Members of Black Women Who Brunch, (co-founded by Lena Waithe), gather to discuss how the industry can better understand black women in Hollywood.
THE BARRIERS IN THE PIPELINE
- assistants of color are less likely to be looped in on or recommended for writer's assistant openings.
- being trusted to run your own show is one of the hardest battles.
- they are less likely to be asked to lunch or invited to social gatherings by their non-minority peers.
- a writer on a "black show" who moves to a "non-black show" often has their level questioned.
- they often don't have the generational wealth or financial support system to attend film schools or work almost for free for years as an intern or assistant.
- if they hire one person of color, they've hired enough people of color.
THE TOKEN IN THE ROOM?
- 3rd season of NBC's Las Vegas, the showrunner said there were too many characters on the show. The consensus was to kill of Marsha Thomason's character (the only black woman), and the guys were excited for her to die in a fiery explosion.
- someone labeled "difficult" does not return for season two.
- it takes more than a couple of people to redirect the course of a character or a story. You can be dismissed if you are the lone voice.
- people in charge need to believe also in inclusion, in being allies and amplifying underrepresented voices.
- it takes a creator/showrunner who gives a shit enough to look past the source material and put that onscreen.
I WISH HOLLYWOOD UNDERSTOOD …
- We're multidimensional and would like to be treated as such.
- we work twice as hard (getting half as much) in order to defend ourselves against an assumption of mediocrity.
- you have black women screenwriters masquerading as lawyers because no one took them seriously.
- we can write for anyone, not just for black women.
- we also have to deal with speaking up when marginalized people are portrayed in a negative or stereotypical light.
- we have such little room for error. We have to be exceptional.
MICROAGGRESSION HORROR STORIES
- was mistaken as a stand-in for Kerry Washington and also was asked if she was the script supervisor.
- white showrunner looked at her almost in disbelief and said, "You're really smart."
- people use their one black friend to explain why your point of view is wrong.
- someone from the dominant race believes they know more about the "minority" experience and wants to enlighten the world about our struggles.
- to deny that 'they don't see color' is not realistic and can actually be hurtful.
- her experience wasn't valid because she wasn't "really black." Because she is Yale educated.
- reluctance to turn a show into an "issues" show or make things too "political."
- being told she is too sensitive.
- being female and black, she was constantly questioned or ignored.
PLEASE STOP …
- hiring women or black people solely because there is a woman or black character on your show.
- requiring black writers to also be performers.
- being afraid to talk about race. And calling us "angry".
- telling her to "wait her turn" to develop her own idea.
- asking her if she cut my hair. Natural hair shrinks.
PLEASE START …
- asking us to lunch or drinks.
- asking writers of color for recommendations.
- demanding from agents to read people of color specifically.
- asking agencies about new talent.
- hiring black writers even when there aren't black characters in the main cast.
- considering our creative range.
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