At Golden Globes, Regina King Challenges Industry to Hire More Women | Sojourners

At Golden Globes, Regina King Challenges Industry to Hire More Women

LOS ANGELES - AUG 09: Regina King arrives to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Annual Grants Banquet on August 9, 2018 in Hollywood, CA. Shutterstock. 

While accepting a Golden Globe last night, actress Regina King made “a vow” to hire “50 percent women” on every project she produces in the next two years.

The pledge came towards the end of King’s speech and was a nod to Time’s Up — an organization advocating for “safe, fair, and dignified work for women of all kinds.”

“Time’s Up. Times two,” King said as the music signaling for her to conclude her speech began to play.

But King continued anyway:

“The reason why we do this is because we understand that our microphones are big and we are speaking for everyone.”

At this, the music cut off and King proceeded to make the commitment and invite others in positions of power to do the same.

“I just want to say that I’m going to use my platform right now to say in the next two years everything that I produce I am making a vow – and it’s going to be tough – to make sure that everything that I produce – that is 50 percent women,” she said. “And I just challenge anyone out there – anyone out there who is in a position of power, not just in our industry, in all industries, I challenge you to challenge yourselves and stand with us in solidarity and do the same. God bless you. Thank you.”

King was awarded Best Supporting Actress for her role as Sharon Rivers in the Barry Jenkins drama, If Beale Street Could Talk. You can read her full acceptance speech here.