Arguably one of the best actresses of her time and otherwise known as the devil who wore Prada, Meryl Streep decided to take a walk on the dark side. Streep serves as president for the Berlin Jury and in a panel for the Berlin International Film Festival this past Thursday the topic of diversity in the film industry was discussed. The entire panel was white, so we are unsure on how they could have an in depth discussion on something they have never truly faced. But we were still all ears to hear about their outlook and perspective.
The Associated Press asked whether she understood films from the Arab world and North Africa, Streep responded saying that she didn’t know much about the region but she has played a lot of different people from a lot of different cultures. She said that there is a core of humanity that travels right through every culture, and after all, WE’RE ALL FROM AFRICA ORIGINALLY. (YAS MERYL!!)
This didn’t sit right with the media but it is true, everyone is originally from Africa and I am ecstatic that someone with her platform said it! Hopefully, Meryl Streep was not justifying the lack of diversity in film with this statement because that would honestly be ridiculous and she should not have been the chosen one for the Berlin Jury if she’s that clueless. We are hoping that she was simply stating facts and paying homage, letting the world know whats true. Streep did mention that she has no idea what she is doing as Jury and plans to learn along the way, so she wasn’t uber prepared for all of the questions that were coming at her. She did let a crazy cat out of the bag though!
Whatever the case may be, the topic of diversity in America is still steaming hot and the tea is never done boiling! What’s going to happen next?!
Signed,
Pennie Anassi
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