While the last two years have been incredibly tough for almost everyone, a few beneficial changes have arisen during that period. Among the gains made, there’s been a dramatic increase in TV and movie roles for Black and nonbinary actors. William Earl of Variety reported that “representation for Black and…
Tag: Television
Anti-LGBTQ Group ‘One Million Moms’ Protests Mattress Company’s Inclusive Commercial Featuring Lesbian Couple
The conservative anti-LGBTQ hate organization known as One Million Moms is at it again, this time protesting a TV commercial from the bedding company Avocado Green Mattress, which features a number of couples relaxing on their mattresses, including what the group considers an “offensive” lesbian couple. The Advocate’s Trudy Ring…
ABC’s Bachelor Series Loses Its Host Following Racist Scandal
In an explosive development for the world of reality TV, ABC has announced that Chris Harrison will be leaving his role as host of The Bachelor/Bachelorette dating reality series after nearly two decades. His departure follows an incident in February 2021 when Harrison attempted to defend a contestant’s racist past…
Obama Announces New Netflix Animated Series to Teach Kids About Government and Construction of His Controversial Presidential Library
It’s been a busy few days for former President Barack Obama. On June 2, his team announced details of a new animated Netflix special designed to teach kids about government. And after years of delays and opposition, the Obama Presidential Center announced on June 4 that it is finally due…
Phylicia Rashad, Actress and Iconic TV Mom, Named Dean of Fine Arts at Howard University
Phylicia Rashad spent almost a decade lighting up our screens as lovable mom Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show — and now the Tony Award-winning actress has turned her considerable talents to academia with a recent appointment as Dean of Fine Arts at Howard University, one of the nation’s leading…
Inspired by Protests Over Breonna Taylor’s Death, Humana and Kentucky Derby Festival Launch Diversity and Inclusion Initiative in Louisville
Ahead of the 147th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, May 1, Kentucky Derby officials and Humana (No. 25 on The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list in 2020) have announced a new equity initiative meant to make the race more accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of race, gender, age…
Upcoming ‘Wonder Years’ Reboot to Focus on 1960s-era Black Family
ABC has announced plans to reboot the beloved late 1980s coming-of-age dramedy The Wonder Years with a Black cast, setting the new series in 1968 in Montgomery, Alabama. When the original Wonder Years debuted in 1988, critics celebrated the way it broke all kinds of television barriers and established a…
Golden Globes 2021: Historic Firsts Despite a Lack of Diversity in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Voting Body
The 78th Golden Globes on Feb. 28 was marred with controversy, with confounding nominations and a lack of diversity among the voting body in the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. In the first-ever bi-coastal ceremony, hosts Tina Fey and Amy Poehler lampooned HFPA’s diversity issues in the opening monologue. “Everybody is…
Biden Further Commits to Racial Equity; Television Drastically Lacking Female and Latinx Representation; and More
Biden further commits to racial equity in meeting with civil rights leaders. In a nearly two-hour virtual meeting on Dec. 8 with seven civil rights leaders, President-elect Joe Biden furthered his commitment to prioritizing racial justice and assembling a diverse Cabinet that can tackle pressing equity issues, the Associated Press…
CBS Plans to Increase Diversity of Writers, Staffers for 2021 and Beyond
CBS announced a goal to have 25% of its script development budget go to projects from writers and producers who are Black, Indigenous and nonwhite for the 2021/2022 development season, according to a news release. CBS shows also must have a minimum of 40% overall diverse employee representation for the…