Prime Video announced Prime Video Celebrates Black VOICES, a one-day virtual event covering Black representation in film and media in honor of Black History Month. The event will take place on February 24, 2022 and will include group panels, lightning talks, and special performances celebrating the beauty, strength, and power of Black voices. The event is free and open to all.
This event is the sixth installment of Prime Video’s VOICES series, which explores the history and data of inequities in Hollywood, and ways we can change the narrative across our productions. VOICES previously held conversations highlighting representation for Asian and Pacific Islanders, LGBTQ+ communities, the Latiné community, Indigenous peoples, and the neurodivergent community.
“With each event, VOICES continues to inspect and explore new and important topics that affect all of us in the entertainment industry,” said Latasha Gillespie, head of Global DEI at Amazon Studios, Prime Video, and IMDb. “For our Black History Month celebration, we wanted to focus on the joy and successes of the many great minds working today and share that wisdom with the next generation of innovators and disruptors. From the creators to the educators to the humorists, we have so many gems in the Black community and look forward to the entertaining and inspiring programming in the upcoming VOICES event.”
Participants include:
- Zainab Johnson (Actress, Upload)
- Shoniqua Shandai (Actress, Harlem)
- Tracy Oliver (Creator, Harlem)
- Guy Torry (Executive Producer, Phat Tuesdays)
- Reginald Hudlin (Director/Executive Producer, Phat Tuesdays)
- Luenell (Comedian, Phat Tuesdays)
- Cori Murray, moderator (Deputy Editor, Essence)
- Jazz Tangcay, moderator (Senior Artisans Editor, Variety)
- Aerica Shimizu Banks (Founder, Shiso)
- Dr. Darnell Hunt (Dean of Social Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles)
- The Divas and Drummers of Compton (Performing Arts Group)
Thursday, February 24 Lineup (All times PST):
11:00 – 11:03 a.m. | Welcome & Kickoff
Latasha Gillespie, head of Global DEI Amazon Studios, Prime Video, and IMDb
11:03 – 11:34 a.m. | Panel Discussion: Black Creators
A conversation examining how a seemingly specific lens (too often called “niche”) is actually both a shared human experience and one that can gather a tremendous cultural following and imitation.
- Guy Torry, Phat Tuesdays
- Reginald Hudlin, Phat Tuesdays
- Tracy Oliver, Harlem
- Moderator: Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor, Variety
11:34 – 11:44 a.m.| Lightning Talk: Hollywood Diversity Report
Speaker: Dr. Darnell Hunt, Dean of Social Sciences, UCLA
11:44 – 12:24 p.m. | Lightning Talk: Color of Change
Speaker: Aerica Shimizu Banks, Founder of Shiso
12:24 – 12:54 p.m. | Panel Discussion: Black Women in Comedy
A conversation highlighting Black women in comedy, exploring the intersectional issues and brilliance in which Black women comics live.
- Luenell, Phat Tuesdays
- Zainab Johnson, Upload
- Shoniqua Shandai, Harlem
- Moderator: Cori Murray, Deputy Editor, Essence
12:54 – 1 p.m. | Entertainment: The Divas and Drummers of Compton
A special performance by The Divas and Drummers of Compton.
**Additional panels TBD