Yahoo News Former Diversity Chief For Movie Academy Opens Up About Brief Tenure: “My Black Skin, Femininity Are Of More Use To An Org As A Form Of PR”
The former executive VP of impact and inclusion for the Movie Academy says she was “the recipient of a steady flux of micro- and macro-aggressions” while trying to improve the org’s representation, inclusion, and equity efforts.
In a column for the Los Angeles Times Tuesday, Jeanell English talked about the overwhelming amount of fear she encountered while tasked with facilitating “a more equitable awards process and organization.” English left her post in June after less than a year on the job. She was appointed in July of 2022 to address underrepresentation across the industry.
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“I sat in the crossfire between the communities I was advocating for and those I was calling on to champion change. On both sides, there was fear. Fear made it challenging for those who are underrepresented within the industry to trust that I had their best interest at heart,” she wrote. “There were people in positions of power who feared change, feared losing relevance, feared losing money … and feared being canceled.”
“Fear created an impasse,” English wrote in the newspaper. “It fueled a scarcity mindset, as opposed to one of abundance. It prevented artists, executives, advocates and allies from being able to sincerely listen to understand without becoming defensive. And it provoked resistance to collaboration and creative thinking, a stance that has slowed or halted shifts not only at the academy but across the entire industry. Prioritizing DEAI is not the zero-sum game it is often perceived to be.”
“As a result, I became the recipient of a steady flux of micro- and macro-aggressions,” she continued. “I anticipated and grew accustomed to being regularly challenged, publicly and privately. I felt the pressure of remaining thoughtful, poised and articulate while coaching, counseling and responding to the needs of my colleagues also from marginalized communities and nursing my own wounds. The level of consensus-building needed to establish a foundation for the changes I encouraged demanded a level of mental agility and fortitude that was unsustainable. I, like many of my comrades in DEAI, acknowledge that feeling safe, valued and protected is fleeting in this work.”
English went to say that “like many in this field, I fear performative DEAI positions. For me, these are positions where my Black skin and femininity are of more use to an organization as a form of public relations than my proven leadership and ability to facilitate systemic change.”
English also weighed in the most recent Oscar telecast, and how it was “another reminder of how far our industry still has to go, particularly in terms of uplifting, advocating for and truly valuing the contributions of Black women.” Two of the more notable omissions from the 2023 list of nominees was The Woman King that starred Viola Davis and was directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and the movie Nope helmed by Jordan Peele.
“My exit from the academy was not an act of martyrdom. It was the only plausible decision after a liberating realization: I will not sacrifice my life for the systems that do not see me. Although I walked away exhausted, I left at peace feeling proud of what I accomplished, appreciative of the partners, allies and friends who enabled my successes and excited to invest my talents in different parts of the industry. I still do believe in solutions.”
“While DEAI leaders are now regularly lauded for their incredible tenacity, grit and talent, superficial endearments fall far short of our target: getting Hollywood to embrace the radical changes we are advocating for,” she went on to write. “We are beyond arguing the business case for diversity. It is essential that this critical moment of evolution for the industry include reimagined chief diversity roles, clear organizational values and the sustained financial investment required to accomplish equity and inclusion goals.”
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