Michael Cooper Jr., breakout star of Netflix’s “Forever,” brought both candor and charisma to a fireside chat with theatre professor Eric Ruffin at Howard University’s Ira Aldridge Theater, hosted by the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts. The packed audience of eager students hung onto his every word as he spoke about faith, artistry, and the grind of an acting career. 

At several moments, his reflections drew audible reactions — cheers when he mentioned listening to his favorite musical artists, Tems, Daniel Ceasar, and Frank Ocean, a collective “oooh” when he touched on the emotional weight of portraying grief, and thoughtful murmurs when he spoke about the pressures of being a Black man in America. 

The atmosphere was electric — students cheered, laughed, and leaned in as Cooper’s reflections spoke directly to their own dreams and challenges as young Black creatives.

Throughout the conversation, Cooper detailed the year-long preparation he undertook for his role as Justin, a character living with ADHD. From traveling to Atlanta to observe students in classrooms to drawing on showrunner Mara Brock Akil’s guidance, he described his work as “being a thief of life” — taking lived experiences and weaving them into a portrayal that feels authentic. The audience, many of whom were young Black artists themselves, clearly resonated with his honesty and transparency about long hours, rejection, and the emotional demands of acting.

“I am incredibly inspired by today’s event,” said Noel Desire Best, musical theatre major and Vice President of the Fine Arts Council. “I feel like I can put myself in his shoes. It was something that truly inspires me and I hope that I can do that when I pursue my career.”

“It was great to see someone our age pursuing the passion that we’re passionate about,” said fellow musical theatre major Chloe Lomax.

In one of the most powerful moments of the evening, Cooper reflected on the emotional challenges of portraying Justin, a character who wears his feelings openly. 

“When I first approached Justin, I had a sense of fear within his emotionality — he’s such an emotional guy, and I worried people might make fun of me for leaning into that,” he admitted.  

“But as I played him, I realized I was healing parts of myself, uncovering past traumas, and learning the importance of emotionality. Especially as a Black man in America, we’re taught to suppress everything — be strong, keep it moving. But I want young boys to know it’s okay to cry, bro. Just cry sometimes. Feel.” 

He went on to explain that too often people turn to distractions — gaming, smoking, or other vices — to avoid emotions. 

“The hard part,” he said, “is to actually feel what you’re going through.”

“I am so in my feelings to have a love story that is centering these Black folks, and there are no pimps, nobody’s getting shot there are no gangs, all those common tropes that come that feed the American appetite we weren’t feeding that,” said Ruffin, referring to the themes in the series. “We were feeding Black joy. We were feeding love.” 

What stood out most during the conversation, however, was Cooper’s insistence that his career rests on his faith and integrity. He shared how he organized a Bible study on set called “Forever in Faith” with makeup artists and PAs as a way to stay grounded in an industry that often tests one’s values.  

“Faith and my integrity have helped me maneuver through this life,” he told the crowd, encouraging them to see rejection as part of the process rather than a reflection of self-worth. 

For Howard students, his words were more than advice — they were a blueprint for resilience. The event reaffirmed the university’s role as a training ground not just for artistry, but for character and leadership in the entertainment industry.