In 2017, USC Annenberg published a report on diversity in Hollywood, finding that “exclusion is the norm rather than the exception in Hollywood.” It’s possible to argue that minority representation in the film and television industries exists, in reference to recent movies such as Black Panther and Crazy Rich Asians. And while minority representation is improving, to say Hollywood truly supports minorities is part of the problem. Hollywood must first recognize its ignorance and its implicit — sometimes explicit — bias against minorities before working toward representing them.
It’s important to realize that in using the phrase “minority representation,” what is implied is accurate minority representation. To continue to perpetrate false and offensive stereotypes in movies or TV shows does not constitute as minority representation.
Mass media can be a powerful influence on how minorities are viewed. As a result, the media often “teaches” the public about both ethnic and societal minorities — but too often it does so unfairly and inaccurately. According to a 2011 study by The Opportunity Agenda, these limited portrayals of minorities result in “less attention from doctors to harsher sentencing by judges, lower likelihood of being hired for a job or admitted to school, lower odds of getting loans, and a higher likelihood of being shot by police.” Minority representation has the power to dictate many aspects of minorities’ lives.
Crude portrayals and lack of representation also influence how minorities view themselves — by reducing self-esteem and reinforcing inaccurate stereotypes. The constant barrage of stereotypes can deceive minorities on how they should act. Casting white actors for historically non-white roles (“whitewashing”) is especially prevalent in Hollywood, encouraging actors to perpetuate and to reinforce stereotypes “accurately” portraying a minority. Recent examples include films Death Note and Ghost in the Shell, in which a white lead was cast for an Asian character. On the other hand, minority actors find themselves in a catch-22: they must take on roles to earn a living, but many of these roles contribute to stereotyping. Many minorities are cast for roles only to portray a stereotyped character — Ice Cube’s character in Fist Fight, for example, amounts to the stereotypical angry and violent black man.
Films and TV shows must work toward better representing minorities, subsequently giving minorities role models to look up to. The public should not be taught to idolize the white hero and scorn the minority villain but that people of all backgrounds are equal. The public should not be taught that a woman must assume a domestic role to fulfill her purpose but that a woman can achieve anything she puts her mind to. The public should not be taught that a gay person is your “gay best friend” but a person who cannot belong to anyone nor be confined to the status of “sidekick.”
All too often, if minorities are not falsely depicted in a film or TV show, they are not depicted at all. 70.7% of characters in 2017 films were white, while 4.8% were Asian, 6.2% Hispanic, and 12.1% black. Less than 1% belonged to the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to featuring minority leads, the film and television industries must work to hire diverse talent behind the camera. Many directors, writers, and executives that belong to a minority group do not receive the recognition and opportunities they deserve; in Hollywood, a lack of diversity exists in all aspects of production. Another USC Annenberg study found that, from a pool of 1,233 directors in the span of 11 years, only 4.3% were women, 5.2% were black, and 3.2% were Asian.
Today, minority representation rests in the audience’s hands. Supporting films that feature minority leads and movies that are written or produced by minority filmmakers will, by default, advocate for greater representation in Hollywood. When the public demands more inclusiveness, Hollywood will have to deliver.
