Most of us The Color Purple fans remember actress, Desreta Jackson, who played the ‘young Celie’ in the 1985 classic, which starred some of the biggest African American stars in the game. Desreta was only around 14 years old at that time and what we didn’t know was how much her co-star Oprah Winfrey (“Miss Sophia”) did for her behind the scenes.

During a recent interview with California Soul TV, Desreta was asked to share some of her favorite memories about being on set of the Color Purple. While she admitted that she had “several of them,” it was the memories and experiences she shared with Oprah Winfrey on and off the set that set her life and personal development on the right track.
‘Oprah Was Very Protective Of Me’

On The Color Purple set, Desreta was oftentimes the only child. So she says Oprah became “very protective” of her and also like a “mother figure” to her. Oprah would have Desreta tag along around the set, so she could witness and learn, as Oprah did day to day business as well.

“We shot [Color Purple] in North Carolina and literally…there [were] no kids around, just the adults. Oprah became like this mother figure. She would just kinda be like, ‘Come here, follow me around,’ and she would be very protective of me,” said Desreta.

She said Oprah would always make sure to shelter her from certain people on set and to shield her from ‘certain things being said’ to her, or in front of her, that children should not be told, nor hear.

“She was really that kind of person, and I would sometimes take part in like, the same room while she’s doing business.”

But Oprah Later Went Above And Beyond For Desreta AFTER The Movie>>>

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https://www.instagram.com/p/BRtlCTjjFCl/

Who Are “Nettie’s” Royal Parents?

Akosua and her sister, Abena Busia, were born in Accra, Ghana, into the Yenfri Royal family in Wenchi in the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana. Their father, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, was a  royal prince, who later became the Prime Minister (the President) of Ghana, making Abena and Akosua the first kids to the first family of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia was married to the Busia sisters’ mother, Naa Morkor Busia, up until the time of his passing. The former President Busia died from a heart attack in 1978 and his wife, Naa, passed away in 2010 from unknown causes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BQEQGFkFVL_/

Prior to becoming President of Ghana, Dr. Busia earned many degrees and studied at several prestigious universities. He also made history, by becoming the first African student to attend England’s infamous Oxford University in the early 1940’s.

Mr. and Mrs. Busia’s life’s work and dedication toward making Ghana a better place for their people, left a lasting impact on their children that will never be forgotten. In fact, to honor her mother on Mother’s Day 2017, Akosua posted a rare television clip of them putting in work as the first fam’ of Ghana back then. Check out the clip below…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUFq4lXDXaX/

By the way, not only was Abena and Akosua’s mother beautiful, she represented class, style, and elegance, with such poise.

Akosua also paid homage to her beloved father:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BPzWCosBgzc/

My father, His Excellency, Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia, giving his inauguration speech as Head of State at Black Star Square in 1969 ~ Flashback 4 Instagram posts and see our new President, Nana, Akuffo-Addo, quote these exact words in his own Inauguration speech at Black Star Square in 2017! This footage is from the the documentary I directed: THE PROF. A MAN REMEMBERED.

Meet “Nettie’s” Sister

Now that we’ve covered who their royal parents are, let us introduce y’all to Akosua’s sister and the big moves she’s making in her career. Meet Abena Busia, the 64 year old big sister to Akosua…

https://www.instagram.com/p/BUGFYLdgfSe/

Abena chose a different path than her sister: she’s an professor, writer, poet, feminist, and lecturer, as well as a diplomat and ambassador for their country, Ghana. Following in her Pops’ footsteps, Abena has also studied at several universities, including Yale and Oxford. She’s currently a professor of Literature in English and women’s/gender studies at Rutger’s University in New Jersey.

In 2017, the current President of Ghana, Pres. Nana Akuffo-Addo, appointed Abena Busia as Ghana’s ambassador to Brazil. As of today, she helps to serve Ghana within several South American countries. Here is what her sis,’ Akosua, explained about that in an online tribute to Abena:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bgadt1mFe3o/

Akosia Busia: To me, she is my Beloved Sister! To the world she is the renowned professor; Dr. Abena P. A. Busia, Ghana’s Ambassador to #Brazil, concurrently accredited and overseeing 11 other countries in South America: #Argentina, #Bolivia, #Chile, #Colombia, #Ecuador, #Guyana, #Paraguay, #Peru, #Suriname, #Uruguay and #Venezuela. She is a blessing; she is #blessed 🙏🏾

In addition to her work as an educator and ambassador for Ghana, Abena is grateful for the opportunities to bring awareness to societal issues, those titles allow her:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSenLqAgmmF/

If their parents were alive today, pretty sure they would be BEYOND proud of the life accomplishments their children have made. Thanks to Akosia, Abena, and their parents for inspiring so many who will come after them.

The post Color Purple Star Proud That Her Rich Celebrity Parents & Sister Inspired Millions Of People appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Before the world came to know actress Margaret Avery as the “Shug Avery” in the film, The Color Purple, there was supposed to be a completely different “Shug” and her name is Patti LaBelle.

Word on the Old School curb is that the deal was almost sealed, but just before everything was finalized on paper, Patti slammed on her brakes and was like “Nuh-uh!” You see, she wanted to do the film, but there was this one minor detail that she found out about to make her axe that idea. Here’s what happened…

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Steven Spielberg wanted Patti LaBelle to play “Shug Avery” in “The Color Purple” but she turned it down because of the..

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