From movements like #OscarsSoWhite to constant stories about pay inequity in the entertainment industry, it is no real surprise that when Forbes released a list of the 2023 highest-paid actors in Hollywood, CA, there was a lack of diversity. The lone Black indigenous person of color (BIPOC) named on the list at number 10 was veteran actor Denzel Washington. Financial earnings for marginalized groups compared to their white counterparts is not a new social justice issue. However, due to some public knowledge regarding celebrity salaries, it is hard to ignore the significant differences in pay that Black actors receive. The most noticeable pay gap is the gender inequities between actors who identify as men or women. According to the National Partnership for Women and Families, Black actresses typically make an estimated 64 cents for every dollar white, non-Hispanic male actors make. This number increases to 68 cents for Black women producers and directors. While advocates for Black...

It’s fair to say that Denzel Washington changed the game for Black actors. Until his flurry of critically acclaimed roles primarily in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, conventional wisdom in Hollywood held that African Americans were not broadly appealing nor bankable in leading roles. Despite many critically praised performances by older luminaries, such as Sidney Poitier and James Earl Jones, commercially successful films starring African Americans were few and far between. However, Washington began to make history in the ‘90s, with several movies in which he starred (1993’s “The Pelican Brief,” 1995’s “Crimson Tide,” and 1998’s “The Siege” among them), grossing over $100 million worldwide. Along with rapper-turned-actor Will Smith, Denzel Washington paved the way for Hollywood production companies to cast Black actors in big-budget films. His string of commercially successful films has lasted well into the 2000s, with recent films such as “2 Guns,” “Flight,” “The Equalizer,” and...

A new report by Variety revealed a very sad truth about the biggest salaries in Hollywood. The outlet reports that the actor who got the biggest payday in Tinsel Town was none other than Daniel Craig. The current James Bond received more than $100 million for the “Knives Out” sequels, which are being directed by Hollywood heavyweight Rian Johnson. And there’s a reason Craig is getting this heavy salary: the “new deal” that’s available to many Hollywood stars. “Netflix compensates movie stars for the projected back-end box office participation they would reap if their movies were released exclusively in theaters. Add to that salary bumps Craig would’ve received for second and third films in the murder mystery series, and the outgoing James Bond is sitting on a nine-figure check,” explains Variety. And there’s more to the biggest salaries in Hollywood, too. In a nutshell, actors who are involved in the business of streaming can expect a bigger payday than those who limit their efforts...

Black Hollywood has historically made major contributions to the TV and film industries. However, many Black actors and actresses don’t get their proper shine or pay for their work. Here, we are spotlighting some of the highest-paid Black actors and actresses who’ve reaped the benefits from their fruitful careers. Halle Berry ($90 million) Photo Credit: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) Halle Berry’s acting career is highly regarded in the entertainment industry. She became the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for “Best Actress” and has starred in classic films like “Boomerang,” “Monster’s Ball,” “X-Men” and more. Berry has opened doors for many Black actresses and her efforts continue to set the standard for Black Hollywood. Queen Latifah ($70 million) Photo Credit: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images Queen Latifah has had a very rewarding acting career. Even though she began with music, the Oscar-nominated, Grammy and Emmy award-winning actress ventured off to Hollywood starring...