Today's feature for Balanta Women's History Month is Jazzy Ellis

Jazzy is a professional stunt actor who has starred in a host of films and television shows. Jazzy has worked as a stunt double for actresses such as Lynne Whitfield, Sania Lathan, and Cynthia Ervieo. She has worked on popular television series such as Greenleaf, Lovecraft Country, and The Haves and the Have Nots, to name a few. Jazzy is also a trained and highly skilled martial artist, which is invaluable in her current profession. However, Jazzy did not always aspire to work in the television and film industry. Her first career choice was to become a Medical Doctor. Jasmine attended Princeton University, where she majored in Religious Studies and minored in Spanish. She planned to study a field in which she had a deep interest as an undergraduate and then attend medical school after completing her undergraduate degree. Her deep interest in religion was sparked by a longing to understand the world beyond what she knew and explore new ways of understanding. Jazzy grew as a Muslim and a registered believer in the Nation of Islam; she was deeply rooted in the teachings of The Most Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Her desire to continue learning about religions, faith, and spirituality is something that she still possesses. After college, Jazzy elected not to attend medical school and began teaching. The economic downturn of 2008 sparked another change in direction for Jazzy, one that led her into her current profession of acting and working as a stunt double.

While always having a deep desire to know from where she came, she was inspired to take the African Ancestry DNA test by a close friend. Jazzy's friend shared one day shared with her that she had not only learned that she descended from the Mende people of Sierra Leon but that she had also recently received citizenship in that country. This revelation led Jasmine to decide to trace her ancestry and learn as much as possible about where she came from. Also, to one day possibly obtain citizenship in the land of her ancestors.

Upon discovering her ancestry, Jazzy was thrilled beyond words. She immediately went about trying to learn everything she could about the Balanta people. The Balanta B'urassa History and Genealogy Society of America has been a tremendous resource in helping Jazzy discover information about the Balanta people. She and her family also plan to travel to Guinea Bissau this spring.

Until then, Jazzy is staying extremely busy with two new projects coming out this Summer. Those films are, The Suicide Squad and Tomorrow War. Please support these projects when they hit your local theater. You can also review a list of projects Jazzy has worked on her IMDb page, http://www.imdb.me/jazzyellis.