Unmasking the Reel Gatekeepers: A Critical Analysis of Black Ownership, Distribution Equity, and Institutional Power in Hollywood Film

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 11:45 am - Gold 2
  In Roundtable Session: Implications of Public Opinion from Media Spaces Toward Education and Equity

Abstract

This study investigates the historical and ongoing inequities in Black ownership within the film distribution sector of Hollywood. While Black narratives have gained visibility, ownership of distribution channels—where institutional power resides—remains overwhelmingly non-Black. Through a critical examination of who controls film distribution, when and how these structures were built, and their implications for equity, this work reveals systemic disparities that persist in the Film, Television, and Media (FTVM) industry. Grounded in restorative and transformative justice, this research reimagines what true equity could look like in media by centering Black agency, ownership, and the redefinition of power in storytelling. The findings speak to broader educational, cultural, and civic implications of narrative control and institutional access.

Author

• Charles Opong, Loyola Marymount University