Part 10/15:
In tandem, reflections from actors like David Schwimmer illustrate a more conscious awareness of diversity—back then, he campaigned to increase diversity on Friends, even suggesting all-Black or all-Asian spin-offs, highlighting an early recognition of a lack of representation. Today, such statements are viewed through the lens of progress, but critics argue that Hollywood’s current virtue signaling often masks ongoing systemic issues.
The discourse also critiques terminology shifts, with references to “persons of color” appearing surprisingly early in Hollywood’s lexicon, raising questions about the industry’s evolving language and racial awareness.