Invisible Man Diversity

''I am an invisible man. No, I am not a spook like those who haunted Edgar Allan Poe; nor am I one of your Hollywood-movie ectoplasms. I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind. I am invisible; understand, simply because people refuse to see me." “The Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison,

A fantasy film without diversity is like a portrait with only one color. Every year in America, numerous fantasy films are released with casts that exclude people of color. This is a tragedy because cinema and television are major influencers on society. What we see and hear in mass media plays a role in shaping our identity and self-perspective. Unfortunately, representation of African Americans
So the absence of diversity in movies from that era might be understandable, although never excusable. As for modern fantasy movies, I cannot help but feel the cold pang of exclusion. There is certainly room for improvement in diversity in the film industry as a whole, especially in the genre of fantasy movies. Let me clarify what I mean by “fantasy” movies. I am referring to films that are based in fictional or futuristic settings, involve some superhero type and/or have mystical or magical elements. I would like to explain how I came to feel so keenly the absence of diversity in fantasy movies. My awakening came as a result of doing the things I enjoy, reading stories and watching movies. I am a huge fan of the series “Twilight”, written by Stephenie Meyer. Several of my friends are fans as well. My friend Christian asked me a thought provoking question about the book. What my Caucasian friend asked me was this: “What would happen if someone your skin color were bitten by vampire as some of the characters in Twilight were?” That was not a question I had yet considered. I thought for a moment, and I replied to Christian what I thought might happen; “People with my skin tone would most likely fade to a light,
Denise Hawkins, dated June 16, 2007, features a program that is now known as the “William H. Cosby Future Filmmakers Workshop”. The program accepts only about ten percent of the applicants and is free to the students that are accepted. It offers fifteen students twelve weeks of intensive training during which students are exposed to all aspects of filmmaking. Programs of this nature are few. Yet, the Motion Picture Association boasts of the 2.5 million jobs, thirteen billion dollars in income, and an average salary for production employee of over $74,000.00 as of 2007. Through these type programs young filmmakers of color will develop the knowledge and expertise to make a difference. I also recognize that when producers of color or others, create movies that include diverse casts, we must be willing to support them and to see them. We must embrace the Kwanzaa principle of Ujamaa, by backing what we create and buying what we produce. We have to support in word and in action: reject the “bootleg” copy, buy the ticket, see the flick and then tell others about it. We have made strides in this nation when it comes to race relations; small but steady strides. For the betterment of society at large and