As part of Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood conversations, Yvette Nicole Brown sat down with Deputy Sditor, Yolanda Sangweni, to discuss the limited roles available to black women and why she thinks twice when she’s offered a part.
The Odd Couple actress says that often when she takes a role she thinks twice about how the character is portrayed and “sometimes when I’m saying yes to something, I’m like, ‘is this going to set us back?’ ” Brown acknowledges that quite often the roles offered to black women aren’t very engaging and usually service people — assistants, meter maids, and nurses — with sassy attitudes.
“My agent calls and I’m like, ‘Am I a TSA agent?’ Oh, and, attitude is implied. That’s understood that you need to be sassy. The sassy meter maid. The sassy assistant. And, I’m tired of it.”
Brown tells ESSENCE being Black in Hollywood means fighting for roles with depth. “I want more for our people.”
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