Time for black people to build their own Hollywood
Hollywood’s black community need to put up or shut up. They're some of the richest in the world, so if they're really passionate about diversity, they should be building their own Hollywood.
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Talk is cheap. Let's start off with this. And if there's one thing black people do a lot of, it's talk. Intelligent talk. Sometimes necessary talk. And often passionate talk. But nevertheless talk.
But there's only so much talk anyone can do before the reality of nothing changing, or change happening too slowly, kicks in and then leaves one of two options: continue talking, which quickly turns into complaining, or stop talking and take action.
This came to mind this week after I watched Jada Pinkett-Smith's video about the lack of recognition for black people in Hollywood at this week's Oscars.
It's an issue that many have raised for years now but the noise for change seems to have reached a crescendo with high profile figures including Pinkett-Smith, her husband
Pinkett-Smith spoke eloquently and passionately about the contribution black people make to the film industry and said that maybe the time to boycott the Oscars is now.
“Is it time for people of colour to recognise how much power, influence we have amassed, that we no longer need to be asked or invited anywhere?” she begins.
And then she hits the nail on the head. Complaining and boycotting events in protest with the frustration that black people's talents and creativity isn't being appreciated and acknowledged is fine.
But isn't the real problem that black people themselves are failing to see their worth and value? Some of the most talented, hard-working and gifted cinematic-minds in the industry are black and Hollywood is greater for it.
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So instead of moaning about our skills-set not being rewarded, why don't we take them and do it ourselves? “Maybe it's time we recognise that if we love and respect ourselves in the way we are asking others to do, that is the true place of power” she continues.
And there it is. Is this going to be an annual news story “Blacks rebel against the Oscars?” Every January the same anger and venting towards Hollywood?
Or are the black members of the industry going to wake up and realise that proactive action is the only way to make change?
It's not nasty. It's not aggressive. It's not with ill-feeling. It's just with the acceptance that things aren't changing quickly enough and it's time to take control of their contributions.
But there is another significant point to this, and that is a criticism of Pinkett-Smith. Is she only p****d off, because her husband wasn't nominated? Who knows?
And all the prominent black figures in the industry who have been so vocal now, where were they when Jamie Foxx and Forest Whitaker won their Oscars (Spike Lee is the only one who has been the only one consistent with this argument)?
Without expecting those individuals to give up their special moments for a moment for their race, which is bigger than any one individual, those are the moments to make a stand. But they didn't.
So, you can understand the accusations of hypocrisy. But nevertheless, if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem, so now is better than never: sentiment and controversy only carries weight if it's backed up by action.
So what needs to happen? The great and the good from the black community working in Hollywood need to put up or shut up. Denzel Washington, Idris Elba, Halle Berry, Samuel L. Jackson are some of the most talented, popular and well-respected actors in the industry.
They're also some of the richest in the world, so if they're really passionate about diversity in the industry, invest in production companies, studios, script writers and talent.
Direct your time, effort, money and more importantly, your experience into your communities and invest in black people. Build your own Hollywood.
Yes, Hollywood. This goes far deeper than Will Smith not being nominated and shunning an expensive booze up. Let them have it.
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This is about building an industry within an industry that allows black people to decide who gets the parts in films, who writes the films and even what's written.
This isn't about the Oscars and we need to be clear about that. This is about self-worth, power and ownership.
Stop talking and start acting.
Source: channel4.com