On the margins: black directors and the persistence of racial inequality in twenty-first century Hollywood

Abstract

ABSTRACTDecades after the Civil Rights era, scholars maintain that enduring racial inequality remains entrenched throughout the film industry even as Hollywood grows more racially diverse. This study takes a close look at the predicament of black directors in the twenty-first century to examine how Hollywood perpetuates racial inequality during an era of increasing racial diversity and post-racial discourses. Drawing on a descriptive analysis of quantitative data on contemporary movies and online archival interviews of directors, the study’s findings indicate that black directors are disproportionately located on the margins, underrepresented in lucrative positions at core institutions – major studios – and on core cultural products – big budget movies. Thus, more than sheer increases in numbers, deracializing Hollywood would require further integration of black directors, as well as directors from other underrepresented racial backgrounds, into these core spheres of cinematic production.