*This past Monday night (12-02-19) in Los Angeles, Black Hollywood walked the black carpet for the Critics Choice Association’s presentation of a Celebration of Black Cinema. The annual event pays homage to legendary film director, Oscar Micheaux, as well as celebrates the more than 100 years of Black Cinema.
The event was hosted by Cheryl Boone Isaacs and honored four iconic figures in the film industry including actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, actor-writer Chiwetel Ejiofor, film director Kasi Lemmons and actress Nia Long. Murphy received the special Career Achievement Award.
During the night, celebs discussed a variety of issues including, the importance of black representation on-camera as well as behind-the-scenes. Long opened up about the need for studios and producers to provide Black talent with Black makeup artists and hairstylists.
“I would like to see more Black people in the makeup and hair trailers. I would like to see producers give artists what we need to succeed. I’ve been in so many situations where my confidence was robbed, or my spirit felt belittled because I didn’t walk into a trailer that had the right foundation, or the right hot tooth. It happens today,” said the actress.
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Another topic of discussion was the conversation surrounding black UK actors portraying the stories and lives of black Americans. Chiwetel Ejiofor, who famously played free-born black American turned slave Solomon Northup, in the hit film “12 Years a Slave,” gave his opinion on the matter.
“I think all of those conversations are really valid and everybody has to have a voice. I think I suppose that in the end, I feel like all of our work collectively is so strong when we work together. I feel like that it’s always been like that,” Ejiofor told EURweb
