AAFCA and BAFTA in North America have announced a joint program aimed at engaging black entertainment creatives and executives in the US and UK on their shared industry challenges. The discussion series titled “The Struggle to Be Seen” provides an in-depth look at issues, sectors and industry roles that both groups face in today’s industrial structures and systems.
The series launched on February 27 with an event at Soho Works West Hollywood. The panel, moderated by Tamara Houston (Icon Mann), consists of panelists Leah Daniels-Butler (Creating Director), Charles Murray (Writer/Producer), Tamara-Lee Notcutt (Creating Director), Chike Okonkwo (Actress), Cassandra Butcher (Marketing Executive) and Franklin Leonard (Founder and CEO of The Black List). The series ends in October to coincide with UK Black History Month. A total of nine in-person and virtual discussions are hosted each month by the AAFCA and BAFTA.
“We want our series to disrupt perceptions and manipulations of Black identity in the industry, especially the entertainment industry, and provide a path forward as the industry evolves,” said Nyasha Hatendi, Chair of BAFTA’s North America Learning Inclusion and Talent Committee. “The series seeks to highlight the experience of black creatives working in the entertainment industry and explore the state of blackness in an increasingly globalized entertainment industry.”
AAFCA co-founder and president Gil Robertson added: “The Black aesthetic has global reach and influence. With this series, we aim to continue our work with BAFTA to create an environment for more collaboration between artists in the Black diaspora. “
Source: Deadline
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
