1x1 With Kristian Harloff

Mark my words; Dominique Fishback is going to be a household name very, very soon. (And if I had any say in Oscar nominations, it’d be happening one month from now.) Fishback stars in Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah as Deborah Johnson (now Akua Njeri), a young woman who’s taken by Fred Hampton’s (Daniel Kaluuya) ideology and goals, and also sparks a connection to Chairman Fred on a personal level. While Judas and the Black Messiah well highlights the scope of Chairman Fred’s influence and the great value of his dedication to the movement, it’s through the intimacy of his relationship with Deborah that the film also successfully conveys the personal stakes involved in this fight for freedom.Ever since chatting with Fishback and a few other members of The Hate U Give ensemble back in 2018, I’ve been eager for a long form conversation with the rising star about her commitment to her craft, and now that Judas and the Black Messiah is available to watch on HBO Max, that time has finally come. Fishback joi