In a nostalgic evening, laughter filled the Miracle Theater as “Soul Food” cast members Vivica Fox, Brandon Hammond, and Morgan Méchelle Smith reunited to celebrate the film’s 30th Anniversary. The blockbuster classic explores the trials of a Black American family who struggles to stay together after their matriarch Josephine “Big Mama” Joseph falls into a coma.
Hosted by Cult Classic and R.C. Bonds PR, the event featured a screening of “Soul Food” followed by a Q&A session facilitated by Randy Bonds. During the discussion, the “Soul Food” cast journeyed through the film’s cultural impact 30 years after its release and teased the upcoming reunion documentary.
“It’s amazing to see how “Soul Food” is such a part of the culture after all these years. I’m so honored to be a part of this project,” Smith said.
Hammond reflected on his time playing Ahmed, the son of Maxine (Fox). He said Fox was a mother figure to him both on and off-screen. Hammond credited Fox as being a vital support system for him after his mother died in 2011.
“I look back now as a 40-year-old man and I tell [Vivica Fox] all the time how much I love and appreciate her. I always thank her for being like a mother to me. Many different people helped me navigate that difficult time in my life, but she’s been very important to me,” Hammond said.
Hammond discussed the whirlwind of success he experienced after “Soul Food.” He won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Youth Actor in 1998. Hammond said a few months after winning the NAACP Image Award, he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Castleman’s Disease. Hammond said the response he received from his agent negatively impacted his career.
“I’ve been very quiet about it. I was told by an agent that ‘nobody wants to see a sick kid on TV.’ I was 14 years old and I internalized that,” Hammond said.
Hammond described experiencing a decline in auditions and entertainment opportunities due to his medical condition.
“It was hard. I’m at the point where I’m not auditioning anymore. I got both sides of the industry when you are valuable to them and then you become less valuable,” Hammond said. “I’m 14 and not understanding what’s different. I’m still the same lovable person. I internalized that for 30 years.”
After the Q&A, Hammond and Fox premiered the trailer of their upcoming “Soul Food” reunion documentary which explores the legacy of the film and cast members. Hammond said he initially intended to highlight the cultural impact of “Soul Food.” However, after speaking with Fox, he decided it was time to share his personal truth.
“Vivica [Fox] called me and said ‘Son, I love it and want to do it. If you do this, are you going to be ready to talk about what happened?’ Hammond said. “So it became this thing of not just getting the cast back together, but also telling my story along with it.”
After the discussion concluded, Fox commended Hammond for pursuing his education and maintaining a stable career in the film industry. Fox said that Hammond sharing his story will inspire others to maintain resilience in the face of adversity and continue pursuing their dreams.
“[Hammond] got his education to stay in the business that he does know – which is filming. God sometimes deals us cards that we didn’t see coming and how you deal with them makes you a stronger person,” Fox said. “There’s another chapter for you. It may not be in front of the camera, it may be behind the camera, but at least you’re free.”