Hollywood Still Plagued by Prejudice

Feb. 15, 2008 — -- February: Black History month. The Academy Awards.

Of course, it wasn't until 2002 that an African-American woman, my friend and client Halle Berry, won a Best Actress Oscar. She shared that historic night with yet another friend and African-American, Denzel Washington, who won Best Actor.

It took many long years for this history to be made. The talent was there, but the roles weren't. Hollywood, like most cities in America, is still plagued with prejuduice.

As individuals we say we don't want prejudice to exist, and our society has set up laws to protect people's rights. But prejudice is still there, though over the last few years the TV and film roles for African-American actors have become more plentiful and of a much higher caliber.

Jamie Foxx took home the little gold man for his portrayal of Ray Charles, and one of my best friends, Keisha Whitaker's husband, Forrest, nabbed Oscar gold for his haunting portrayal of Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. Jennifer Hudson, the American Idol alum, dazzled and wowed the Academy and the public with her dynamic portrayal of Effie in the film version of the Broadway classic, Dreamgirls.

Talent was never an issue for African-American performers. Sharing a stage, bathroom or entrance with whites was.

The black community could fill their own walk of fame with stars who have talents that sparkle as brightly as the talent of any other ethnicity: Paul Robeson, Josephine Baker, Dorothy Dandridge, Sammy Davis Junior, Sidney Poitier, Joe Louis, Lena Horne, Diana Ross, Bill Cosby, Jim Brown, Miles Davis, Cab Calloway, Pearl Bailey, Richard Pryor, Audra McDonald, Debbie Allen, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Michael and Janet Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Whitney Houston, Michael Jordan, Maya Angelou… The list could fill dozens upon dozens of pages.

It would seem that in 2008 we wouldn't need the gimmick of a special "month" to highlight the accomplishments and contributions African-Americans have made, but then again, maybe we do.

How much do we know about the storied history of African American inventors? Otis Boykin invented the electronic device for guided missles, IBM computers and the pacemaker. Garrett Morgan invented the gas mask and the traffic signal. And what would we have done as kids in the cafeteria without George Washington Carver? He invented peanut butter and 400 other plant products.