We Asked White Hollywood How They'd Solve Its Diversity Issue, Here's What They Said

Since #OscarsSoWhite first trended back in 2015, after every single acting nominee was white, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been trying to make sure history doesn’t repeat itself. Yet even with a complete overhaul of its membership, to make it younger and more diverse — with additions such as Jordan Peele, Barry Jenkins, Janelle Monae, and Donald Glover, among others — the Academy is still made up of only 13% people of color. And reports last August showed there’s been no significant improvement in diversity in filmmaking with white actors securing 70.7% of the speaking roles. And although #OscarsSoWhite didn’t trend this year when the nominations for the 91^st annual Academy Awards were released, it’s clear with its membership makeup and lack of acting nominees for Black actors and actresses that the Academy is still grappling with its diversity issue. It’s a shame when Regina King, whose career has spanned three decades, earns her first Oscar nomination this year for her stirring role as the matriarch in If Beale Street Could Talk. Not to mention, Spike Lee earned his first-ever directing nod in his 30-year career for BlacKkKlansman; and we need not run down his receipts. So often when conversations about diversity come up in Hollywood, they rest on the shoulders of Black actors, actresses, directors and producers. So for the last four months, ESSENCE asked white allies, who have more privileges, access and pay equity, how they’d solve the diversity issue in Hollywood. Watch the video above, or read below to see what they said. While some pointed out how they’re already choosing diverse projects as proof of steps forward, others recognized the need to do more.