Djimon Hounsou Opens Up About Hollywood's Inequalities and Systemic Racism

Djimon Hounsou, the acclaimed actor from Blood Diamond and Gladiator, is shedding light on the ongoing struggles of being a person of color in Hollywood. Despite over two decades in the industry and two Oscar nominations, the 60-year-old star revealed he’s still battling for fair pay.

"I’m still struggling to make a living," Hounsou shared on CNN’s African Voices Changemakers. "I’ve been in this business for over two decades, yet I’m definitely underpaid."

Hounsou also reflected on being overlooked by the Oscars for his breakout role in Steven Spielberg’s 1997 historical drama Amistad. While he earned a Golden Globe nomination, he believes the Academy snubbed him due to racial bias.

"They thought I had just come off the boat and the streets," he said. "Even though I delivered, they didn’t see me as someone worthy of respect."

The actor further criticized Hollywood’s slow progress on diversity. "This idea of diversity still has a long way to go. Systemic racism won’t change overnight," he remarked.

This isn’t the first time Hounsou has spoken about unequal treatment. In a 2023 interview with The Guardian, he revealed, "I still have to prove why I need to get paid. They always lowball me, saying, ‘We love you, but we only have this much.’" He also praised Viola Davis for highlighting similar pay inequities, noting, "She’s won every major award, yet she still faces this."

Hounsou’s experiences in Hollywood, particularly his time working on Amistad, inspired him to create the Djimon Hounsou Foundation. The organization connects the African diaspora with their heritage and addresses the lasting wounds of slavery.

"My acting opened my eyes," he explained. "Researching for Amistad made me realize the profound disconnect Afro-descendants feel from their roots. If you don’t know where you came from, you don’t know who you are."