Photo Credit: Netflix/Kwaku Alston
We all were shaking our heads with the Kendall Jenner and Pepsi ad, Dove, and the soap commercial, and countless more.
Many brands got it wrong with their apologies, but Netflix got it right.
Inspired by the iconic photo, A Great Day in Harlem, taken in 1958 featuring prominent jazz musicians, Netflix reenacted the same image but highlighted African Americans today in Hollywood.
The piece included 47 makers both in front and behind the camera and was directed by Lacey Duke, while the photo was taken by Kwaku Alston.
This comes off the heels of Netflix’s corporate communications chief, Jonathan Friedland’s resignation after he was accused of “descriptive use of the N-word on at least two occasions at work.”
Here’s more via Deadline:
The ad was conceived and created months ago and had already been scheduled to air during the BET Awards when on Friday Netflix’s long-time communications chief Jonathan Friedland was ousted for using the N-word on two separate occasions.
In light of the controversy, I hear Netflix brass considered not proceeding with the spot this weekend but ultimately opted against it.
“It was a pretty magical couple of hours,” Duke said. “All these amazingly talented, beautiful individuals in one space being supportive and just looking stunning together, all here to pull off this one take wonder! Alfre Woodard even lead everyone in an epic rendition of ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ before we started shooting. It was beautiful, and in a flash it was over. It was probably the most overwhelming two hours of my career. I was just so happy to be a part of history.”
“We’re writing while black, nuanced and complex, resilient and strong,” the spot, narrated by Caleb McLaughlin, says. “This is not a moment. This is a movement.” It features Woodard, Ava DuVernay, Caleb McLaughlin, Derek Luke, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe, Mike Colter, Rev Run, and Spike Lee, among others.
Watch it below: