Jesse Williams
Hope for the future of inclusion in film…
However, be careful to introduce yourself to “performative diversity.”
Published
Tmz.com
Jesse Williams is all for progress in the film industry… and admitting he's optimistic about the future of diversity – as long as it's not just for show.
The actor spoke at the various storytelling panel for the Sundance Film Festival this weekend… and he talked about two different efforts to promote inclusion in the film – the real and the performative.
Listen to the clip for yourself… Jesse says he sees and appreciates many creators who are genuinely trying to promote more equity in their films – but he says he's also seen the “trap of performative diversity.”
Williams points to things like social media users putting up a black space afterward George Floyd Was murdered …or film companies forced to hire people to deal with police racism rather than simply work with racists.
Festival of Books / Los Angeles Times
Jesse says this kind of diversity – which has been blown up by some It's finally being phased out in Hollywood…and it's leaving people hired as a “black friend” in a worse place when it becomes clear they weren't qualified for the job.
Fundamentally, it's not that Jesse is against diversity in films – in fact, he said later during the talk, having people of color in the lead.
Fox News
Of course, DEI programs across the country are now in serious trouble…according to the President Donald Trump Signed an executive order earlier this week banning them in the federal government.
DEI employees in the federal government have been furloughed and are headed for layoffs… and some private companies like Meta and McDonald's have also made drastic changes to their DEI programs this month.
Sounds like Jesse believes the industry is at least moving in the right direction… even if the performative trap will always be out there.