Jopwell Picks: The Best of Hollywood In 2016

As the 2017 awards season reflects, last year was a masterful one for diversity in film and TV. A film about three heretofore unknown Black women who helped usher in NASA’s modern-day space program broke box-office records, while shows like Insecure and Atlanta revealed the many layers of the Black experience in America. We are thankful for the artists who helped bring some of our favorite characters and stories to the screen – characters and stories that, in many important ways, reflect our own lives. Here, the Jopwell squad shares the actors, movies, and TV shows that made 2016 an inspiring year for representation in Hollywood.

"I love that Taraji P. Henson is landing huge roles in both television and film and being celebrated for it. She grew up in Oxon Hill, Maryland, which is in the same county that I grew up in. I love that she just bet on herself and moved to Los Angeles with her son when she was 26, despite only having $700 to her name. I just finished her memoir, Around the Way Girl, and, in it, she discusses her background and how the Hollywood pay gap impacted her and her son’s life. Now I want to learn even more about her.” — Monica Powell

“I loved Moonlight. I appreciate that it’s a ‘Black movie,’ yet it doesn’t adhere to a standard ‘Black movie’ narrative. It’s set in the hood in Miami, but the complexities of the tale extend far beyond the typical storyline associated with that. You can see that, throughout his entire life, Chiron was profoundly lonely in school and at home. It’s really a story about a guy who is in dire need of intimacy, and I think that’s probably true for a lot of people who we walk by every day. I left the theater numb. I’d never felt that way after seeing a movie." – Joseph Bassey

“I’m really happy for Donald Glover, who is an accomplished artist on so many fronts. He does not simply use his platform to promote himself; he uses it to increase the visibility of others in his community. He used Atlanta to give a shout-out to Migos. Taking that extra step to help those around you is so important. Plus, he’s going to be in Lion King, which will be dope. And I can't forget Insecure for its very relevant, very modern take on work, love, friendship, and happiness from Black perspectives _ something the entertainment industry had been missing. Sure, there’s Girls and other shows that cover similar topics, but not in a way that speaks to a predominantly diverse audience. Issa Rae is refreshing, not only because she doesn’t look like your standard clichéd leading lady, but because her work spawns thoughtful and truthful conversations about real experiences we all have: When she tried to break up with her boyfriend and can’t. When she finally speaks up for herself as a Black woman in a (well-intentioned, but...) White office. The dating app drama her best friend is going through. I can connect with that.” — Janel Higgs

“It’s been amazing to watch Issa Rae go from the viral star behind Awkward Black Girl to the television star behind Insecure. She has a knack for approaching serious topics in an eye-opening yet funny way.” — Joe Cabrera

“Seeing Fences was the first time I ‘saw’ into my dad's childhood – that was really impactful for me. Watching the movie with him and seeing him in tears for the first time that I can remember, made me realize how spot-on August Wilson's portrayal of the Black experience in many of the northern cities during the 1950s was. My dad relived his childhood through Cory while watching the movie. He saw his father in Denzel’s portrayal of Troy. When speaking with him during the ride home, he confessed that he understood his father a little better and had a better sense of why he did the things he did. The work of Viola Davis and Denzel Washington allowed my dad to have closure he didn't even realize he was seeking. It also allowed me to understand my dad a bit more." – Porter Braswell

“I had 13th by Ava DuVernay in my Netflix queue for a while. When I finally watched it the other weekend, I was blown away. This brilliant documentary explores the mass incarceration of minorities and draws a clear line from America’s complicated history to present-day prison systems. Before seeing that, I’d never truly realized how intentional law enforcement attacks on minorities were. The film effectively captures the laws and policies behind the epidemic. It was eye-opening.” — Dev Jones

“Westworld is the greatest show ever created. It’s thrilling and very much a ‘thinking’ show; you have to pay attention to understand how all of the different storylines work together. The whole cast is really diverse. Thandie Newton (who plays Maeve Millay) is particularly amazing. She’s strong-minded, smart, and the most interesting character on the show.” – Carlton Walker

“I saw Hidden Figures twice in theaters, and I’d see it again right now. When Mary Jackson, played by Janelle Monáe, is in court petitioning a Virginia judge to grant her special permission to enroll in some evening courses at a segregated public school, she beautifully embodies a powerful philosophy: be the change you want to see in the world (even when much of the world doesn’t seem ready for you). In that scene, she looks the judge in the eye and says, ‘I plan on being an engineer at NASA ... I have no choice but to be the first.’ There’s so much in there: Standing up for equality, strategically advocating for what you want, creating opportunity, breaking stereotypes, paving the way. We should all do that more. I love that.” — Katie Sanders

“I’ve got to give a shout-out to New Girl when it comes to diversity in Hollywood. It’s the only mainstream sitcom I can think of that’s always had at least two out of five non-White leads, and they don’t whitewash or pander to their differences. Most importantly, though, the show captures what life is really like in most American cities, wherein most friend groups include a mix of White, Black, Brown, all types of people who move in and out of each other’s lives. I’m a huge fan, and I think they deserve more credit.” — Stew Hendricks

“She’s been around for a few seasons now, but I continuously feel like Olivia Pope just gets me. She’s the first television character I’ve ever been able to see myself in – the first character I could relate to looks-wise who’s in a huge position of power. People come to her for advice. I want people to come to me like that. I remember sitting down with [our CEO] Porter one day and asking him where he got his confidence. He told me to pick a character from TV and start emulating that person. Now I tap into Olivia Pope whenever I need confidence.” – Victoria Bell

This post is part of The Well’s Hollywood package. Read more: Is Hollywood Changing?