Actor Nafessa Williams calls for equality in Hollywood in powerful essay

Nafessa Williams has written a personal essay on this current moment of cultural awakening that has millions of people who previously ignored the impacts of systemic racism realizing how unjust society really is. The Black Lightning star's open letter to Hollywood, published in E! News, reveals that while she’s proud to work on a show featuring an all-Black cast and crew, she knows it’s simply not enough.“We have to make sure we hire more Black writers to tell Black stories. We need Black hairstylists who know how to do Black hair properly. And award shows can only be fairly judged if done by a diverse group,” she wrote in the passionate letter. “We as a people and as a culture are beyond tired of asking to be seen, heard and treated equally. Not just in the entertainment industry, but in all industries.”

 

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Thank you for causing Good Trouble. Necessary Trouble. ?✊? #JohnLewis

A post shared by Nafessa Williams (@nafessawilliams) on Jul 19, 2020 at 1:14am PDT

The 30-year-old opened the piece with a popular quote from late Civil Rights icon and congressman John Lewis, who passed away July 17 this year: "I want to see young people in America feel the spirit of the 1960s and find a way to get in the way. To find a way to get in trouble. Good trouble, necessary trouble." It was in that very spirit that Williams wrote about attending recent Black Lives Matter protests, calling the experience like "shooting a scene on the set of Black Lightning.""On this day I had somewhat of an understanding of the spirit of the 1960s. I wanted my voice to be heard by causing 'good trouble,'" she wrote."I also feel like I'm causing ‘good trouble’ by playing the first Black lesbian superhero,” she continued, referring to her role as Anissa Pierce/Thunder on Black Lightning. “It's a role that has impacted my views on Hollywood in many ways. Mostly, it has stressed the importance of representation and inclusion. I'm really honoured to be on a show with an all Black cast, producers, writers, and crew. However, there aren't many shows that are this inclusive. We need more shows with representation both in front of and behind the camera.”The actress, who has also starred in series like Code Black and Twin Peaks, revealed that she believes one way to force change is by having the “important conversations.” She recalled a panel hosted by her agency earlier this year in which she and fellow Black actors, writers and producers spoke on their experiences in the industry and the changes that they want to see. “I really appreciated this panel because the change needs to start within the agencies, studios and networks. If we don't confront the issues of inequality head on, we are not taking advantage of the awakened moment we are living in,” she wrote.[video_embed id='2001526']RELATED: Michael B. Jordan launches #ChangeHollywood initiative [/video_embed]“In closing, we have to be careful that we don't make diversity a trend, but rather we restructure the landscape. I believe there's a shift happening and I hope, collectively, we change the narrative of what we've known Hollywood to be,” she ended the powerful piece.Williams is one of many young actors speaking out on necessary changes within the industry. Last week, Michael B. Jordan launched a #ChangeHollywood initiative. The program offers a roadmap of tangible ways to invest in anti-racist content and authentic Black stories while supporting Black talent and reinvesting police funds to support Black communities. The actor has also been using an inclusion rider with his production company, Outlier Society Productions, for more than a year now to make inclusion and diversity agreements legally binding.“This roadmap is just the beginning of the journey to racial justice. We are all accomplices in the fight to transform Hollywood, and we invite content creators and industry leaders to join us in working together to #ChangeHollywood,” Jordan told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “We look forward to including a variety of voices in doing what we do best: telling authentic stories, bringing people together, partnering with influential artists, and changing the rules of the game.”[video_embed id='1993445']BEFORE YOU GO: What We're Watching: Black lives in the spotlight [/video_embed]