Strong Black Leads in Entertainment

When I was in high school, I heard a lot of people hyping the show Grey's Anatomy. I'd never thought anything of it, until I actually decided to get on Netflix and watch it for myself. 17 years is how long this show has been running.

Shonda Rhimes is not only a black writer who creates these amazing stories that embody the entire entertainment industry, but she is also a very determined woman.

She has a Master's Degree because of a challenge she had once set for herself; to get into USC as a film major, a college that everyone said is more difficult to get into than Harvard Law. Rhimes made the challenge that she was going to try to get in, set herself up for success, and that she did. She obtained her Master's after four year's at USC.

A movie that she wrote, that is nostalgia to most 90's kids, was Crossroads. It's an interesting fact, and something that goes to show just how long Shonda has been catching the attention of people around the world. This movie was the start of Britney Spears major acting career, something Shonda should be incredibly proud of.

Shonda created Grey's Anatomy to showcase how hard the life of a doctor could really be. She not only created a show that most medical staff could relate to, but created such dynamic characters to go along with it. You have Derek Sheppard, who is a romantic and all about the lovey dovey stuff who falls in love and marries Meredith Grey; the darkest character on the show. The show also features strong black leads, such as; Miranda Bailey, Maggie Pierce, Richard Webber, and more.

Richard Webber went from battling alcoholism to fighting against it and becoming a better version of himself. He was someone who cheated, and went from woman to woman, but stayed focused on Catherine in the end.

The most dynamic character Shonda Rhimes created was Meredith Grey. Meredith has dealt with so much loss and heartbreak; her mother dying, her father abandoning her just to make another family, her sister dying, her husband dying, her best friend moving to another country; the list is endless. Meredith somehow makes it through the days, with a smile on her face, and the strongest heart in the show. Meredith has been my favortie from the beginning, aside from Karev.

Shonda Rhimes has inspired me to set forth on my writing dreams, because of the well-thought out characters she created on Gery's Anatomy. She has inspired many young adults to be open about themselves and share their stories, hence the reason she came up with Shondaland. This is a platform where people can tell their stories in hopes of making the world a better place. Shonda is all about raising awareness for different aspects of the world. She wants the world to become a better place, a safe outlet for people.

One thing that doesn't get talked about is writer's, and Rhimes is a black writer who I believes deserves more recognition than some people give her. She an amazing writer, and person. She wants nothing more than for everyone to be at peace within the world, but still showcase the fun side of herself through her writing and characters. Which is something I will always admire. Shonda is all about people being themselves, and not changing for anyone.

Shonda Rhimes will always be one of the most influential people in my life, because she helped me go forth with my dream as a writer. I hope to one day be as good of a writer as she is, or even slightly less of one. My characters will never be as dynamic as hers, but I will try my best to make sure they are dynamic enough. She has inspired me to do what I thought was impossible for me, and something I was scared to do. Because she concquered her fears. Her determination to provide all of this to her fans, is what set forth my determination to gain my own set of fans. She has inspired me so much that I am one going to have a BFA in Creative Writing by the end of this year and will go for my MFA soon after. Two, I have written the first draft of my own novel and am in the process of writing more novels. She showed me that I don't have to wait, and that I can conquer anything I set my mind to.