Michael B. Jordan Slams Hollywood For Lack Of Inclusion
The protests that have erupted over the killing of George Floyd has brought to light several grievances that Black people have over the decades. From police brutality, grievances have now been brought up even in the field of entertainment, as brought up by actor Michael B. Jordan.
Variety reports that the 33-year-old actor issued his demand for racial equality in Hollywood during a weekend protest in Century City in Los Angeles. The protest was organized by the ICM Partners, WME, UTA, and CAA agencies in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Jordan’s call for racial equality was in addition to his speech against police brutality.
Jordan called on Hollywood to “invest in Black staff,” noting that he has an inclusion rider in his contract that allows him to demand for diversity in projects that he is a part of. However, he insisted that agencies and studios should also follow suit if real change is to happen.
The inclusion rider that Jordan brought up is something that was introduced in 2018 by Frances McDormand during her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, according to NJ.com, The inclusion rider is a provision in a contract that requires production staff and casting diversity.
Jordan brought up Hollywood’s commitment to 50/50 gender parity for this year and challenged them to do the same for black hiring. He called for more content made by Black creatives, in companies that have Black consultants and Black executives. Jordan also pointed out that Hollywood loves to use Black culture and should commit to funding not just Black organizations but also Black cultural leaders, companies, and brands.
Jordan joins the growing ranks of Black celebrities who are calling for an end not just to police brutality but also racial equality in multiple fields.
Perhaps one of the biggest names to call for change is Beyoncé, who used her Dear Class of 2020 speech to voice support for Black Lives Matter as well as to call out the sexism and racism she encountered during the course of her career.
Star Wars actor John Boyega also gained attention last week after delivering a passionate speech at a London Black Lives Matter protest where he called on his fellow protesters to maintain their momentum as well as to keep the protests peaceful.
Acclaimed director Spike Lee also applauded the diversity of the crowds joining the Black Lives Matter protests, noting the similarities it had to the civil rights protests he witnessed as a child during the 1960s.
Other celebrities that have seen in the protests sparked by George Floyd’s killing include Ariana Grande, Cole Sprouse, Emily Ratajkowski, Kehlani, Miguel, Machine Gun Kelly, Paris Jackson, Tessa Thompson, Tinashe, and Timothee Chalamet.