Netflix’s black artists and creators came together to film an important video. This year Netflix aired a new ad during the 2018 BET Awards that focused specifically on black representation. Photographer Kwaku Alston and director Lacey Duke brought together 47 black actors and creators of Netflix original content for a shoot inspired by the iconic 1958 portrait “A Great Day in Harlem.” Some of my favorite actors came together including Caleb McLaughlin from Stranger Things and Laverne Cox from Orange is the New Black.
Netflix’s Black Artists Came Together to Prove a Serious Point
The ad, narrated entirely by McLaughlin, reads as follows: “This is a new day. Built from the ground broken by legends. A day for our generation to see untold experiences of our blackness. Representing a limitless range of identity. Playing kings and queens of our neighborhoods. Defeating larger-than-life forces trying to flip our world upside down. We stand up on any stage and every screen. A day when black women are boldly the lead character, whether inmates or scholars. We’re not a genre because there’s no one way to be black. We’re writing while black. Nuanced and complex. Resilient and strong. This is not a moment. This is a movement. We are strong black leads. Today is a great day in Hollywood.”
See the inspiring video below.
Here’s the photo taken by Kwaku Alston.
Here are some behind the scenes look at the photo and video shoot.
This is so inspiring and powerful. What do you think of the photo and video? Let me know in the comments or tweet me @lorenridinger.
