Kerry Washington thinks Americans are finally ready to embrace diversity on their small screens.
At the Paley Center for Media’s tribute celebrating the achievements of African-Americans on TV, the Scandal star said TV networks are finally “realizing how valuable it is to have diversity and inclusivity” as part of their programming. “We’re realizing that it’s important to celebrate each other’s differences,” she said.
Washington is the modern day leader of the diverse army of women taking over TV. She’s risen in the ranks as one of the biggest stars on television with her role as Olivia Pope on Shonda Rhimes’ Scandal. But who would believe there was once a time when this star didn’t even watch TV?
“I wasn’t really allowed to watch a lot of television [growing up]; we watched a lot of PBS in my home,” she shared.
Washington may not have had a lot of access to cable growing up, but she’s definitely here for what’s happening on network TV these days.
“I think it’s a really exciting time in television where we are celebrating each other’s differences and each other’s similarities as human beings,” she said. “There are cultural differences we all need to learn about and be exposed to.”