Hollywood is noted, even criticized for its liberal politicking. Much of Hollywood has spoken out against GOP candidate Trump and its support for the Clintons and President Obama have been widely documented. Hollywood is star power and while none of us are sure what tangible effect they have on US politics no one can argue the attention stars are able to bring to issues and causes.
Angelina Jolie is a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Special Envoy and has also worked on children’s immigration and education, woman’s rights and human rights. She is also an adopter of three children of color. George Clooney has been a dedicated spokesman for the issues in Darfur, works as a United Nations Messenger of peace and serves on its Council On Foreign Relations. He has raised awareness for the Armenian genocide as well as money for the 2004 Tsunami, 9/11 victims and relief for the earthquake in Haiti among others. Matt Damon is a tireless benefactor for clean water initiatives and hungry children as well as the One Campaign. Brad Pitt is very involved including the ONE Campaign, an organization aimed at combatting Aids and poverty in the developing world, donations to three organizations in Chad and Sudan related to the conflict in Darfur and million dollar donations for Global Action for Children and Doctors Without Borders. Additionally he helped finance and build 150 homes in New Orleans’ Ninth ward after Hurricane Katrina. Leonardo Dicaprio’s foundation deals with the earth’s wellbeing focusing on the oceans, forests, wildlife and climate. Sean Penn is noted for his humanitarian work after Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
Yet, where have these and the collective voices of Hollywood been when it comes to addressing the issues that People Of Color (POC) are facing at home, here in The United States. In no way do I want to diminish the great work and its importance that these celebrities have contributed to so many worthwhile and global causes. Their attachment to the issues and causes bring necessary fundraising and most importantly awareness. However, again I ask where are those same voices, beyond a tweet or two (and possibly Mark Ruffalo), in the wake of the series of police shootings and other forms of oppression that People Of Color face here.
Hollywood has shown they do not lack empathy. Hell, so many of them have adopted Black babies, you would think if nothing else they would speak up on behalf of kids, that no matter how privileged, will one day be in a car and stopped and not readily identifiable as Sandra Bullock, Charlize Theron, Madonna or Tom Cruise’s sons.
To be clear when I say Hollywood I am more specially referring to its A-list stars. However as important as the voices of A-list African Americans such as Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Kerry Washington, just as, if not even more important are the visibility of America hearing the voices of the A-list Caucasian stars. “Jason Bourne”, “Iron Man”, “The Wolf Of Wall Street” and the young “Vito Corleone” speaking out against police brutality of African Americans or the general oppression People Of Color face, would have a substantial impact on the psyche and understanding of the average American to the problems.
This is hardly without recent precedent. The Hollywood community has been very vocal supporters for the rights and issues facing the LGBT community. This is an important issue and one not without controversy, so I find White Hollywood’s relative silence on the social issues affecting so many People Of Color to be quite curious.
The problems that POC face will only have effective resolutions when empathized and understood by the majority. Who better to serve as spokespersons for Anglo- Americans then A-list Caucasian Hollywood stars. By spokesperson I am not intimating that they are the voice for the demographic, only that their visibility give them a platform to at the very least raise awareness of the importance of the issue that the demographic may not have previously considered.
There is a reason that the UN and these other global organizations are dependent on Hollywood for their causes. They have a voice and platform that collectively reaches hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The United States is a country of approximately 330 million people in which roughly 31 percent (102 million) are combined Black and Hispanic. A large number of that demographic is calling out for justice and equality. They see their calls falling on deaf or un-empathetic ears by the system. Hollywood was called out prior to the Oscars for its lack of diversity, and it attempted to address the issue during its telecast. We need to ask and challenge Hollywood now to help in getting this important message out.
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