Not all black people are men; not all women are white. Too often the distinct and different stories of women of colour are overlooked or erased
I have been an actor for more than 20 years now, and throughout that time there has been an ongoing discussion of diversity. Is there enough diversity in Hollywood? How many people of colour and women are enough? Does diversity sell? First it was: why are there no black films at the Oscars? Then, at the 2017 Oscars: wow, there are so many black movies at the Oscars; I guess the diversity issue is fixed?
As important as diversity in storytelling is, there is a deeper concern than representation. There are stories that must be told but that are all too often erased, even within narratives about race, or about gender. A group I work with, the African American Policy Forum (AAPF) and its co-founder, law professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, have been raising this issue for more than 20 years. Because narrative erasures happen not only on the screen, but in public discourse as well. And the consequences have been devastating, as racial justice, feminism and other social justice discourses have been needlessly divided and set at odds with each other.
June 08, 2017 at 05:47PM
from Thandie Newton
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