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“Today is a great day in Hollywood.”

(Directed by Lacey Duke as shown above)

When I first picked up a camera and discovered I wanted to do nothing more in this life than tell stories through the lens of a camera, everyone else thought I was dreaming too big. I didn’t have many mentors or peers that wanted to pursue a career in cinema and television that looked like me or came from neighborhoods similar to mine. Representation was scarce. Now, I pull energy, good vibes and high hopes from these faces: black and brown men and women telling OUR stories whether it be in front of the lens or behind it. I finally feel like my dreams are closer than they appear, obtainable even more so. I finally feel like a part of a really cool, exclusive club. These are the portraits that will decorate the walls of my home someday. #strongblacklead

(Photo: Kwaku Alston/Netflix)

This project featured:

Ajiona Alexus (13 Reasons Why) Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage; Juanita) Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why) Antoinette Robertson (Dear White People) Antonique Smith (Luke Cage) Ashley Blaine Featherson (Dear White People) Ava DuVernay (13th, Central Park Five) Brett Gray (On My Block) Britney Young (GLOW) Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things) Chante Adams (Roxanne Roxanne) Cheo Hodari Coker (Luke Cage) Danielle Brooks (Orange Is the New Black) Dawn Porter (Bobby Kennedy for President) DeRay Davis (How to Act Black) Derek Luke (13 Reasons Why) DeRon Horton (Dear White People) Gabrielle Dennis (Luke Cage) Hayley Law (Altered Carbon; Riverdale) Justin Simien (Dear White People) Justine Simmons (All About The Washingtons) Kano (Top Boy) Kat Graham (The Holiday Calendar; How It Ends) Kia Stevens (GLOW) Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) Lena Waithe (Master of None; Dear White People; Step Sisters) Logan Browning (Dear White People) Marlon Wayans (Naked; Woke-ish) Marque Richardson (Dear White People; Step Sisters) Mike Colter (Luke Cage) Mustafa Shakir (Luke Cage) Nia Long (Roxanne Roxanne, Dear White People) Nia Jervier (Dear White People; Step Sisters) Priah Ferguson (Stranger Things) Quincy Brown (The Holiday Calendar) Rapsody (Rapture) Rev Run (All About The Washingtons) Russell Hornsby (Seven Seconds) Sacha Jenkins (Rapture) Samantha Logan (13 Reasons Why) Sierra Capri (On My Block) Simone Missick (Luke Cage) Spike Lee (She’s Gotta Have It) Steven Silver (13 Reasons Why) Sydelle Noel (GLOW) Vaneza Oliveira (3%) Yance Ford (Strong Island)

This photo was inspired by ‘A Great Day in Harlem’, a 1958 black-and-white group portrait of 57 notable jazz musicians photographed in front of a brownstone in Harlem, New York City by Art Kane. 

Netflix’s Strong Black Lead project even featured behind-the-scenes footage and photos of the talent celebrating this milestone in Hollywood together.