Zendaya Talks Cultural Roots, Family History for Immigrant Heritage Month

Zendaya is getting up close and personal for Immigrant Heritage Month.

The former Disney star sat down with her parents Claire Stoermer and Kazembe Ajamu to talk about her family history and cultural heritage in a PSA for non-profit organization Welcome US.

In the video, titled “Z for Zendaya,” the actress-singer opens up about her parents’ roots in Germany and Africa, and how she has grown to embody both cultures. “Being a young person, it’s just so important that I teach other young people to be aware of who they are,” she says. “I started off — literally from birth — knowing exactly who I was. It’s all in my name.”

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Zendaya also breaks down the cultural meaning behind her full name — Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman. “I have my African first name. I have a middle name, that is [my mom’s] middle name which is French, but we did an African spelling. So, it’s literally me in a name,” she says. “And then you have Stoermer, and then you have Coleman. I literally have a timeline in history in my name.”

She adds, “I’m from Africa, as well as I’m from Germany. I’m very proud of that.”

Watch the video below.