DJIMON HOUNSOU ON HOLLYWOOD RACISM

In a now-viral clip, Actor Djimon Hounsou recently shed light on systemic racism in Hollywood during a disheartening CNN interview.

With over three decades in the film industry, several award nominations and a face instantly recognisable to any film enthusiast, Honsou revealed he is still struggling financially. Despite successfully playing numerous roles, he said his talent and contributions have repeatedly been overlooked - and not received the recognition they deserve.

The interview is sobering, reminding us that Africans globally should have no illusions: there is no such thing as 'cracking the code' to success in an inherently flawed system. Regardless of how brilliant we are, we are still viewed through the same racialised lens - regardless of achievements.

Of course, there are a few us who have made it to the so-called top - they are the exceptions, not the rule, and are arguably put there to maintain the illusion that Black success is possible within the White supremacists structure.

That’s something confirmed by ‘Black faces in high places’ such as Oprah Winfrey - who’s been accused of gatekeeping on behalf of the systemically racist film industry. In 2023, for instance, actress Taraji P. Henson, following her role in The Colour Purple (produced by Winfrey), broke down in an interview with SiriusXm, saying, “I’m just tired of working so hard, being gracious at what I do [and] getting paid a fraction of the cost.”

Sources:

https://nypost.com/2023/12/20/entertainment/taraji-p-henson-sobs-over-being-underpaid-in-hollywood-the-math-aint-mathing/

https://vnhsmirror.com/224651/entertainment/wake-up-hollywood-the-racial-wage-gap-is-real/

https://www.bps.org.uk/psychologist/systemic-racism-permeates-all-levels-our-society

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUzqD5UcLwo