Exclusive: Tracee Ellis Ross Shares Why People Don't Find Black Women's Stories "Sexy" on "The Shop"

Tracee Ellis Ross isn't biting her tongue about the realities for Black women in Hollywood. That much is evident in an exclusive sneak peek at this week's episode of Uninterrupted's "The Shop," where the "Black-ish" alum reveals why she thinks the "pearly gates of Hollywood" didn't open up for her after her seven-season stint on "Girlfriends."

"There's very limited roles for Black women still. I don't think it's just about roles, I think it's about the storytelling," Ross says, referencing the six-part Hulu docuseries she executive produced alongside Oprah Winfrey and Michaela Angela Davis this year called "The Hair Tales," which features stories told by Black women through the metaphor of our hair. "It was wonderful," the actor adds of the project, "and when we went out and pitched it, people don't think the stories of Black women are very sexy and interesting," she says bluntly.

When asked if that's the case because people actually think that way or don't understand said stories, Ross notes it's "a combination of both." "I think as Black and brown people in this country and across the world, we end up having to spend a lot of emotional cash trying to explain our worth," she adds. "You spend so much time trying to explain why this is good, why this is important, why this is the thing, we don't always get enough time to get to the making of the thing. And you get home, and you're tired because you've had to prove that you're worth something."

Ross goes on to recall her earlier days in the business, specifically after "Girlfriends" ended, when she says there was a scarcity of available roles for Black actors.

"At that time, if you think back, there would be one Black role in a movie or a TV show, maybe two per year," she says, name-dropping a handful of stars who'd be up for said parts — including herself, her former "Girlfriends" costar Jill Marie Jones, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, and Alfre Woodard. Ross punctuated her frustrations by pointing out Sheryl Lee Ralph's long-overdue Emmy win, which she won for her role in "Abbott Elementary" after decades of work as an actor.

The importance of visibility for Black actors, Black women, and our stories isn't the only thing Ross discusses on the latest episode of "The Shop." Joined by the show's executive producer Maverick Carter, cocreator Paul Rivera, trap star Anuel AA, and fellow actor Aldis Hodge, the group also delve into overcoming imposter syndrome, manifestation, and building legacies.

"The Shop"'s eighth episode of season five drops exclusively on Uninterrupted's YouTube channel on Dec. 20. Watch the full sneak peek above.