Now, as a co-chair of the CBW, Sams believes there are still some unresolved issues in the aftermath of the 2023 agreement that directly affect the earnings potential of Black writers.
African American writers already faced challenges to succeed in the entertainment industry before the Writers Guild of America (WGA) began its strike on May 2. Now more than 100 days old, the strike is greatly impacting Black writers.
“This story is a lot about African American ownership, even in the underworld,” stated Rich. “Racism existed even in the underworld. People of color could not exceed a certain level, so I wanted to tell this story of how this group, set in Brooklyn, wanted to have their own.”
On July 13, California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) members Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Tina McKinnor (D-Inglewood) led a group of lawmakers led a news conference at the State Capitol to express their concerns over various news reports of abrupt departures of Black women leaving high-profile careers in Hollywood after the state recently approved $1.6 billion in tax credits for the industry.
She’s made careers happen in an industry known for keeping doors shut to Black and Brown people.