Lifetime kicks off Black History Month Saturday with the made-for-TV movie Betty & Coretta, starring Angela Bassett and Mary J. Blige.
The film is executive produced by Blige and also features Malik Yoba and Lindsay Owen Pierre, with narration by legendary actress Ruby Dee.
Focusing on the extraordinary women behind two men who would change history, Betty & Coretta tells the similar true stories of Coretta Scott King (Bassett), wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (played by Yoba) and Dr. Betty Shabazz (Blige), wife of Malcolm X (who is played by Pierre).
During an interview Monday with ABC’s The View, Bassett and Blige talked about why they are humbled by the opportunity to play Dr. Betty Shabazz and Coretta Scott King.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kKiICQLaIo
“I think ultimately the ideologies were different, but the intent at the center of it was the same,” Bassett said of Shabazz and King. “The intent was the same but the way they went about it was different.”
Blige revealed that she decided to produce the film because she feels women who are married to powerful men have an important story to tell that is often overshadowed by their husbands.
“Women never get a chance when they are behind powerful men,” Blige said. “They never get a chance to tell their stories and what their dealing with. I wanted people to see what Betty and Coretta had to deal with, and how everyone’s not so perfect.”
Betty & Coretta premieres Saturday, February 2nd at 8/7c on Lifetime.
Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter at @WitherspoonC