigger than us and better than us."
On working together for the greater good: "I have such deep reverence for what this country can be. I love that this film invites us all into the 'we,' and to know that we belong here. We have to fight to belong here, but we belong here."

On the emotional aspect of social justice efforts: "I think it's cyclical. We move the needle with laws and then we are able to move more laws with emotion, with empathy. We rely on each other, because we have to shift behavior and shift hearts."
On the latest progression of social awareness: "This is such a great moment because we are in an unprecedented time where people of extraordinary privilege, for lots of reasons, are asking themselves how they can do more and be more to be part of the solution. Whether it is to give your time, give your money, give your heart, [or] speak up in the conversation when somebody says they don't believe something."