Actors Yara Shahidi, Marcus Scribner, Miles Brown and Marsai Martin speak onstage at the ‘Black-ish’ panel discussion during the Disney ABC Television Group portion of the 2016 Television Critics Association Summer Tour at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 4, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.
According to Uproxx, things got a little heated onstage after a reporter decided to pose a question that focused on the diversity of the show. A reporter asked what percentage of the show’s audience is black, to which the show’s creator Kenya Barris responded, “I will be so happy when diversity is not a word. It doesn’t matter who’s watching our show. The fact is that they’re watching it. And I feel like every question at every panel … I get so tired of talking about diversity. These are amazing, talented actors and amazing writers who give their all and they don’t have to do this. It’s crowding the conversation.”
He added, “We always have to box everything in. Isn’t it just a good family show? It’s specifically about a black family. We’re not denying that. But don’t you see yourself in it? Don’t you see your family in it? … Why is that important, who watched the show? Why does it matter? Why do we keep having to have these conversations?”
BCK Says: Do you agree with Kenya? What are your thoughts?
