An independent McKinsey study co-sponsored by the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Empowerment, the entertainment industry is among the worst performers on DEI of any major American industry. #CAAAmplify
According to Sheldon Lyn from McKinsey, there is progress in the industry, but it's Black professionals creating opportunities for other Black professionals. #CAAAmplify
Nony Onyeador points to the '90s where there were numerous successful Black films, but it became more important to have global box office success. This made the industry think that Black-led movies don't sell abroad. I would say Black Panther proves all of this wrong. #CAAAmplify
FYI: according to the study, 92% of executives in the industry are white and 80% are male. #CAAAmplify
“Be the person you wish to see," says @lesliegrace regarding representing on screen. "At the end of the day you can only be yourself." #CAAAmplify
Stephanie Hsu says she had a huge sense of imposter syndrome in the industry. She says she never saw a path for herself and thought that all opportunities given to her were an accident. "I’m having a moment where I am trying to reclaim that." #CAAmplify
Yara Shahidi says that she is not the singular face of Black people or Black experiences. She adds that she uses her opportunities to dive deeper into identities. "There are specific life experiences that have to be acknowledged." she says. #CAAAmplify
Hsu says she can't wait for the moment when when people in the industry will stop saying "you're so lucky to be here" when it comes to opportunities for historically underrepresented voices. #HighlanderSyndrome #CAAAmplify
"What we are talking about on screen is a small part of a bigger movement," says Shahidi who, by the way, is a recent Harvard graduate. #CAAAmplify
Shahidi adds that the work Hollywood does is a way to create an "approachable way to redefine the human experience" #CAAAmplify
Ridloff celebrates CODA and The Eternals but stresses that more deaf writers in writers rooms are needed to put more of a deaf lens on narratives about their communities including intersectional deaf identities. #CAAAmplify
“The power of story combined with intention, value, and action can change the future and change the world.” - @CrystalEchoHawk of @_IllumiNatives #CAAAmplify 
Crystal Echo Hawk makes a call to action for allyship with the Native community. "Native peoples can make a difference. Let’s stand shoulder to shoulder because the world is a mess." #CAAAmplify
.@MsNancySantiago and Khalil Rountree take the stage to talk about mental health. Santiago drops a truth bomb saying that 1 in 6 high schoolers admitted to having a suicide plan. #CAAAmplify
@MsNancySantiago Santiago adds, "You have to be able to check your own emotions in order to ask about the emotions of others." #CAAAmplify
Rountree says: "Everyday as a Black man, if I have feelings that can't be shown in public...where do I go?" He adds, "I can rarely even go to my own people sometimes. We are almost taught and it's almost engrained in us to be strong." #CAAAmplify
Rountree's father was murdered in 1992 and he says he was a very sensitive kid. "If I wanted to cry about it, I didn’t know where to go," he admits. #CAAAmplify
Rountree says he was made fun of for being sensitive and didn't fight back. He says of his emotions: "There are layers and layers of suppression" #CAAAmplify
He added that he Black men need to create a community where they can be brothers to show that Black is strong. However, one thing that is not highlighted is that Black men can be beautiful with good hearts. #CAAAmplify
.@HendersonKaya @LAUSDSup @selmekki are people to follow when it comes to how #RepresentationMatters in the classroom. An amazing conversation about bolstering education for those in the margins. #CAAAmplify
"We are not having comprehensive solutions because we are not having comprehensive conversations about it." - @KeishaBottoms in regards to gun control, mental health and all that surrounds it. #CAAAmplify
"We stand in a moment of history that is, believe it or not, not about us. This moment is about those who came before us and the sacrifices they have made to bring us to this point in history and those being born during this time of change." - @BulldogShadow #CAAAmplify
Eric Ward (@BulldogShadow) added that in a time of stress, pragmatism and vision are hard to balance and that "feelings are not an organizing strategy". #CAAAmplify
Ward continued to say "We have brought this country to this point. We have to manage this change. We haven’t aligned our stories and where can we can go together." #CAAAmplify
"This democracy may not be perfect but it is damn well worth fighting for." - @KeishaBottoms #CAAAmplify
“We are trying to make things happen and trying to figure things out” says @stormreid in regards to the newer generation’s when it comes to creating change. #CAAAmplify
“I’m trying to be your partner in your performance…I’ll be the person who will not let you fall” - @ava on being a filmmaker and a mother-figure to people around her…including Storm Reid #CAAAmplify
“The lack of choices I had made my choices clear” says Shaw navigating her career #CAAAmplify
“Whatever room I am supposed to be in…I’m in.” - @stormreid #CAAAmplify
“Dreams require action” - @ava on working in the industry
Too many good quotes in this panel! #CAAAmplify
Too many good quotes in this panel! #CAAAmplify
Sorry folks! I had to dip outta #CAAAmplify early and I am so bummed that I won’t be able to share my color commentary for the remainder of the summit!!! But I heard there were incredible things that I missed! 😬
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