Oprah Winfrey, Kerry Washington, Lee Daniels and more came to Cipriani Wall Street on Wednesday night to celebrate the Paley Center for Media’s Tribute to African-American Achievements in Television.
“I think we’re having a really exciting moment where several networks are realizing how valuable it is to have diversity and inclusivity,” Washington told us.
“What we’re realizing is that it’s important to celebrate each other’s differences. Because . . . there are cultural differences that we all need to learn about and be exposed to. It helps us understand each other, to have access to each other’s lives. And at the same time, the themes of love and passion and ambition and fear and rage and jealousy and envy. Those things are human, no matter what color you are.”
“Black-ish” star Anthony Anderson said he was inspired by James Earl Jones: “He’s one of the reasons that I’m here today . . . You’re always inspired when you turn on the television, go to the theater, or go to the movies and see people who look like you, who sound like you and are telling your stories.”