Legacy in the Making: Lena Waithe on Storytelling, Impact, and Cultural Memory
Lena Waithe has never just told stories — she’s preserved legacies. In this live taping of Legacy Talk, her award-winning podcast series produced by Hillman Grad, the Emmy-winning writer, producer, and cultural force reflects on the importance of honoring those who have paved the way. With Legacy Talk, Lena takes an intimate and curated look into the careers of some of the most iconic voices in the industry, documenting firsthand the journeys of Black trailblazers in the hopes of shaping a more truthful and expansive cultural narrative of Hollywood and beyond.
This special Tribeca X session will spotlight Lena’s approach to legacy-building, the intentionality behind her guest curation, and why storytelling must serve as both archive and action. More than an interview, it’s a cultural tribute—and a masterclass in honoring the past while creating the future.
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Phylicia Rashad
An accomplished actor and stage director, Phylicia Rashad became a household name when she portrayed Claire Huxtable on The Cosby Show, a character whose enduring appeal has earned her numerous honors and awards. She has appeared in NBC’s This Is Us ( Emmy nominations), in the popular Fox TV series Empire, in Tarell Alvin McCraney's Peabody Award-winning series David Makes Man, on the OWN Network, Diarra From Detroit, The Good Fight, Little America, and The Crossover.
While television was a catalyst in the rise of Ms. Rashad's career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and Off Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly's Last Jam, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls and The Wiz. Ms. Rashad received both the Drama Desk and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her riveting performance as Lena Younger in the 2004 Broadway revival of Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in The Sun.
Respected in the academic world, Ms. Rashad recently completed her tenure as Dean of the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. In February 2023, she was appointed Howard University’s inaugural holder of the Toni Morrison Endowed Chair in Arts and Humanities. Ms. Rashad also holds the distinction of being the first recipient of the Denzel Washington Chair in Theatre at Fordham University.
Since 2017, Ms. Rashad has been the Brand Ambassador of the National Trust for Historic Preservation African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Phylicia Rashad graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University and is the mother of two adult children.
Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe is an Emmy-winning writer, producer, actor, and founder of Hillman Grad. Known for Master of None, The Chi, and Queen & Slim, Waithe’s recent producorial credits include the Emmy-nominated documentary Being Mary Tyler Moore, the 2023 Sundance Films A Thousand and One and Kokomo City, as well the Tony-nominated play, Ain’t No Mo’. In November 2024, Waithe launched her podcast series, Legacy Talk. She is represented by WME and Blue Marble Management.
