The ‘All American: Homecoming’ journey is simply getting began. HL obtained EXCLUSIVE scoop from Netta Walker about what’s occurring with Keisha and Cam, diving deeper into Simone and Keisha’s friendship, and extra.
The All American universe is increasing with All American: Homecoming. The brand new collection follows Simone as she embarks on her subsequent chapter at Bringston College, an HBCU in Atlanta. Proper off the bat, Simone has change into shut mates with Keisha, performed by Netta Walker.
Netta spoke EXCLUSIVELY with HollywoodLife about what’s forward for Keisha because the season continues. She weighed in about Keisha and Cam’s flirtation and whether or not or not it might flip into one thing extra. She additionally mentioned what an “honor” it's to be on a present that showcases “so many variations of what it means to be a Black individual in America.”
Okay, we now have to speak about what’s occurring with Keisha and Cam. What are you able to tease a few potential Keisha and Cam romance?
Netta Walker: I'll say that Cam is a large focal point to Keisha. She could be very keen on who this gorgeous man is, and she or he’s excited to get to know who he's. I’m excited for everybody to see the way it all unfolds with the entire characters as properly.
We already find out about Simone’s backstory. Because the season continues, will we be taught extra about Keisha’s historical past?
Netta Walker: Oh, completely. Because the season goes on, you’re going to get to know much more about the entire characters, however particularly Keisha. You’re going to be taught rather a lot about why Bringston is so necessary to her, who her mother and father are, why she values their opinion a lot, and the significance of familial delight to her. Not solely along with her direct and rapid household, however with the household that she’s really forming at Bringston as properly. We discuss rather a lot about Black excellence and the significance of that, however to show excellence basically inside this tradition is admittedly necessary. So that you’ll see lots of what which means and the ups and downs of attempting to attain what it means to make the individuals who love you proud.
What about Keisha and Nathaniel? They're such a dynamic duo.
Netta Walker: They are surely. That’s additionally one thing that you just’re going to see slightly bit extra all through the season, particularly within the subsequent few episodes for positive. You’re going to see much more of what Keisha and Nathaniel have been by means of collectively and why their relationship is so necessary to one another. One of the vital necessary issues to me about these two characters is the truth that they’re so overtly queer, they usually additionally discuss to one another fairly candidly about their experiences on the earth as a queer individual. I believe that the connection between the 2 of them developed their freshman 12 months, particularly simply because they noticed one another. They noticed somebody who was like them, they usually understood how necessary the opposite individual was it doesn't matter what they’ve been by means of, they usually’re very supportive of each other this season. You’re going to see lots of what that help does to a friendship and why they love one another a lot. However I actually do assume it comes right down to the truth that they noticed one another within the openness and the way current and lively they're of their queerness. It’s actually particular. They've a extremely particular relationship. They're such a dynamic duo.
Will the present dive deeper into Simone and Keisha’s rising friendship?
Netta Walker: Simone and Keisha are the women that may at all times have one another’s again however will at all times inform the opposite individual about themselves, which is one thing I actually worth in friendships. After which to see two Black ladies have this kind of affect on each other and be so supportive of each other, but in addition be actual and sincere and truthful with one another within the arduous instances. You’re going to see lots of that all through the season. There’s not lots of push and pull within the relationship, however they positively hold one another in the fitting headspace about no matter’s occurring in life, and that typically includes brutal honesty.
I like how the present shouldn't be pitting ladies in opposition to one another. I like that they’re going to proceed to be supportive of one another.
Netta Walker: I believe that’s actually necessary. There’s simply a lot extra to discover in shut feminine friendships. You see much more in relationships between ladies than simply bickering and combating one another. There’s a dynamic between the 2 of them particularly that not solely is supportive however they’re sisters. You’ll see this rising relationship of what it means to be somebody’s sister, and it’s cool to see that the present is about younger Black folks discovering themselves.
The All American universe has such an unbelievable fan base. What does it imply to you to be on a community with an all-Black forged and exploring life for Black youth at a traditionally Black school?
Netta Walker: Doing the present is an honor, at the start. I imagine we’re one of many first all-Black casts on The CW which can also be fairly loopy. It feels surreal. Secondly, I grew up within the South. My center college and highschool had been traditionally Black establishments, and my center college was on an HBCU campus. So I grew up watching the Majorettes, I watched the drumline… I watched all of this stuff occur in real-time. So to honor this factor that made me wish to begin dancing, compelled to wish to study African American tradition. I went to James Weldon Johnson Center College, which was in Jacksonville, Florida, James Weldon Johnson’s hometown. We had been actively being taught Black historical past, like true southern Black historical past. So to stroll right into a present that's set within the South, the place we give attention to African American historical past, in addition to what it means to be wonderful as a Black individual in modern society… It’s loopy being surrounded by these actors. Everybody’s so gifted and so enjoyable and so collaborative. Our showrunner Nkechi [Okoro Carroll] has finished an incredible job of not solely placing collectively this ensemble however making a story that’s so relatable. I'm so excited to consider the folks, the youngsters, these 13-year-olds who get to look at the present and see themselves, like actually see themselves and these characters run the spectrum by means of the Black expertise. Blackness shouldn't be a monolith on this world. You see so many variations of what it means to be a Black individual in America and what these experiences imply each constructive and destructive. Attending to be part of a course of like that is an absolute honor.