Read on Twitter
We’re excited to highlight some of our favorite film and TV character #trailblazers who have contributed to industry representation and original and authentic storytelling…
No better way to start this thread than with everyone’s favorite 10-year-old! Appropriately named after Huey P. Newton, Huey Freeman from The Boondocks is the radical leftist often left out from mainstream media. Although he’s quite cynical for a child, we can’t help but love him
Give Regina King all her roses! She is the voice of Huey's character. This multifaceted superstar won the Academy Award and Golden Globe for her supporting role in If Beale Street Could Talk and was recently nominated for an Emmy for her leading role in Watchmen.
We wouldn’t have The Boondocks or its witty cultural references if it wasn’t for the mastermind Aaron McGruder who created the late ‘90s and early 2000s comic strip that inspired the series. We couldn’t be more excited about the HBO Max reboot of the show!
Boyz n the Hood’s Furious Styles - arguably one of the top ten movie dads of all time. Not only is he an exceptional father to his son, he proves to be a conscious figure in his community as he drops knowledge throughout the film.
RIP to the great John Singleton who helmed this American classic & wrote its script while he was still in film school. He goes down in history as one of the most authentic filmmakers of all time. If you haven’t already check out his series creation Snowfall on FX! He is missed 
Congratulations are in order for Melissa Barrera, who is set to star in the new Spyglass movie! She played the role of Lyn Hernandez on Vida, a series about Mexican-American sisters who return home to find East LA transformed by gentrification - a reality in cities across America
Vida, led by creator and showrunner Tanya Saracho, owed its authenticity to the first all-Latinx writers’ room in Hollywood. With writer, producer, and actor credits, Saracho knows the ins and outs of the industry and is creating space for Latinx and LGBTQ storylines
Tanya Saracho launches Latinx Talent Lab! https://deadline.com/2020/08/vida-creator-tanya-saracho-development-deal-ucp-latinx-talent-lab-1203017529/
Nathan proved to be more than eye-candy (sorry #LawrenceHive) when he opened up to Issa about his bipolar disorder diagnosis. His role has helped to normalize addressing issues of mental health and sparked a larger conversation within the Black community.
Issa Rae has come such a long way since her award-winning web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Now she has an award-winning tv show on HBO! Insecure secured 8 nominations this Emmy season alone! Issa also stars in and is the EP for The Lovebirds and The Photograph
Little Fires Everywhere’s youngest character was perhaps the most courageous, as she stayed true to herself & stood up for what she believed was right - even at the expense of her own mother. Izzy quickly became a fan favorite & represented a younger generation of go-getters
Reese Witherspoon has become a force as not only an actress but also as producer and founder of her company Hello Sunshine. Witherspoon’s dedication to celebrating women shines through in her projects such as Big Little Lies, The Morning Show, & of course Little Fires Everywhere
An activist, journalist, herb healer connected to her roots, and eldest sister, Queen Sugar’s Nova ( @rutinaofficial) has some of the most thoughtful character development on screen. She reminds us that even though the most sincere characters fall short, they can rise up again.
Many have sung Ava DuVernay her praises, and we’re going to sing her more! We are grateful to have a trailblazer such as her in our lifetime who kills the game in feature films & TV (namely as the creator of Queen Sugar), while also creating spaces for underrepresented groups.
Kumail is the likable romantic lead in The Big Sick, the highly successful movie based loosely on the actor’s life. Kumail’s relationship with his Pakistani parents & the tension around his career aspirations & his romantic partner were plot points that fans found to be relatable
The fact that Kumail Nanjiani co-wrote the script to The Big Sick with his wife proves that authenticity pays off. The film won numerous original screenplay awards. You might have noticed that Kumail also served as the EP and co-star alongside Issa Rae on The Lovebirds!
