Racism in Hollywood: Then and Now

February 20, 2019 | Cat Elliott
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Representation and diversity have scored recent successes in Hollywood with films like “Black Panther” and “Crazy Rich Asians.” But while we should take heart in our new sociocultural awareness, it’s important to remember what the realities have traditionally been for minority actors in our industry. Three actors share their experiences of confronting racism in Hollywood. And bear in mind, these examples are all from the last five years.
 
Nefe Iredia 
Known for “Scorpion,” “Code Black” and “Walk the Prank”
“I’ve been acting in LA for almost five years, and I’ve definitely seen the industry change for the better. When I first got here, I was referred to a talent manager and sent him my materials, but I had to keep following up with him. When he finally took my call, he said, ‘You’re the black woman, right? I already have one of you.’ It was disheartening, but that’s one reason I love my current management company. My rep understands that there are differences and nuances in everybody regardless of skin tone, and each individual is going to bring something different to the audition room.
The other experience I’ll never forget is an audition in New York. A casting director asked me to make the character more ‘ghetto, loud and over-the-top.’ During that time, I would see a lot of breakdowns for characters described as ‘the black female with an attitude or a chip on her shoulder.’ But there’s definitely been a positive change since then. Now if the role is specifically for an African-American female, it’s because they want to make sure that the demographic is represented, and the character is written with a lot of layers. Obviously, the industry has a long way to go, but it’s making huge strides.”
 
Herman Rosales
Known for “Lopez,” “Rosewood” and “White Famous”
“I’m originally from La Puente, and I experienced a lot of ignorance and racism growing up there. When I came to LA, I was already familiar with that mentality, so I was kind of callused against it. But I’ve been fortunate in that I haven’t come across a lot of racism in auditions or on set. I know it’s out there, though.
I have noticed, however, that in the past five years of acting in LA, I’ve gone out for a lot of gardener roles. It’s funny. Even when I was on ‘Lopez,’ I was playing his gardener. But I can say that things have changed as far as diverse actors being offered more roles that are not based on race. I’ve noticed that standup has expanded its diversity, as well, in the area of gender. I see a lot more female comics, which is great!”
 
Anthony Ma
Known for “Scandal,” “S.W.A.T.” and “Mom”
“About five years ago, I went on the most uncomfortable audition I’ve experienced as an Asian-American actor. There was a notice posted by the sign-in sheet that stated, ‘If you’re uncomfortable with this material, then you do not have to audition.’ They hadn’t sent sides beforehand, and I only found out the premise when I got there. It turned out that the character was watching a city get smashed by a giant, Godzilla-like figure before delivering a punchline in a stereotypical Asian accent. It was a moment straight out of ‘Master of None’ because after my first take, the white casting director told me, ‘Just try it with a little more accent.’
So that happened. And now I use that story to demonstrate how Hollywood has grown and seen the error of its ways. Back then, I saw a lot of breakdowns with ‘must have some sort of Asian accent.’ Now I most often see ‘must have North American accent,’ which means English-speaking Asian actors. So, it’s regained my faith in the system over the years as Hollywood has slowly changed. It’s been an interesting journey to experience as an Asian-American actor.”
Iredia, Rosales and Ma give a window onto a world of what racially diverse actors have had to experience in just the past five years. And while they report positive changes in the industry over this time, it’s important for Hollywood to continue pushing for more racially progressive representation, i.e., free of tired stereotypes and inclusive of all backgrounds and colors. As an astute leader said, “The wise build bridges while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.”