Article by Wesley Bias-Saunders, TPT Staff Writer

This year marks a paramount milestone in the representation of African-Americans in the realm of entertainment. Hit shows like Abbott Elementary swept the Emmys garnering seven nominations and three wins (Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series). And major motion pictures are showcasing black thespians in leading roles, a prime example being the Little Mermaid movie starring Halle Bailey, which is set to hit theaters in May 2023. This rise of black cinema may seem new to some, but behind the seemingly overnight thrust of black cinema into the limelight are decades of hard-fought battles.

The role of African-Americans in the media has shifted dramatically over the last several decades. This shift is attributed directly to the perception of the African-American community in society. During the Golden Age of Hollywood, racist prejudice was on the rise, and black people weren’t painted in a positive light, especially in cinema. The 1939 film “Gone With The Wind” is a prime example of the perception of the African-American community during the time. The film is set against the backdrop of the Civil War, from the perspective of the Confederacy, and features black actress Hattie McDaniel. McDaniel plays the role of “Mammy,” or the Head Woman of a Confederate plantation. While the film perpetuates harmful stereotypes of African-Americans, McDaniel later became the first black woman to win an Oscar in the supporting field for this project. Although she won the award, she was not permitted to sit at the same table as her cast members. During her acceptance speech, her only hope was “that [she] shall always be a credit to [her] race and the motion picture industry.”

When people think of African-Americans in film, one man comes to mind: Sidney Poitier. Poitier is the first African-American man to win an Oscar award for Best Actor (1964) in the critically acclaimed film Lilies of the Field. The film is about a traveling handyman who stops by a rural farm to help a group of Roman Catholic nuns with repair projects on their farm. Poitier’s films and legacy continue to impact African-American media, influencing actors in all realms of cinema. He is a true legend in the dramatic subgenre of film and continues to influence the current generation of dramatic actors.

Today, actress Zendaya Coleman is making major strides in dramatic media, receiving awards for being the lead actor in "HBO" series Euphoria. Recently, she made Emmy history, becoming the youngest actress to win two Emmys, and the first black woman to win the Emmy for lead actress in a drama series twice.

The fight for representation may seem slight. But African-Americans have been fighting for decades to have positive role models in the media. Huge strides toward giving our community positive role models are being made. Representation in the fictional world is an affirmation of one's being, therefore the fight for diversity and equity in Hollywood is a crucial one.

The Power of Representation