Michael B. Jordan is calling on Hollywood to be part of the social progress. On Saturday, the 33-year-old actor attended a Black Lives Matter march in los ANGELES, where he he delivered a passionate speech on exhaustive of the diversity in the entertainment industry. He shared how his roles in the films Fruitvale Station, Fahrenheit 451, Black Pantherand Only The Mercy it had a great impact on him and in their struggle for equality.
Michael also opened up about his production company, Company identification, and their efforts to enact the “inclusion rider” policythat imposes various hiring practices. “We are in the heart of Hollywood right now — one of the world’s most powerful industries, and am an active member of that,” he said. “They have to go on notice. I have dedicated my production company to an inclusion pilot, but it has to go beyond that.”
Then, he goes directly to the companies that are connected, saying: “All of my brands, someone who takes care of me, if you have beliefs that are racist, if you have a racist bone in your body, if you’re not with me, if not standing with me and people who look like me, then you don’t need to be with me, and that is a white point in the period.”
The actor also shared his support for the defunding of the police and the reassignment of financies to causes that benefit all people. “I want us to invest in Black staff,” he said. “I’m proud to have a driver of inclusion and all that good stuff, and I use my power to enforce diversity, but it is time that the studios and agencies — of all the agencies, all of these buildings that are standing in front of you, I want you to do the same. You agree to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020 — where is the challenge of committing to Black recruitment, content of Black led by Black executives, Black consultants? You’re the police of our narrative as well?”
He concluded by encouraging all to vote and keep making their voices heard. “I just want to be here, be present, and to show guys that I’m here with you,” he said. “So, we’re going to keep this sh*t going.” Read Michael’s full speech below, then continue reading to see more powerful photos of the march.
We can not be quiet. I played four, very important characters that affected my life. Oscar Grant was one of them. Oscar Grant was murdered by police on the train to the train station in Oakland. I had the opportunity to embody who he was. I had the opportunity to feel the pain of your family — your daughter, your mother, I have lived with this for a very long time. It weighs on you. I’ve also played a fireman in the Farenheit 451that was thirsty for knowledge. Joined a revolution. The producer of the movie made me really realize the lengths that the government and the oppressors will go to keep the knowledge of their hands. They know that if we unlock here, we’re going to be unstoppable, and they are afraid of that.
Black Panther, Killmonger — he was an activist, a revolutionary. He is the product of a people who do not accept this child, cast him out. He’s going to burn the people of the land . . . I also had the opportunity and the honor to play Bryan Stevenson. He dedicated his life to the fight against racial legal system that we have now, and, in doing so, I’ve learned. I found out about your tactics, I learned their mindset, I found his approach to things — very calm, very strategic, very thoughtful.
We have to be approximated. We need to be closer to the problems. That is why I love to support everyone who is out of here, because we have to be here together, shoulder to shoulder. We are in the heart of Hollywood right now — one of the world’s most powerful industries, and am an active member of that. They need to go on notice. I have dedicated my production company to an inclusion pilot, but it has to go beyond that.
So, for the brands that support me, to all of the productions, the studios, to all the businesses and associations that I have, if you have any financial links with the police, we have to renew our business. We need to stop hiring police. We have to cut off their support. That is why I am committed to the hiring of private security in all of my events — private security only. All of my marks, someone who takes care of me, if you have beliefs that are racist, if you have a racist bone in your body, if you’re not with me, if not standing with me and people who look like me, then you don’t need to be with me, and that is a white point in the period.
So I have a couple of things that I want to get. So, invest, right? I want to invest in Black staff, I am proud to have a driver of inclusion and all that good stuff, and I use my power to enforce diversity, but it is time that the studios and agencies — of all the agencies, all of these buildings that are standing in front of you, I want you to do the same. You agree to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020 — where is the challenge of committing to Black recruitment, content of Black led by Black executives, Black consultants? You’re the police of our narrative as well?
So we’re going to bring our darkness to the light — Black culture, sneakers, sports, comedy culture that you love so much. We have dealt with discrimination at every step. Can you help Black background of the brands, businesses, cultural leaders, Black organizations? A great agent does not have to be a great organizer, but a great agent would be able to advocate for the relations with the organizers. You will provide support to nonprofit organizations working to solve the problems of our industry that our industry created?
And you have to vote. Everyone says it. It is an easy thing to do. Hey, I respect it, but the vote has never been more important than it is today . . . Can’t we vote today, but what we are doing today is going to make hear our voices and values heard. We have to keep doing it, we have to keep stirring things, we cannot be complacent, we can’t let this moment just pass us by. We have to continue to put our feet on their necks. And know that we are with you. I’m not here for all the things, man. I just want to be here, be present, and to show guys that I’m here with you. Therefore, let’s keep this sh*t is going.
