Opinion

So what’s this hoopla about diversity? And why does the Producers Guild of America need to have a committee to talk about and promote diversity?

If we were in a classroom I would be the chick with her hand up so please indulge me and pretend. Because it is still difficult to get stories about “minorities” made and until we get enough of a community behind the cameras; writing, developing, pitching, producing and enough of an outcry from viewers, we will continue to have the same difficulties.

One would think that in 2009 with an African American president this country and the world would be much more open to diversity but the truth unfortunately is far from it.

There are few and far between women writers, directors and producers (note: there are more women producers than writers and directors) and people of color and people of different genders.

And the truth is that the powers that be still don’t back up programming with a large “minority” cast or story lines even though the landscape of this country is changing in a drastic way.

Why is that? The answer can be very complicated and full of political, social, and cultural reasons; all very important but not necessary for our efforts in this site.

In this site we want to create a community of people interested in supporting each other, and supporting the development of diverse talent and stories.

How many life lessons and experiences are we missing out on by not really knowing the cultures that inhabit this country? What is it like to grow up as a native American? Or as a latino?

I invite you, as the Co-Chair of the PGA’s Diversity Workshop to share your thoughts and ideas. I invite you to help us spread the word that we want the entertainment we participate and consume to reflect the world that we live in. And if the powers that be won’t hear us, we’ll just have to shout. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Photo by extranoise via Flickr (Creative Commons)

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