Systemic Racism in Hollywood: Djimon Hounsou Speaks Out on Financial Struggles Despite Oscar-Nominated Career

According to the Hollywood renown Oscar nominee Djimon Hounsou, he is still struggling financially, despite his over 30 years in the Hollywood film industry. His career has not been a fairytale as so many people think. He attributes this to the racism that exists in the Hollywood industry.

During an interview on CNN in the TV Show, “African Voices Changemakers,” 60 years old Hounsou revealed that he’s struggling to make ends meet despite being a two-time Oscar-nominated actor who has appeared in blockbuster films.
“I’ve been in the filmmaking business for over two decades with two Oscar nominations and many blockbuster films, and yet, I’m still struggling financially,” he said on CNN
“I’m definitely underpaid,” he added.

Breaking Through with ‘Amistad’

Hounsou’s most famous movies include “Amistad,” “Gladiator,” “In America,” “Blood Diamond,” “How to Train Your Dragon 2,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Captain Marvel,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Shazam!,” “A Quiet Place Part II,” “A Quiet Place: Day One,” and both “Rebel Moon” films.

His roles in “In America” and “Blood Diamond” earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 and 2007, respectively. He never took home any; he believes the Oscars snubbed him for his performance in Steven Spielberg’s “Amistad.”

Systemic Racism

“I was nominated for the Golden Globe, but they ignored me for the Oscars because they thought that I had just come off the boat and the streets,” Hounsou said.
“Even though I successfully did that, they just didn’t feel like I was an actor to whom they should pay any respect,” he added.

Hounsou continued, “We still need to make significant progress in this conceptual idea of diversity.” Systemic racism won’t change like that anytime soon.”

In March 2023, while speaking to The Guardian, he opened up about his struggles in Hollywood “ I am still struggling to make a dollar!” he said in the interview.

He equally expressed his dissatisfaction seeing those who came into the industry at the same time as well off than him.

“I’ve come up in the business with some people who are well off and have very little of my accolades. So I feel cheated, tremendously cheated, in terms of finances and in terms of the workload as well,” Hounsou explained.

Hounsou fought for the pay cheque he deserved and faced continuous disrespect.
“I still have to prove why I need to get paid,” he shared. “They always come at me with a complete low ball: ‘We only have this much for the role, but we love you so much and we think you can bring so much’… Film after film, it’s a struggle. I have yet to meet the film that paid me fairly.”

Background

Djimon Hounsou born on April 24, 1964, in Cotonou, Benin is a Beninese-American actor and model. He moved to the United States at the age of 13 and began his career in modelling before transitioning to acting. Hounsou’s big break came in the 1997 film Amistad, where his portrayal of the enslaved African rebel Cinqué earned him critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Alongside his acting career, Hounsou actively advocates for issues of systemic racism in Hollywood. He has been vocal about the challenges African actors face in securing significant roles and advancing in the industry. Hounsou has also been an advocate for his home country of Benin, supporting local charities and promoting African culture.

Djimon Hounsou’s upcoming films include “Beneath the Storm,” a survival thriller starring Phoebe Dynevor, “The Zealot,” a thriller based on a 2016 play, and “The Monster,” a horror movie directed by the “Saw” franchise’s Darren Lynn Bousman.

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