So Stereotypical: An Exploration into Black Representation on TV and Film
Hey, my name is Amari Walker. I will be reporting on research that highlights the challenges and barriers that Black creatives face when trying to make something of themselves in the entertainment industry.
My research will, hopefully, provide a reason to maintain Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices and policies. Therefore, I'd like to share what I learned about some systematic stereotypes and discrimination that led to the suppression of African Americans’ work due to racial barriers and challenges that conflict with their job opportunities.
For example, in 1912, Black professionals economically labeled as “middle-class” founded a resort known as the “Idlewild Terrance,” in Lake County, Michigan. The purpose of this 2,700-acre resort was to be exclusively for blacks. As time went on, Idlewild became a place for many black talents aside from the surrounding bars. In Lewis Walker and Ben Wilson’s (2002) book, “Black Eden,” it is mentioned that these talents contributed to “the growth and development of that area as a resort community.”
Lewis and Walker quote Desiree Cooper’s, a writer, observation of how the Harlem Renaissance reached small towns, like Idlewild. As a result, Idlewild became the “showcase for black entertainment between 1940 and 1960 (Walker & Wilson, p.116).” In other words, Idlewild was a place that Blacks could call their own despite the nay-sayers.
Although we don’t have a place like this in today’s world, learning about this resort made me realize how blacks are still trying to avoid all the challenges and obstacles to thrive in this world. With that said, let’s get into how systematic stereotypes and discrimination influence the careers of black creators in television and film.
Did you know that African Americans were excluded at major Hollywood studios?
Due to the exclusion, African Americans were founding independent film companies between the 1910s and 1950s (Erigha, 2018). It wasn’t until the end of the Civil Rights era that the rise of African American directors in Hollywood increased, resulting in blacks composing 2-3% of film directors.
Recognizing Hollywood as a racialized industry (Erigha, 2018), it didn’t shock me that black directors typically work on significantly smaller-budget films compared to white directors. Yet, there are other challenges to be faced in this industry.
The Challenges
1. Stereotypes, even the underlying ones, play a huge part in black representation on TV and film. As McKinsey & Company (2021) state, the role of blacks in TV and film often portrays personal trauma, which is asked of them in the discovery stage of the creation process.
2. Funding: “Fewer Black-led stories get told, and when they are, these projects have been consistently underfunded and undervalued, despite often earning higher relative returns than other properties” (McKinsey & Company, 2021).
3. Representation: “Less than 6% of the writers, directors, and producers of US-produced films are Black.; Black actors play only 11% of leading roles and are often funneled to race-related projects, which typically receive lower investment in both production and promotion” (McKinsey & Company, 2021).
As a result of these challenges, it has been proven that Black creatives are primarily responsible for providing opportunities for other Black creatives. So, let’s look at an example where this has occurred.
At this year’s 56th Annual NAACP Image Awards, The Wayans family were inducted into The Hall of Fame. Although the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People hosts their Image Awards annually, this year’s induction of the Wayans family was significant because their family has influenced film, television, and stand-up comedy for decades.
Their family influence began with Keenan Wayan’s sketch comedy, In Living Color, inspiring his brothers. From there, Damon Wayans Sr. began doing stand-up comedy, which led to his acting in Major Payne and My Wife and Kids.Then, Shawn and Marlon were co-creators and co-stars in their own show, The Wayans Bros (Whitt, 2025). Although Keenan inspired his brothers, he ensured that they had their own opportunities by introducing them to what the world had to offer. Thus, the Wayans have always kept family and business together, creating longevity and an incredible legacy in the entertainment industry.
With that said, I hope you enjoyed reading some of my research. For more, stay tuned and until then share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Citations:
· Dunn, J.,Lyn, S., Onyeador, N., & Zegeye, A. (2021). “Black representation in film and TV: The challenges and impact of increasing diversity”. McKinsey & Company, https://www.mckinsey.com/Featured-Insights/Diversity-and-Inclusion/Black-representation-in-film-and-TV-The-challenges-and-impact-of-increasing-diversity
· Erigha, M. (2018). “On the margins: black directors and the persistence of racial inequality in twenty-first century Hollywood.” Ethnic and Racial Studies, 41:7, 1217- 1234, doi:10.1080/01419870.2017.1281984,
· Walker, L. & Wilson, B.C. Black Eden: The Idlewild Community. East Lansing, Michigan, Michigan State University Press, 2002
· Whitt, J. (2025). “The Wayans family are official ‘Hall of Fame’ Inductees”. Rolling Out,https://rollingout.com/2025/02/24/the-wayans-family-hall-of-fame-inductees/
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