F**k It Friday: Amandla Stenberg

‘Sup, f*k it crew! Welcome back to F**k It Friday - a weekly feature from MTV Breaks that’s all about saying a big “f**k yeah” to the most excellent people who’ve said “f**k it” (probably) and taken a leap of faith to make big things happen.

Cos it’s not about just having ideas – it’s about believing in yourself, and making them happen. AMIRIGHT?

So who’s next up in the FIF roll call of honour, drumroll…its Hunger Games star and world-rocker, Amandla Stenberg!

In addition to melting our hearts and reducing us to emotional wrecks as Rue in The Hunger Games, Amandla is just about one of the most inspiring teens out there. Whether it’s speaking up on black identity, body-positivity or being comfortable with your sexuality, Amandla is honest and fearless in her championing of fair representation of the black community and basically all people in general.

Back in her early days (hard to believe a 17-year-old’s career can have earlier days we know, but she does!), Amandla was less sure about her own identity. When she was cast as Rue, she fell victim to a shocking internet backlash with some particularly awful people saying they wouldn’t find the character’s death as sad because she’s black. Following this, Amandla struggled with her identity as a young black actress and has confessed to straightening her hair and playing down her cultural identity in an attempt to be more “digestible”.

Recently though Amandla realised this wasn’t who she was and said “f**k it” (probably) and began to do the exact opposite, openly campaigning and speaking up for the black community and their representation in the media. “I have realized that the black component of my identity is extremely, extremely important.” She told i-D, “It has completely changed who I am as a human being. I feel like now my identity has gone full circle.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1KJRRSB_XA

This bravery has been well received. Amandla’s social channels now have huge followings, her ‘Don’t Cash Crop On My Cornrows’ anti-cultural appropriation video has received nearly 2 MILLION views and she’s even been named as one of TIME’s ‘World’s Most Influential Teens’. Amandla, rather than playing down her identity, is leading the charge for young talents everywhere to speak up about the issues close to their hearts. F**K YEAH, Amandla!

Check out last week’s “f**k it" hero here.

Have you ever said “f**k it” and taken a chance? Would you like to? Or want to nominate someone for next week? Hit us up on @mtvbreaks with your stories.