This felt like the first time in history that there was a worldwide recognition of the Black Independence Day. After all, on July 4th 1776, when a group of white men met in a room to declare themselves free from the tyranny of the royal crown - these truths were only self-evident for a select few. Though the abolition of slavery was a central tenet of the north's victory in the Civil War, enslaved people were not made aware of their freedom until a few years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
With the tragic and unnecessary deaths of the countless Black men and women at the hands of police, one man and one city sparked a new sort of revolution. Those who have been blind to the plight of Black people are starting to recognize there is a deep rooted systemic imbalance. Every industry is taking stock, and the film and production industry is navigating its own waves. Individuals in positions of power or privilege are speaking out and recognizing that there is more that needs to be done not only to provide opportunity for Black people, but also to ensure equity.
Someone who I consider has always been a voice of truth, especially for Black women in the industry is Ms. Viola Davis. The same words that she spoke of in 2015 are the same ones resonating with Americans today. We have to move beyond talking about diversity, to actually providing the opportunities for the under served.
And let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.
~Viola Davis
My goal as a filmmaker is to provide those opportunities for women, for Black women, and people of color that Ms. Davis acknowledged. I am appreciative of organizations like the Jerome Foundation that gave me such an opportunity to complete the production of Happily Married After, which is currently going through the festival circuit (mostly online).
This month we also released What Marilyn Didn't Know on Amazon Video. We had worked on this about two years ago, and it was our first film to screen internationally. Thank you for taking the time to support us by buying, renting, and sharing the content we create.