The issue of diversity and representation onscreen received mainstream media attention after April Reign started the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite back in 2015 after noticing that the four big acting categories didn’t have a single person of colour in the running. With her viral tweet, Reign shone a spotlight on Hollywood’s massive failing—one that continues to be much discussed five years later. But what about diversity behind the scenes? That remains a major problem, too, and Anthony Mackie is stepping up to call out Marvel for the studio’s failure to hire Black creatives for on-set jobs and asking the company to do better.[video_embed id='6018808379001']RELATED: Tessa Thompson wants an all-female Avengers team[/video_embed]Mackie made his Marvel debut back in 2014, playing the role of Sam Wilson (aka Falcon) in
Captain America: The Winter Soldier although others will know him from movies like
The Hate U Give or
The Hurt Locker or his new (ish) series
Altered Carbon. He’s had roles in MCU franchise installments like
Ant Man,
Civil War,
Infinity War and
Endgame (Marvel makes a
lot of movies about characters in costumes doing battle). Next up, he’ll be starring in the TV series
The Falcon and The Winter Soldier and he’s using his position as the series lead to call for some much-needed changes on set.
“It really bothered me that I’ve done seven Marvel movies where every producer, every director, every stunt person, every costume designer, every PA, every single person has been white,” he told fellow actor Daveed Diggs during the Actors on Actors chat the two had for
Variety. “We’ve had one Black producer; his name was Nate Moore,” said Mackie. “He produced
Black Panther. But then when you do
Black Panther, you have a Black director, Black producer, a Black costume designer, a Black stunt choreographer. And I’m like, that’s more racist than anything else. Because if you only can hire the Black people for the Black movie, are you saying they’re not good enough when you have a mostly white cast?”Aware of the powerful position that his latest leading role has granted him, Mackie is committed to lifting other Black creatives up alongside him. When Diggs asked him about the difference he’s been inspired to make in light of the Black Lives Matter movement, Mackie replied that for him, some of the biggest changes he can make are on the ground, in the places where he works—by making sure that Black crew members are hired. “We have the power and the ability to ask those questions,” he said.He also asked Diggs for his take on being the lead in
Snowpiercer, a show itself about social justice and inequality."I think this is part of the learning curve that I’m on," said Diggs. "Obviously, it’s a show about class. But the vast majority of straight white males attached to the show at the upper levels — there’s a missed connection. Now this discussion is happening whether you want it to or not. Or whether you are having it or not."In terms of the larger movement to end anti-Black racism, Mackie made it clear that his words are no more powerful simply because he’s a star. “My celebrity voice is not worth more than the regular guy’s voice who’s out there fighting for equality for our people… I don’t want to stand on the podium and give some half-assed speech about me being in the
Avengers and now the Avengers are here to help. That’s stupid.”Mackie also shared his aspiration to become the "
Dick Wolf of New Orleans" with a cushy desk job in a cop show he's created but vowed to help Daveed plug his music before he drifts into retirement mode."Until then, I am the best hype man of all time. I put Flavor Flav to shame. If you want to get the music thing going and you need a hype man, I’m here."[video_embed id='1986245']BEFORE YOU GO: Beyoncé drops 'Black Is King' trailer[/video_embed]
