From movements like #OscarsSoWhite to constant stories about pay inequity in the entertainment industry, it is no real surprise that when Forbes released a list of the 2023 highest-paid actors in Hollywood, CA, there was a lack of diversity. The lone Black indigenous person of color (BIPOC) named on the list at number 10 was veteran actor Denzel Washington. Financial earnings for marginalized groups compared to their white counterparts is not a new social justice issue. However, due to some public knowledge regarding celebrity salaries, it is hard to ignore the significant differences in pay that Black actors receive. The most noticeable pay gap is the gender inequities between actors who identify as men or women. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, Black actresses typically make an estimated 64 cents for every dollar white, non-Hispanic male actors make. This number increases to 68 cents for Black women producers and directors. While advocates for Black...

Before there was Michael B. Jordan or Jonathan Majors, there were men like Harry Belafonte and Billy Dee Williams. What is the common denominator here? Regardless of generational differences, all these men were considered the “it guys” of the industry. From their on-screen performances to their ability to swoon their admirers, fans from all over were consistently captivated by the very presence of these individuals. Belafonte was one of the pioneers of this movement for Black men, and many aunties and grandmothers across the globe would tend to agree. However, Belafonte was much more than his looks and charisma. A Harlem native, Belafonte is of Jamaican descent. After facing trouble in school, he served in the Navy during World War II. Upon returning to the states post-service, he attended a theatrical performance at the American Negro Theater. According to Turner Classic Movies, that moment snatched his interest, and he began seriously pursuing acting. He enrolled in acting classes...

The year 2020 has been dedicated to celebrating Black excellence and giving our community the spotlight we’ve always deserved. For the first time in its history, the Television Academy announced its most diverse lineup of nominations as Black actors and actresses scored a record high of slots for the 2020 Emmy Awards, according to The Hollywood Reporter . As pointed out by Variety , 35 of 102 nominations went to Black performers and artists this year accounting for 34.3 percent of its total nominees. It seems as though Black Hollywood is finally garnering a much stronger presence from the notoriously white, male-skewed awards ceremony. This is quite a refreshing change to see Black artists get their well-deserved flowers from their peers as the better half of the year has already evolved the conversation around the value of Black lives and stories. “2020 isn’t just about the global health crisis,” said Television Academy chairman and CEO Frank Scherma as reported by Consequence of...