I’m underpaid despite my fame — Djimon Hounsou speaks on ‘racism’ in Hollywood

Beninese-born American actor, Djimon Hounsou has opened up on the systemic racism in Hollywood.

The ‘Blood Diamond’ actor who was nominated for prominent awards for his roles in ‘Blood Diamond’ and ‘In America’ in a snippet of an unreleased episode of CNN African Voices, shared how he endured “racial treatment” in Hollywood.

According to the 60-year-old, despite the prominent and numerous awards, which, he noted, should boost his career,  he is still struggling financially.

He said, “I am still struggling trying to make a living. I have been in this business and making films now over two decades and still with two Oscar nominations, many big blockbuster films, yet I am still struggling financially to make a living.

“I am definitely underpaid. I was nominated for the Golden Globes, but they ignored me for the Oscars, talking about the fact that they thought that I had just come off the boat and off the streets.

“Even though I successfully did that, they just did not feel like I was an actor for whom we should pay any respect to. So this conceptual idea of diversity, it still has a long way to go. Systemic racism does not change like that anytime soon.”