Michael B. Jordan says he feels a responsibility to improve Hollywood for future generations. Jordan is best known for portraying Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, the villain of Black Panther and one of the MCU's more complicated antagonists. Killmonger, after witnessing his father's murder, learns that his family was from Wakanda - a thriving yet secluded country in Africa never affected by European imperialism. Killmonger's revenge story stems from knowing that Black people suffered centuries of enslavement, brutality, and oppression, while Wakanda sat on a wealth of resources that could have helped them.
In real life, Jordan is a fierce advocate for racial justice. He has become increasingly vocal ever since the murder of George Floyd and the global protests which followed. In May, he posted a photo on Instagram with a caption explaining what it is like to be Black in America, saying that "too many people see us as public enemies, only some see us as humans, and yet we need to be superhuman to survive." In June, he attended a Black Lives Matter protest where he gave a speech demanding increased representation in Hollywood and action from companies beyond just a one-time social media post.
Jordan connects his activism to improvements that can be made within Hollywood. According to E!, Jordan said in a recent interview that he wants to use his platform to empower future generations to "see further, speak louder, be better." He explains how people see him as one of the industry's latest "gatekeepers" and wants to use that role as an opportunity to create change in Hollywood. His full statement can be read below:
"And now it's like, as gatekeepers, the responsibility we have to usher in some kind of change when it comes to producing films and the stories that we're telling, how we're putting on for the culture, giving opportunities to others that we might not have had, holding brands and partners accountable for being progressive."
Jordan is doing more than just talking about progressive change. He decided that he would catalyze these industry changes by starting his own production company called Outlier Society. With it, he wants to tell stories that "will be impactful" and create something that can "last longer than [his] physical body."
Jordan's words and actions are especially relevant considering his former Black Panther co-star, Chadwick Boseman recently passed away from colon cancer. Besides playing the first Black superhero to hit the big screens, Boseman also portrayed other legends such as Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, and James Brown. Boseman and Jordan are some of this generation's trailblazers. Furthermore, their performances work as proof of the excellent movies that come from investing in Black stories and talent. With Michael B. Jordan as one of Hollywood's "gatekeepers," there will hopefully be more of that to come.
Source: E!