Allow me to re-introduce myself. My name is…Reagan Gomez. I’m an actress, I’m a wife, and proud mother of a two-year old daughter. I’m living my life, and I’m blessed to still be working after all of these years. But a lot of girls from back in the day, aren’t around anymore.
Black Hollywood is a very small community. We all know each other. There’s a special place in my heart for women from the 90’s, like me, who are still around and in good health. This is not an easy business to grow up in, especially for a young black woman. It’s all too easy to get “Caught Up” in the life. You have men just waiting for you to turn 18, and some men don’t wait. Hip-Hop and Hollywood are one in the same, so it can be one big world of excess and false reality. Lots of “YES” people…and if you’re 15, 16, 17, making 400k a year, those “yes” people, may be your own parents. But, not all families are like this.
A majority of girls from back in the day, who are still around, have to give credit to their families. I know I do! They keep you sane, and keep you grounded, in a world that can literally make you LOSE YOUR MIND! From drugs, to men, to partying, to trying to maintain the “Hollywood” standard of beauty, aka, staying thin, (and there’s lots of drugs for that) it’s all one big house of broken mirrors.
Not to mention, the “ROLE” of the black actress has changed. In the 90’s, everyone was working. From Parent’hood, to Moesha, to Family Matters, and movies like, The Best Man, Love and Basketball, Soul Food, Love Jones, Set It Off, there was always WORK! It’s not the same. So many talented people are out of work. So when 1 or 2 roles do come around, 30 amazing actresses all go out for it. Only 1 can get it. So where does that leave everyone else? Why, you ask? Let me make this perfectly clear. HOLLYWOOD IS FOR EVERYONE! IF I WERE BEING THROWN OPPORTUNITIES, I WOULD ABSOLUTELY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM TOO!
If Hollywood would rather hire, a MUSICIAN, because they know this person has a set fan base, as opposed to an ACTRESS, then, there goes the work for actress. Plus, Hollywood thinks, no one is interested in seeing new black, FEMALE faces on the big screen. But they’ll hire new white faces and new black males all the time. Double standard…. yes. Hollywood is for everyone. But there has to be balance, and black actresses are getting the short end of the stick. So what do you do? You live your life, hustle, keep studying your craft, and keep God first. The minute you let your “job” become your “life”, you’re done. When you see a black female face on the screen, it makes it easier for ALL of us. It’s still a battle. But we’re up for the challenge.
So to all of my fellow actresses, who are still around, and even those who have chosen to give the business up, and pursue other things, I respect you. I love you. We know, all too well, the good and evils of this business. But we’ve learned how to “Work” the business, and not let it, “Work” us:)
Follow me on Twitter!!! @ReaganGomez
