HomeEvents Celebrating Black Women: Representation in Hollywood

Celebrating Black Women: Representation in Hollywood

The Geena Davis Institute held a virtual event to celebrate black women and unveil its new study on black representation in Hollywood.

Friday, March 05, 2021

The Geena Davis Institute hosted an impactful virtual salon, "Celebrating Black Women in Hollywood," to discuss GDI's new study, "Representations of Black Women in Hollywood." The event, co-hosted by Meta and SAG-AFTRA, featured a remarkable lineup of speakers and panelists who delved into the portrayal and representation of black women in the entertainment industry. Moderated by CEO Madeline Di Nonno, the event emphasized the ongoing need for diverse and authentic storytelling.

Speakers and Panelists:

Madeline Di Nonno - CEO, Geena Davis Institute
Jen Barrett - Global Entertainment & Digital Experience Executive at Meta
Deborah Riley Draper - Writer and Director
Gabrielle Carteris - Former President, SAG-AFTRA
Geena Davis - Founder and Chair, Geena Davis Institute
Dr. Caroline Heldman - Professor, Gender, Women, & Sexuality Studies
Dr. Ninoshka McTaggart - Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Specialist
Corinne Diane Williams - Founder and CEO, Chronicle Media
Marley Dias - Founder, #1000BlackGirlBooks; Host and Executive Producer,
Lorraine Toussaint - Actress

Event Highlights:

Madeline Di Nonno set the stage by highlighting the importance of celebrating black history every day and the need for action over complaints, inspired by Shirley Chisholm's words. Dr. Caroline Heldman and Dr. Ninoshka McTaggart gave an overview of GDI's groundbreaking research study on the portrayal of Black women in Hollywood, emphasizing the need for more authentic and diverse representations.

Lorraine Toussaint and Marley Dias shared inspiring personal anecdotes, highlighting their journeys and the importance of representation. The study revealed how black women are underrepresented in Hollywood in leading roles, highlighting the need for equitable representation. The panel discussed the systemic changes needed to improve the portrayal and opportunities for black women in film and television.

Key Takeaways:

Representation Matters: Authentic and diverse representation of black women is crucial in media to influence societal perceptions and self-image among young black girls. Projects made by black women and other underrepresented groups in Hollywood need to be supported.
Intersectionality is Key: Addressing the unique experiences of black women requires an intersectional approach that considers both race and gender.
Systemic Change Needed: Hollywood must go beyond tokenism and ensure equitable hiring practices at all levels, from writers and directors to executives.
The Power of Advocacy: Advocating for underrepresented voices is essential to bring about meaningful change in the industry.
Implementation of Equitable Hiring Practices: Studios and networks must commit to anti-discriminatory hiring practices and ensure diverse representation in decision-making roles.
Promote Positive Representation: Content creators should be mindful of avoiding harmful stereotypes and strive to portray black women in diverse and empowering roles.

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Upcoming Events

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In Person

The Hollywood Summit: Advancing Women in Tech

Join us for a dynamic summit where Hollywood meets Tech to bridge the gender gap. Discover how authentic portrayals of women in Tech can inspire change!

6pm - 9pm - The Ebell of Los Angeles

Speaker:

Geena Davis, Founder and Chair, Geena Davis Institute

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