Sheryl Lee Ralph says she was once fired for not being “Black enough”

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Celebrated actress Sheryl Lee Ralph has played and starred in roles that have cemented her as one of the most beloved actresses in Black film and TV. 

Her current portrayal as the hard yet warmhearted veteran teacher Barbara Howard on the hit series Abbott Elementary, shows why the 65-year-old actress is loved by many. But according to Ralph, she wasn’t always shown appreciation. In a recent interview with People, she opens up about a time she was fired from a project after being told she wasn’t “Black enough.”

The exclusive interview details the highs and lows of Ralph’s decades-long career, including the hurtful memory of the star’s early years.  

“People’s