Michael B. Jordan is teaming up with Color of Change for a new initiative known simply as #ChangeHollywood to promote more diversity and inclusion.
The initiative begins with a ‘roadmap’ to change the Hollywood system in ways that will lead to better representation in all facets of the studio system, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Following the roadmap leads to tangible and meaningful ways to invest in Black stories and Black talent, while diverting funds away from the police within the entertainment industry and using those funds to support the Black community.
Initiative: Michael B. Jordan is teaming up with Color of Change for a new initiative known simply as #ChangeHollywood to promote more diversity and inclusion
‘This roadmap is just the beginning of the journey to racial justice. We are all accomplices in the fight to transform Hollywood, and we invite content creators and industry leaders to join us in working together to #ChangeHollywood,’ says Jordan, CEO of Outlier Society.
‘We look forward to including a variety of voices in doing what we do best: telling authentic stories, bringing people together, partnering with influential artists, and changing the rules of the game,’ he added.
Jordan and his production company Outlier Society was among the first to commit to ‘inclusion riders’ with all of his projects, which lead to him working with WarnerMedia to increase diversity.
Change: ‘This roadmap is just the beginning of the journey to racial justice. We are all accomplices in the fight to transform Hollywood, and we invite content creators and industry leaders to join us in working together to #ChangeHollywood,’ says Jordan, CEO of Outlier Society
The first film produced under these new initiatives was the 2019 drama Just Mercy, which Jordan produced and starred in with Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx.
Jordan’s Outlier Society has also been in talks with talent agencies like William Morris Endeavor (WME) and Endeavor Content about committing to #ChangeHollywood.
‘The legacy of racism in Hollywood is long and unforgivable: excluding Black talent, silencing Black voices, derailing Black careers, and using the economic power of the industry to prop up police who target and enact violence on Black communities,” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization.
First: The first film produced under these new initiatives was the 2019 drama Just Mercy, which Jordan produced and starred in with Brie Larson and Jamie Foxx
‘We know from our advocacy that the industry won’t change on its own, so we’re building off our current work to hold Hollywood accountable to provide a roadmap to enacting racial justice,’ he added.
‘From the writers rooms to the streets, we are energized and ready to help Hollywood follow through on their statements that Black lives matter,’ Robinson concluded.
The roadmap is laid out at Hollywood.ColorOfChange.org/Roadmap, which also includes a directory of other resources to help combat racism and promote inclusion.
Roadmap: The roadmap is laid out at Hollywood.ColorOfChange.org/Roadmap , which also includes a directory of other resources to help combat racism and promote inclusion
The first step in this roadmap is for studios and production companies to ‘divest from the police force,’ suggesting they hire security firms instead of using police.
‘Hollywood must not use its economic power to prop up local police departments and other authorities who threaten and exploit Black lives, or promote anti-Black practices,’ the roadmap states.
The second step is to ‘invest in anti-racist content and authentic black stories,’ which includes hiring cultural consultants and ensuring that there are ‘multiple senior-level black executives’ at all studios.
No police: The first step in this roadmap is for studios and production companies to ‘divest from the police force,’ suggesting they hire security firms instead of using police
The third step is to ‘invest in Black talent & careers,’ which includes adopting inclusion riders for all projects, and increasing the number of Black people in leadership positions.
The fourth and final step is to invest in Black communities, including working with Black-owned businesses and supporting initiatives that help the Black community.
You can read the full roadmap and learn more about the initiative at Hollywood.ColorOfChange.org/RoadMap.
Invest: The third step is to ‘invest in Black talent & careers,’ which includes adopting inclusion riders for all projects, and increasing the number of Black people in leadership positions