Hey you. Yes you, reading this (thanks for that btw). I have a question for you. Ready? Can you do me a favor and name three Black female directors/producers that are NOT named Oprah, Ava, or Shonda?
...Have some answers for me yet? You didn't Google it did you? If you did, no judgement. Want to know why I won't judge you? Perhaps you can't think of names off the top of your head because Black women are still fighting for opportunities. Perhaps you can't think of Black female directors and producers as easily because they are working in an industry that is dominated by White men. And perhaps there are plenty of Black female producers and directors that are quite talented and do amazing work, but you just don't know of them because they don't receive as much recognition as others.
Deadline recently published an article stating that the The Academy Awards show that aired on February 28th experienced an eight year low in ratings. I will be honest and I say I may have contributed to that. I did not watch. I didn't initially plan to do it as some type of political statement. Yes, it's airing was right off the heels of the popular #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, which shed light on the lack of diversity within The Academy. But more than anything, there was simply just a lack of interest. I didn't even remember that it was airing on that particular day and time, which is quite sad considering my love for media, film, and acting. The award show used to be something I'd watch to gain motivation. It used to be something that inspired me and made me think, "Kenya, this is what you are capable of, if you just continue to dream, believe, and work hard." But is that really true? Is believing, and talent, and hard work enough--especially as a Black woman in America? The older I become, the more conscious and aware I become of societal influences and how they affect my life and those that are like me. The Oscars was no longer something I could watch for inspiration. It was a microcosm of a larger issue and a reminder of the harsh realities of life.
The more I confronted my newly found lack of interest in The Oscars, the more I also realized that maybe the feeling was mutual. Perhaps I wasn't its target demographic. Maybe it meant so little to me, because I meant so little to it/them. Sure, Chris Rock was asked to be the host, but even that couldn't make up for the fact that people of color, specifically Black women, were highly underrepresented, not just on stage, but within The Academy in general.
The easy rebuttal is "well DO something about it" or "create your own award shows". And the easy answer to that is "we have been DOING something" and "we have created our own shows". Black women have fought immensely and tirelessly for equality. Black women have created "Black Girls Rock" and "Essence's Black Women in Hollywood" to honor and inspire young Black girls and women alike. All of those things are important and they matter, but it doesn't stop there. How much less are we getting paid in comparison to our counterparts? How much does having an Academy Award, or even a nomination, affect your reputation, opportunities, and pay? And how much does reputation, opportunities, and pay influence one's ability to answer the question "Name three Black female directors/producers"? Creating our own does not mean that we must stop striving to gain more access.
MaineDrama Productions is comprised of three Black women who all desire to one day be one of those names that come to mind when you think of Black female directors and producers. It is our hope that you assist us in utilizing the arts to make a difference. We want to create work that shines a light on taboo topics. We want to create meaningful work that challenges the status quo and educates, uplifts, empowers, inspires, and provokes conversation. But we can't get there without access. We can't get there without resources. And we can't get there without support. Although i've had to accept some of the harsh realities of life about institutional racism & sexism, power dynamics, and under-representation, I've also accepted that there is hope and a difference can be made. But we will need your help to do it. More info on how you can assist us here.
Oh, and if you're still googling Black female directors/producers, you can stop now. "Tramaine, Kenya, and Adriene" will do just fine :-)
No comments:
Post a Comment