Sen. Smallwood-Cuevas Opens CLBC Press Event on Removals of Black DEI Studio Execs
A group of state legislators representing the California Legislative Black Caucus today spoke at a press conference at the State Capitol to express their concern about the recent abrupt departures of a number of Black female Hollywood studio executives overseeing diversity, equity and inclusion departments. The legislators called on the film studios to meet with the Black Caucus to explain their sudden removals, particularly since it occurred days after the State Legislature approved the $1.6 billion Film Tax Credit initiative to provide tax incentives for the film studios.
The legislators who participated in the press conference were: Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Riverside), Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose), Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood), Senator Dave Min (D-Orange County), Assemblymember Luz Rivas (D-San Fernando Valley), Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles), and Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).
“One executive removal could be a fluke. But four more? And we’re hearing more are to come. This is a troubling pattern. A pattern that suggests diversity, equity and inclusion is no longer a priority at the highest levels of the film industry, where decisions are made and institutional change happens,” said Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, who was charged with opening the press conference. “We’re here today to call on these studios to explain the erasure and come to the table to discuss how they plan to grow a more inclusive workforce that better reflects the diversity of California.”
The Black Caucus’ purpose for holding the press conference was to call on the film studios to: 1) Explain the removals of the executives; 2) Provide evidence on how they will commit to increasing diversity, equity and inclusion in all levels of their workforce; and 3) Adopt a diversity, equity and inclusion workforce retention tracking program to ensure their ability to certify their progress toward real inclusion.
“As Vice Chair of the Asian and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, I am proud to stand in solidarity with my colleagues in the California Legislative Black Caucus to denounce the recent dismissals of leading African Americans in the entertainment industry,” said Senator Min. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are proven to improve outcomes in our boardrooms and classrooms. At a time when too many marginalized communities are feeling under attack in our country, Hollywood is sending the wrong message — that responding to craven political attacks is more important than fairness or actual results.”
Today’s press conference also received backing from several Black industry leaders, including two who shared their remarks from their local bases in Los Angeles. “Hollywood’s hollow commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion has been exposed by the recent departure of the industry’s leading strategists for diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Kyle Bowser, Senior Vice President of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau. “We demand Hollywood stand firm in its commitment to populate its workforce and executive ranks with perspectives that can guide beyond corporate greed. We must ensure that the sources of culture that fuel the pipeline of storytelling are respected, allowing for expansive narratives that influence full social engagement.”
“We find that the barrage of diversity-backwards news stories over the past few years hails a repetitive trauma that causes internal and external stress to the undercurrent of progress,” said Bridgid Coulter, Founder of Blackbird Collective, a well-being collective for women of color and allies. “If the data shows equity for women alone would take 200+ years – even more for women of color – then the work is nowhere near done and will not happen without public-private partnership of strategic policies to accelerate so that the promise of yesterday is realized in our lifetime for a more equitable future. Representation matters.”
Senator Lola Smallwood Cuevas represents the 28th Senate District, which includes the communities of South Los Angeles, Culver City, West Los Angeles, Century City and Downtown Los Angeles. Senator Smallwood-Cuevas spent more than two decades serving as a labor organizer, civil rights activist and community advocate before her election to the State Senate. She resides in the View Park community of Los Angeles with her family.
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