Angelina Jolie Discusses Her White Privilege In New Interview
The killing of George Floyd and the protests it has sparked all over the country has resulted in soul-searching for most of Hollywood, especially white celebrities that have not had to experience the racism that actors of color have. Angelina Jolie is one prominent celebrity that has recently come out about the privilege she enjoys as a white woman in Hollywood.
In an interview for Harper’s Bazaar UK, Jolie said that having a Black child — Ethiopian-born Zahara — really drove home for her the privilege she enjoys as a white woman. The actress noted that the current system in place protects her but not her daughter and other people of color. She called the situation “intolerable” and called for changes in policies and the law that would address the structural impunity and racism currently present.
Jolie called the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests as “a deeper reckoning” and called for institutions to listen to the silenced voices of people of color especially when it comes to the laws and institutions in place. The actress also had advice for parents looking to inform their children about race and racism, saying that it would be better to listen to voice from the actual oppressed community and to not presume anything about them.
Jolie’s call to action is the latest in a list of celebrities who have spoken up about the change that needs to happen in the wake of the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. Black Panther star Michael B. Jordan, for instance, has called for more diversity in Hollywood, advocating for the inclusion of inclusion riders in contracts as well as increased hiring of Black creatives, Black executives, and Black consultants when it comes to content creation.
Aside from the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests, Hello! also notes that the interview was also an opportunity for Jolie to talk about life during the global coronavirus pandemic. The actress said that she has to remain calm so that anxiety does not trickle down onto her children, no matter what happens during the pandemic.
For instance, her youngest daughter, Vivienne, recently suffered the loss of a pet bunny. Jolie says that they decided to adopt two disabled ones to make up for the loss and that the focus needed to take care of them has been a great help for Vivienne.
Jolie may just end up spending even more time with her six children as the global coronavirus pandemic does not show any signs of slowing down. According to the June 14 situation report from the World Health Organization, there are now 7,690,708 confirmed COVID-19 cases around the world, with deaths at 427,630 people.
In the United States, the June 14 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 2,063,812. Deaths caused by COVID-19 are now at 115,271 people.