NEW YORK, NY – Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, issued the following statement in following last night’s 69th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Through our Hollywood Culture Project, Color Of Change works in the entertainment industry behind the scenes to ensure that narratives and portrayals of Black people and people of color are authentic and multidimensional. We do this work by connecting with writers and working within writers rooms to provide connections to experts, research and other resources for writers and others involved in media-making.
Rashad Robinson, Executive Director of Color Of Change:
“It was exciting, progressive and highly important to see people of color shining at this year’s Emmy awards. Lena Waithe and Donald Glover made history tonight in winning for writing and directing in a comedy series—the first Black woman and Black person to win those awards, respectively. This kind of representation is crucial for being able to tell our stories and shifting the culture of the kinds of the programs that are promoted and awarded in the industry.
“But, although progress is happening, there is still much work to be done to make television both inclusive and representative, in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Greater, more nuanced portrayals across race and community groups are still needed.”
####
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over one million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.