Michael B. Jordan Challenges Hollywood At Oakland Protest: Invest In Black Staff!

Michael B. Jordan Challenges Hollywood At Protest in Oakland: Invest In Black Staff!

As more and more videos of powerful testimonies, speeches, and inspirational words from rallies and protests all over the world continue to surface and sweep across social media, many stars have used their voices and even opened their wallets for the cause.

Actor Michael B Jordan was recently at an anti-racist protest in Oakland, LA Saturday (June 6th) to speak out against police brutality and racial injustice. During his speech, he dissected some of his roles and what he learned while filming, or even producing the film pertaining to these topics. Michael B Jordan, 33, is known for his powerful portrayal as Oscar Grant in Fruitvale Station, his role as boxer Adonis “Donnie” Creed in Creed, and as Eric Killmonger in The Black Panther.

At this protest, Michael B Jordan had the mic and took a little time to reflect on his past roles and how they have helped teach him about racial injustice.

He began with the role that launched him into the spotlight which is Fruitvale Station in 2013, a drama film about the events leading up to the death of Oscar Grant who was shot and killed by a Bay Area Rapid Transit Officer in Oakland back in 2009. Michael said playing this role provided him with the “opportunity to embody who he was.”

After sharing his analysis with the crowd, Michael switches gears and proceeds to encourage companies and brands that support him to cut their financial ties to law enforcement, vowing to hire his own security moving forward.

“We’re in the heart of Hollywood right now, one of the world’s most powerful industries. I’m an active member of that. They need to go on notice… to the brands that support me, to all the productions, to the studios, all the businesses and partnerships that I have, if you have any financial ties to police, we have to relook at our business. We have to stop hiring police. We have to cut off their support. That’s why I’m committed to hiring private security at all of my events. Private security only. If you have racist beliefs, if you have a racist bone in your body, if you don’t stand with me and people that look like me, then you don’t need to be with me.”

Michael also urged Hollywood to increase investment in black staff. He challenged,

“I want us to invest in black staff… It’s time for studios and agencies, all these buildings that we’re standing in front of… I want you to do the same. You committed to a 50/50 gender parity in 2020, where is the challenge to commit to black hiring? Black content led by black executives, black consultants. Are you policing our storytelling as well? Let us bring our darkness to the light…”

He closed out with:

“What we are doing today will make our values heard and our voices heard. We’ve got to keep agitating things. We can’t be complacent. We can’t let this moment just pass us by, we have to continue to put our foot on their necks.”

Do you agree with Michael B. Jordan? Let us know in the comments below.

By: @a.girlwhowrites