There’s a reason why people say that with age comes wisdom, but in the case of Gabrielle Union, growing older has also awakened a sense of clarity, resilience, grace, and authenticity.

The actress and producer turned 50 last year and documented her birthday celebration with a two-part special, “Gabrielle Union: My Journey to 50” premiering on BET+ on June 15th.

To promote the series, Union sat down for a candid conversation with CBS Mornings Co-Host Nate Burleson for the next episode of BET’s news program “America In Black,” which aired on Sunday, June 4 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

During the interview, Union explains that turning 50 allowed her to recognize that she was still holding on to various forms of trauma from the last 30 years and how she finally found a way to shed that from her life.

“I was ready to embrace my full, authentic self. I wanted to be comfortable as I reclaimed self, as I learned more about self, as I take more people who have never been on the continent into this journey with me," said Union. "Maybe there’s something people can learn or take away, or be inspired by. There’s nothing to me more calming and relaxing than being on the continent.”

In the special, Union is joined by her husband, NBA legend, Dwayne Wade, and a group of family and friends as they travel through several countries in Africa, from Zanzibar to the shores of Ghana, connecting with the cultures and people in between. Burleson asked Union about tapping into her confidence, getting her start in Hollywood, embodying memorable characters over her decades-long career, and adding the titles of wife and mother to her life.

In one of the most poignant moments of their conversation, Union speaks about the other Black women in Hollywood who have always had her back, like actress Tisha Campbell, who once paid for Union’s therapy sessions, and actress Regina King, who literally saved her life during a trip to Bermuda.

“I have never been surrounded by Black women who have been interested in watching me fail or flail,” says Union. 

Watch the clip below for a preview of the interview airing on "America In Black." 

A new one-hour episode of “America In Black” will air on Tuesday, June 6 on BET+.