Transcription
He has encountered obstacles similar to those faced by other Black actors in Hollywood.
How has Hollywood changed in terms of African representation?
In what you see since you started out to what's being produced now?
Oh yes, quite a bit. It has changed, I must say, because of course, when I came out with Amistad, I was nominated for a Golden Globe.
But they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought that I had just come off the boat and off the streets, uh, where Steven Spielberg, you know, uh, used me for this film.
And even though I successfully did that, they just didn't feel like, uh, I was an actor to, uh, to, you know, for whom we should pay any respect to.
So this, uh, conceptual idea of diversity and all that, it still has a long way to go.
Um, systemic racism don't change like that anytime soon.
I mean, I'm still struggling, trying to make a living after 30 years in this business.
After all, I speak well.
30 years, let's say, like maybe the first ten years was really trying to, you know, sort of acclimate myself to the industry and establish myself.
I've been in this business and making films now for over two decades and still, you know, with two nominations, Oscar nominations, uh, been in many big blockbuster films.
And yet I have, I'm still struggling financially to make a living.
Um, I definitely underpaid.
Growing up, you're one of the first big Black actors I saw in big budget films, so it's mind-boggling to me.
What does it signify for you that systemic racism is not something that you can deal with lightly?
It's so deep in, inserted in so many things that we do, and across the board.
And you don't overcome it.
You just have to sort of like, uh, you have to cope with it and survive the best way you can.
What do you hope your legacy will be in this industry for your acting, for your philanthropy?
I came to California with this, um, compelling need to do something for my continent and do something for my people in general, and to champion this idea of, you know, reconciliation and reconnection with...