By Amber Dhall
Brief Introduction: I’m a South-Asian actress and film-buff, so I am no stranger to the racism and under-representation of minorities the film industry faces. I feel very strongly about shedding more light into how important it is to continue to fight for racial equality in Hollywood since cinema can play a crucial role in self-identity and self-empowerment. It’s a tool that can be either very beneficial or very detrimental, and it is vital that people become aware of how this issue can manifest itself as the latter.
The world of Hollywood; the heart of the entertainment industry, the place where dreams come true right before us on that beautiful silver screen. Whether you’re a dedicated cinephile like myself or simply a casual film-watcher, almost everyone has felt a natural love for the movies. But as much as we are drawn to the magic of it all, there is a real darkness of power that Hollywood holds over us. Let’s be honest, whether it be good or bad, Hollywood has shaped the likes of our political, economic, and social institutions for decades. Yet, even with such a bold reputation, the empty hopes and promises for diversification in the industry remain yet to be filled. Don’t let the plastered lies of “progressive ideals” fool you; the infamously dubbed “Tinsel Town” is still a place of all talk and no action. What’s even sadder; it’s not surprising.
Credits to originial owner
Before we can understand the present, just like in any good movie, we must go back to the beginning. Hollywood’s infamous past is one stained by the stigmatization of minorities and the creation of barriers against more inclusive hiring standards. As sociologist Nancy Wang quotes in her book Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism: “Racism, in the form of job exclusion and racially stereotyped roles, has defined the Hollywood film industry since its birth in the early 1900s.”
For decades during the early 20th century, white actors and industry professionals were the preferred hire over minority actors. Especially with on-screen talent, the detrimental power dynamics created between the dominant white characters and submissive minority characters paved the way for the incredibly harmful archetypes we see cast upon people of colour. They became caricatures; easy targets of stereotypes that would become instantly recognizable by audiences. Take white actor Mickey Rooney portraying a Japanese chef in Breakfast at Tiffanys (1961), or Laurence Olivier playing the lead role (Othello) in Othello (1965), a character with African and Arab roots. These characters were formulated into exaggerated “props” on screen, in an attempt to mimic (and undermine) their ethnic roots to a white audience - what we now know to be “whitewashing”.
This wave of vulnerability for marginalized communities only became stronger when Hollywood began burdening actual ethnic actors with these stereotypes. The Italian gangster, the nerdy Asian, the sassy Black woman, the “exotic” Latina; all of these racial tropes became normalized in film, desensitizing us to not being able to see the problem right in front of us. And, the unfortunate reality is that this issue is still reigning with full force today.
In our modern age of cultural acceptance, following their rather tumultuous past, minority industry professionals have finally demanded their voices be heard. They began petitioning Hollywood to adopt more inclusive hiring standards in order to promote diversity and multiracialism in the film industry. And after the infamous #OscarsSoWhite campaign of 2016, money-hungry white studio executives were forced to listen - or so we thought. Sure, 2020 marked a milestone for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (as in the Oscars Academy), who welcomed the largest number of women, LGBTQ+ members, and people of colour into their elite group. I mean, it’s a fantastic headline; Hollywood seems like they're “with the times''. Who doesn’t love a happy ending? Well, ladies and gentlemen, you have once again been fooled, because as of 2020, a whopping 84% of the Academy is still white, with only 16% being people of colour. The disparity in those numbers is absolutely ridiculous, and the transparency of their true intentions to the public was once again concealed. But then again, Hollywood is the biggest manipulator of them all.
After such a long and complex history with facing the issue of diversity amongst Hollywood, it’s easy for many to disregard the problem altogether. So why not do it? It’s quite simple, really - because representation matters. We cannot be a society that encourages the forthcoming of progressive ideals and stand by as such an influential force tries to belittle that equality. It models to others that this behaviour is acceptable; that these attitudes of ignorance and deep-rooted hatred will always reign victorious over justice. Because that is what it is, it is an injustice.
One of the many reasons I fell in love with the magic of the movies was because of the power of a story. One single story that can connect to someone so deeply, it transforms them. It allows them to see things from a newer perspective, in a language they can understand. To deny a person the right to tell their story, no matter what the cause, is a disrespect to the very art of cinema itself. We need to create an environment that welcomes people of colour into the industry, that appreciates and gratifies the new talent of these individuals. We need to create role models that young children, from all backgrounds, can connect with, and feel empowered by. We need to change.
This isn’t a matter of “liberal politics”, this is a matter of saving Hollywood. No matter their motivation, studio executives, casting directors, agents; we all need to do our part in making sure everyone has a voice at the table. Because as cliché as it might sound, artistic expression and a love for film, is something that knows no boundaries.
Works Cited
Deutsche Welle. “What Hollywood Movies Do to Perpetuate Racial Stereotypes: DW:
21.02.2019.” DW.COM, www.dw.com/en/hollywood-movies-stereotypes-prejudice-
data-analysis/a-47561660.
Jóhann, Björn. “A Brief History of Hollywood's Racism, Sexism, and Homophobia.” Medium,
An Injustice!, 14 Sept. 2020, medium.com/an-injustice/a-brief-history-of-hollywoods-
racism-sexism-and-homophobia-6e1a89d20590.
Watson, Amy. “Distribution of Voters at the Academy Awards by Ethnicity 2020.” Statista, 29
Jan. 2020, www.statista.com/statistics/321291/voters-academy-awards-ethnicity/.
About the Author
Amber is a Grade 11 student from Toronto, Canada. She is an actor and a major film buff, so she has always been a big advocate for arts education, as well as shedding more light into using artistic expression as a form of self-empowerment. When she's not busy with school work, you can either find her baking, hanging out with her family, or watching movies. She hopes to provide some enjoyment and insight to you all through her work, and encourages you all to reach out and chat!