Sasheer Zamata On Why We Need Spaces Where Women Can Be Heard

Last fall I interviewed Sasheer Zamata, actor, comedian, former SNL cast member, and ACLU Celebrity Ambassador, on the importance of female perspectives in a world that so often drowns them out. Interwoven with this interview are stats on women's current representation in arts and entertainment, and thoughts on how we can be more aware of the systemic sexism women face every day. While the event she is promoting has since past, her answers remain as relevant as ever, and you can read the full interview here on Rantt Media.

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"Actor and comedian Sasheer Zamata is no stranger to politics. From her three years on SNL (playing characters like Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, or Keely on “Black Jeopardy”) and her other acting roles, to her incisive standup, Zamata regularly finds ways to use humor to examine the persistent, daily challenges faced by women and African Americans. It’s an emphasis that has not gone unnoticed, and in 2015 the ACLU even named her their Celebrity Ambassador for the Women’s Rights Project, partnering with her to raise awareness for gender and racial inequality. Having left SNL in the spring of this year, Zamata has now moved on to other projects, one of which is her return to the popular literary salon Women of Letters.

Given the state of our culture, events like Women of Letters, which put an intentional spotlight on the stories of women, offer valuable political work in creating a society that more properly recognizes — and normalizes — women as creators and thought leaders. To learn more, I spoke with Zamata about her reasons for returning to the event and what her message is for America right now on the state of women’s rights."