Tracy Oliver’s “Harlem” returns for Season 2 and we couldn’t be more excited that we had early access to the series highly anticipated return. In case you’ve been out the loop, “Harlem” chronicles the lives of four successful, fabulous women in “Harlem” New York navigating life, love, and the lessons along the way tighter. Camille (portrayed by Meagan Good) Tye, (Jerrie Johnson) Quinn (Grace Byers) and Angie (Shoniqua Shandai.) Shandai’s character Angie is a fan favorite, captivating the audience with her presence, main character energy, and Black girl magic no matter the circumstances that radiates off the screen. In celebration of Angie, “Harlem,” and Black girl magic, Shandai spoke with Black Love on Season 2, Angie’s glow up, and her next big project — her music career.
Yasmine Jameelah: “Harlem” shook up the culture in such a beautiful way with Season 1. What are you most excited for the fans to see in Season 2?
Shoniqua Shandai: There’s so many beautiful things that happen in Season 2. What I’m really excited for people to realize is that it’s never too late to start over, and you don’t have to have it all figured out by the age of 30. A big goal of mine was to make Forbes 30 Under 30 and when I turned 30 and it didn’t happen and I didn’t have certain boxes checked I was like, what is life? But what I love about these women is that they are all redefining themselves in this season over 30. Setting new goals, and questioning the expectations that they have for themselves in life, love, career, motherhood, and womanhood. So I really hope that people receive from this season to allow themselves more grace in their lives and to adapt as needed.
SS: What people can know about me is my purpose for being here is to shine my light as radiantly as possible so you can believe you can shine also. Angie and I have our struggle in common. I understood immediately what it’s like to know what you’re supposed to be doing and not be able to do that because the world hasn’t caught on yet. Angie treats herself undeniably the way that she deserves to be treated whether she has the Grammy, whether she’s on a person’s couch – her worth and value does not change from moment to moment. And I say the world has to catch on because I entered the industry when the last Black TV show was canceled on TV at that time. So being Black with natural hair, curvy, country, all of those things it took a long time for the world to see me. I’m grateful that we’re currently in what feels like a Black creative renaissance.
YJ: Like myself, many Black women grew up watching series like “Girlfriends” and “Living Single,” where we saw successful Black women navigating life and love together. Decades later, shows like this still matter to us, and now “Harlem” does, too. Do you think there’s something to not just representation but seeing Black women live life in community together on screen?
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SS: Absolutely. Black women are supernatural, but we’re also human. And the way that we support and champion other people is just unlike no other race or demographic that I know. That’s why whenever someone is in trouble they call upon a Black woman or an issue in the world people ask “Where’s Beyonce or Michelle Obama?” even when they aren’t involved (laughs) but that’s how heroic our love is and to see it given back to another Black woman when it’s always given to other people I think is so needed. It’s the safe spaces we create amongst each other, that sisterhood and things are so specific to us. There are so many nuances of Blackness and what a way to do that with showing the varieties of Black women in this show so you can see even in the demographic, we aren’t a monolith.
YJ: Angie takes up space in such a beautiful way and she brings something special to this friend group but this season she is winning and killing it! If you had to title this season of Angie’s life in an era like many women online are claiming now (for ex. the soft life era) what would this era be for her?
SS: We see Angie at the end of Season 1 hitting a horrible low with finances, her dreams, career, and questioning who she is. Season 2 is the bounce-back for that. And I love that you mentioned soft life because I wanted to bring softness to her character this season. I think that women who look like Angie are immediately showcased as hard, aggressive, difficult, and all of these other things but aren’t allowed to be taken care of and have moments of vulnerability so I wanted to show that this season for her. So I’d say the soft life bounce-back era. She is the bounce-back queen, you can’t hold Angie down.
YJ: You’re not just an actor, you’re also a singer! Talk to me about your music.
SS: God has been so instrumental in my singing career. Every pivotal role in my acting career has been music related. I started off initially doing musical theater but I let it take a backseat because I was able to hide a bit more in the acting and character of it all but God has been like girl you gone sing! Every role that has moved my career along has been in music in some way and so was Angie. Angie is passionate about music and so recently I started writing and I just fell in love with it. I released so many feelings in music and I wanted to be very intentional about the lyrics that I write whether it’s helping people heal, help myself heal, or be an expression of the love that I hope to experience. My first single is called Something About You. It’s about a very busy woman (me laughs) who thought that love would be a distraction and she encounters this man who’s something about him that makes him reevaluate and realize there is room. It’s directed by Meagan Good who is just so loving and supportive. Together we collaborated on this vision to showcase a different type of Hollywood star and leading lady throughout the video. And wanting these visuals to hopefully inspire other women who don’t see themselves in those positions as the romantic lead to know we are chosen, we are loved, we do dress in couture, we can live in luxury and the fullness of live that we deserve so I’m really excited about this project.
YJ: Much of what we’ve discussed is what women like Angie deserve and how they deserve to be seen not as this side character but a main character. What would you tell women who feel like Angie to encourage them to take up space?
SS: Exactly what you said, to take up space. I feel like we’ve been told that no one wants to hear from Black women let alone the curvy dark skinned woman. But we need you there. Continue to love yourself, prioritize yourself. We’re taught that our productivity is what matters and what we can offer others, but a Black woman taking care of herself and prioritizing her spirit and her mind is activism. Using your voice is activism, just being bold enough to be the best version of yourself and be that authentically.
Follow Shoniqua Shandai across all social media platforms and be sure to watch Season 2 of “Harlem” now available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
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