Octavia Spencer Says She Experienced ‘More Racism’ In Los Angeles Than Alabama

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Octavia Spencer Says She Experienced ‘More Racism’ In Los Angeles Than Alabama

Octavia Spencer was not exempt from racism when she first moved to Los Angeles.

During an appearance on the WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, the Oscar-Award-winning actress spoke about the racism she encountered when she first moved to the City of Angels, which she expected to be completely different from her Montgomery, Alabama, upbringing.

Octavia Spencer said,

“My mother definitely, you know, taught us about the world and the realities, the harsh realities of the world and history.”

She continued,

“But growing up in Alabama, I’m going to be honest, I felt more racism when I first moved here than I ever, ever had in Alabama.”

She added,

“It is so funny. It’s right out of Pretty Woman. I remember going into a shop and being followed…I was just like so excited, like just walking around, and then I realized that I was being followed.”

Octavia Spencer then shared,

“Well, what’s beautiful for me is, that stuff preceded me. You know, I was a child of the seventies… You know, as you grow older and the things that you can remember. That wasn’t a part of my history. I learned about it. It’s not everything—anything that I experienced.”

As far as growing up in Alabama during a time when civil rights were front and center, Spencer said,

“It’s a beautiful place and beautiful people. You know, I love being from there. … I think everywhere is heavy, everywhere has its history in – you know what I mean? I think everywhere has problems.”

She added,

“Listen, you can’t deny that southern history is intense, it is. But what’s beautiful for me is that stuff preceded me. I was a child of the 70s, so I was born in 1973, and then as you grow older and the things that you can remember that wasn’t a part of my history. I learned about it but it’s not anything I experienced.”