Right now, Hollywood seems to be in the midst of a revolution. Since its inception, the institution has been perceived to be predominantly white: few actors of color on and behind the scenes are recognized for their talents. Even now, in 2015, we're seeing actors like Will Smith boycott the upcoming Oscars because of the lack of racial diversity among the individuals nominated. Modern society is at a crossroads: it's time to stop relegating characters of color to supporting positions, and allow our media to represent life as it is, where leading men and women can be of any race.
A champion for diversity in television is powerhouse producer and writer Shonda Rhimes. Responsible for hits such as Grey's Anatomy, How To Get Away with Murder, and Scandal, this talented woman has given rise to the powerful non-white female character. But during her acceptance speech of the Producers Guild's Norman Lear Award for Achievement in Television, her message and push for diversity on screen was a little less subtle.
Incredibly successful writer and producer Shonda Rimes just received a very prestigious award from the Producers Guild, celebrating her achievements. She is the first solo female recipient of this award. Her wildly popular shows have given us unforgettable characters, who happen to be, more often than not, characters with rich and varied racial backgrounds.
But during her acceptance speech, she expressed her disappointment about the current prevailing mentality about race on television. She had some harsh words of truth for the audience, this time outright stating her belief that television casts should reflect the diversity of our society.
In her speech, she says, "I'm going to be totally honest with you, I completely deserve this. I have against the odds, courageously pioneered the art of writing for people of color as if they were human beings."
“It’s not trailblazing to write the world as it actually is. Women are smart and strong. They are not sex toys or damsels in distress. People of color are not sassy or dangerous or wise. And, believe me, people of color are never anybody’s sidekick in real life.”
"I created the content that I wanted to see and I created what I know is normal. So basically, you are just giving me an award for being me, in which case I totally deserve it. Really, I am honored to receive it. The respect of this award does mean the world. It just makes me a little bit sad."
The fearless producer even put the crowd in its place. "First of all, strong women and three-dimensional people of color is something Norman [Lear] was doing 40-something years ago. So how come it has to be done all over again? What are we waiting for? I mean, I know this is a room full of producers, so probably you’re waiting for money."
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