Core Post 4 - Hana Lee

As we delve into a more inclusive, diverse age of media production and consumption, it is important to dissect and further understand where we came from and how we got to where we are today. One of the individuals who paved the path for Black stars was Paul Robeson, who is known today for his work in The Emperor Jones and Show Boat. While starring in these programs, Roberson “played or was associated with the heroes of Black culture” according to Dyer, but “he also played the stereotype of the white imagination”. Assumably due to the great lack of representation throughout each step of the production process. Starting from the writers room, there needs to be diversity within the staff in order to ensure everyone is represented in race,gender, sexuality, etc… And beyond this, people of all different backgrounds need to be represented from one team to the next because without this, society reflects exactly what Dyer criticizes: stereotypes from the white perspective. One star who comes to mind for me when we speak about Black masculinity is Terry Crews because he breaks many of the stereotypes typically assigned to Black stars.

With the conversation surrounding the #MeToo movement, we have seen many brave individuals come forward with their stories, and Terry Crews’s story was an impactful one.

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In his segment on Good Morning America, Crews highlights his experience at a Hollywood event. During his segment, he speaks about how “ If [he] would have just retaliated in defense [he] would be under jail right now. That's one thing [he] knew being a large African-American man in America, [he] would immediately be seen as a thug but [he’s] not a thug”. Terry’s account reflects how Black men, especially those who maintain a built physique, have been typically portrayed by the stories built through a white lens. He demonstrates how much power and influence even one individual can make in a multitude of industries. The entertainment industry is one industry that needs to be particularly given attention because we have seen how important representation is for our younger generations.

One such example comes from Marvel's Black Panther which has sparked conversation around representation for Black actors. Through each and every milestone the film has made, the fact that Black Panther has now become the most Tweeted about film on the medium and beyond that, has begun conversation around the strong women in the film. Identifying as a female, I think that this film does as much for females as it does for the Black community.

Roberson and Crews are two figures who have done an immense amount in pushing the boundaries of representation further. As we talk about how important representation and more importantly, inclusion are within our society, I hope this cognitive movement actually translates into actual production and action.