We're all complaining about diversity in Hollywood, but we've got to address the colorism within the black community of Hollywood first.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the need to confront internal issues of colorism within the Black community in Hollywood before addressing broader diversity concerns.
Janet Hubert calls attention to the phenomenon of colorism, which refers to the discrimination based on skin tone within the Black community. She suggests that while diversity in Hollywood is often discussed, it is crucial to first acknowledge and address the challenges related to colorism that exist among individuals of African descent in the industry, as improving these dynamics is fundamental to achieving genuine diversity.
In practice
During a panel discussion on representation in film, one could use this quote to highlight the need for internal community discussions on colorism.
I'm not asking for there to be all black writer's rooms or all Asian writer's rooms, or all white - I want them all to be diverse. When it's diverse, you're going to have a completely different dynamic. Everybody feels othered. Nobody feels like they've got the upper hand.
Here's the thing, we talk about diversity in the media as if it's some weird artificial construct that we're putting onto these narratives. But it isn't. Our world is not homogenous. It is not all straight or white or able-bodied, or if it is, maybe you should make some new friends. That is not what our world looks like.
In diversity there is beauty and there is strength.
The United Nations and the Organization of American States have named 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent. This is an opportunity for all of us around the globe to celebrate the diversity of our societies and to honor the contributions that our fellow citizens of African descent make every day to the economic, social and political fabrics of our communities.
We're supposed to be bringing out-of-the-box thinking and innovation, and you cannot do that unless you've got diversity... It's everything from gender to ethnicity to geographic diversity.
You have to have more people who don't look like you in the writers room. I try to have some people who don't look like me in my writers room. I think it's important to have a group of voices, of people who can dissent.
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