Halle Bailey calls out Hollywood’s ‘unfair’ standards for Black films: ‘It shouldn’t be like that’

Hollywood burn, burn Hollywood has been an anthem for those in the industry and amongst audiences alike for decades.

Halle Bailey is on the forefront in making history with a rom-com You, Me & Tuscany. This is a film produced, written, and directed by blacks. It will serve as a bellwether for future projects. If it succeeds, more black stories with original plots and storylines will be brought to the attention of gatekeepers.

For movies to be greenlit, they have to possess the potential to be money-makers. What Halle Bailey is saying is that there should be more opportunities to expand and grow black talent.

What has to be remembered is the fact that Hollywood is a business. The machine doesn’t care if you’re red, yellow, white, black or brown. The bottom line is the dollar sign.

Bailey may have a point to go with her statements. She is a talented, beautiful young woman who has experienced the highs and lows of the industry.

In the wake of her portrayal as Ariel in The Little Mermaid she encountered harsh pushback as people commented #notmyariel on Internet social media sites. She shrugged it off as the film generated close to $600 million.

For her to speak out against the “unfair” standards is to show that there is a voice that is unafraid to challenge the Hollywood standards.

By taking on the entertainment mecca, there seems to be a fire under Halle that brings her closer to the threshold of an activist. She probably isn’t trying to be, but with her outspokenness, she is waving a banner for quality entertainment.

In a world where there is so much schlock, there appears to be little glimpses of hope for original content. There still seems to be an opportunity for artists and technicians to rule the day and still turn a dollar.

That’s what Academy Award winner and rapper Common questions in his song “Food” when he asks, “whether it’s for the art or for the dough,” referring to the position of the creators and artists that take on the business.

Bailey is a beacon of light amongst a wasteland.

Given the fact that Sinners had been a critical, audience, and awards season success, it should show just how much excellence can be squeezed onto the scene by black talent.

When it comes to the point of knowing the truth behind bringing together thoughts and ideas and monetizing them, it should be known that people claw and fight just to be on the big screen and behind the camera or both.

To consider the idea that she is such a talent and an awesome example of a lady, she has a steel spine that allows her to speak her mind. Though a risk, she has taken on a multibillion dollar industry that has been detrimental to blacks during its more than century old position in the culture.

So, if every black film achieves wonderful accolades and appreciation, it ought to be on the strength of merit alone. If Bailey is as serious as she seems, she could take on the industry and watch the flowers grow at her feet. This sentiment is best expressed with the notion that blacks hold the powers that any other race does, and also the drawbacks. It should all be based on individual effort and not collectivistic “gain.”

With all that’s going on in the world, there should be a way for everyone who endeavors to still create art to be on the vanguard. Political tensions boiling over might threaten and hasten the stoppage of the world, but we make things. From drawings on caves to the most advanced AI presentation, Halle Bailey is right to discuss the power of art in turbulent times.