Hollywood: Black actors surfing through cracks of underpayment 

The global movie industry was left in a state of confusion and disbelief following the recent revelation about Djimon Hounsou, who has openly discussed his ongoing struggles with finances.

Despite his impressive and accomplished career spanning over two decades in Hollywood as both an actor and filmmaker, Hounsou’s financial difficulties have taken many by surprise.

Hounsou, known for his powerful performances in films like “Blood Diamond,” “Gladiator,” and “Aquaman,” has become a prominent figure in cinema, earning him two Oscars nominations and recognition for his contributions to the industry.

In a recent interview with CNN International correspondent, Larry Madowo the Ace actor, lamented the menace of the underpayment which he believes is linked to systemic racism.

On the African representation in Hollywood, the actor revealed that racial bias is still very much alive and thriving in the industry.

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“I have two Oscar nominations and have a feature in many blockbuster films yet I struggle with my financies because of systemic racism that won’t go away easily.”

In 2023, another strong black actor, Taraji P. Henson raised the issue of underpayment in Hollywood while on Gayle King’s radio show. She revealed that her fee doesn’t measure up with her level of commitment and involvement in blockbusters that have achieved box office success.

“I’ve been getting paid and I’ve been fighting tooth and nail every project to get that same freaking quote. And it’s a slap in the face when people go, ‘Oh girl, you work all the time. You always working.’ Well, goddammit, I have to. It’s not because I wish I could do two movies a year and that’s that. I have to work because the math ain’t mathing. I am underpaid. And I have bills,” she said.

Other black actors such as Gabriel Union, Keke Palmer, and Viola Davies have also raised concerns about underpayment though along the lines of gender marginalization.

The only black actor to have made the Forbes least of Highest Paid Actors is Denzel Washington. According to forbs data, the 70-year-old actor grossed 28 million dollars in 2023.

This imbalance has sparked conversations about the financial realities faced by many black artists in Hollywood, accentuating the importance of understanding the often hidden struggles behind the glitz and glamour.

As fans and colleagues ponder on systemic racism as the core reason behind the imbalance in payments to black actors, it raises questions about the industry’s inclusiveness in an era where the conversation of racism should have been long buried and forgotten.