Netflix may be reeling from the recent firing of their Chief Communications Officer, but the streaming service remains committed to leading the way for diversity and representation and they just dropped an EPIC photo that shows just how much progress they have made.
During the 2018 BET Awards, Netflix debuted an iconic photo featuring 47 phenomenal talents from 20+ Netflix original shows, films and documentaries who came together to create A Great Day in Hollywood.
Ava DuVernay, Spike Lee, Nia Long, Lena Waithe, and Alfre Woodard are just a few famous faces who participated in the shoot that’s an ode to the legendary 1958 photograph by Art Kane, A Great Day in Harlem.
Kwaku Alston shot the incredible photo that is remake of the iconic A Great Day in Harlem photo that featured 57 jazz legends including Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins and Mary Lou Williams and inspired the 1994 Oscar-nominated documentary of the same name.
Lacey Duke directed the accompanying video for Netflix.
“It was a pretty magical couple of hours. All these amazingly talented, beautiful individuals in one space being supportive and just looking stunning together, all here to pull off this one take wonder! Alfre Woodard even lead everyone in an epic rendition of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ before we started shooting. It was beautiful, and in a flash it was over. It was probably the most overwhelming two hours of my career haha. I was just so happy to be a part of history,” Duke said in a statement.
Caleb McLaughlin narrates:
“This is a New Day. Built from the ground broken by legends.
A Day for our generation to see untold experiences of our BLACKNESS.
Representing a LIMITLESS range of Identity.
Playing Kings and Queens of our neighborhoods. Defeating larger than life forces trying to flip our world upside down. (beat)
WE STAND-UP on any stage and every screen.
A DAY when black women are BOLDLY the lead character, whether inmates or scholars
We’re not a genre because there’s no one way to be black.
We’re writing while black. Nuanced and complex.
Resilient and Strong. This is NOT a Moment. This is a Movement. We are STRONG Black Leads
TODAY is a Great day in Hollywood.”
Check out the full list of included talent:
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Ava Duvernay (13th, Central Park Five)
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Spike Lee (She’s Gotta Have It)
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Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage; Juanita)
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Gabrielle Dennis (Luke Cage)
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Simone Missick (Luke Cage)
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Cheo Hodari Coker (Luke Cage)
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Mike Colter (Luke Cage)
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Antonique Smith (Luke Cage)
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Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage)
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Vaneza Oliveira (3%)
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Russell Hornsby (Seven Seconds)
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Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things)
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Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things)
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Lena Waithe (Master of None; Dear White People; Step Sisters)
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Chante Adams (Roxanne Roxanne)
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Nia Long (Roxanne Roxanne, Dear White People)
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Justin Simien (Dear White People)
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Logan Browning (Dear White People)
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Nia Jervier (Dear White People; Step Sisters)
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Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People)
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DeRon Horton (Dear White People)
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Ashley Blaine Featherson (Dear White People)
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Marque Richardson (Dear White People; Step Sisters)
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Hayley Law (Altered Carbon; Riverdale)
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Rev Run (All About The Washingtons)
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Justine Simmons (All About The Washingtons)
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Dawn Porter (Bobby Kennedy for President)
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Kat Graham (The Holiday Calendar; How It Ends)
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Quincy Brown (The Holiday Calendar)
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Sydelle Noel (GLOW)
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Britney Young (GLOW)
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Kia Stevens (GLOW)
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DeRay Davis (How To Act Black)
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Sierra Capri (On My Block)
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Brett Gray (On My Block)
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Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black)
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Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black)
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Alisha Boe (13 Resons Why)
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Samantha Logan (13 Reasons Why)
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Ajiona Alexus (13 Reasons Why
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Derek Luke (13 Reasons Why)
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Steven Silver (13 Reasons Why)
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Yance Ford (Strong Island)
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Kano (Top Boy)
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Marlon Wayans (Naked; Woke-ish)
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Rapsody (Rapture)
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Sacha Jenkins (Rapture)
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