Jamie Foxx is standing on business against efforts to diminish the impact of Black history and culture, emphasizing the importance of telling Black stories in Hollywood.
The energy all went down at the Los Angeles premiere of Number One on the Call Sheet, his upcoming documentary, Foxx spoke candidly with Extra’s Melvin Robert about the significance of Black representation in the film industry. “You didn’t know that that exists when you’re trying to make it. You didn’t know that there was a thing called number one of the call sheet… Look at Will [Smith] — he’s been doing it for so long — and Denzel [Washington], and we get these chances to step up,” Foxx explained. “I like to sort of lead the artistic charge and have everybody happy. We’re playing make-believe at the highest level. There is pressure on you, but good pressure, and it feels good to be able to do it in such a great fashion.”
Ge this, the two-part documentary highlights the influential roles of Black talent in Hollywood. Foxx worked with top-tier Black entertainers to bring the project to life, showcasing the power of collaboration in an industry where opportunities can be scarce. “Then to be able to get all these guys and women together to talk about it… You know how hard it is in Hollywood to get a yes. You know how hard it is to get a yes… And we promised all those guys — Kevin Hart, The Rock, everybody: We don’t wanna let your feet touch the ground,” Foxx said. “We want this to be an incredible moment in your life… that you could look on and be like, ‘Man, I’m glad I went down there.’ And we believe we’ve got something very special.”
What’s more, Foxx also took a firm stance on the ongoing attempts to erase Black history and culture, calling attention to issues such as the controversy surrounding DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and the erasure of Black history from educational curricula. “They trying to erase everything we do… They talking about the DEI, affirmative action, we don’t need Black history,” Foxx argued. “Why you picking on our history? So, we just do more history. The more you erase, the more we replace,” he said. “So, that’s all it is. We ain’t gonna be shy about it. Leave us alone. Let us enjoy. Let us all be American.”
Foxx didn’t stop there. The Oscar winner also reflected on the invaluable contributions Black culture has made to mainstream society, noting, “We give so much to the culture, and look at what we give: We give them the swag, fashions, the bops, moves, everything — and we don’t charge! … Well, give us back some of our stuff if it’s DEI!”
When it comes to tNumber One on the Call Sheet, the doc is a absolutely celebration of the trailblazing Black men and women in Hollywood. The documentary’s first part, directed by Reginald Hudlin, focuses on “Black Leading Men in Hollywood,” while part two, directed by Shola Lynch, highlights “Black Leading Women in Hollywood.”
The documentary will premiere on Apple TV+ on March 28. Check out the trailer below: