When I sat down to watch “Number One on the Call Sheet”—Apple TV’s powerful new two-part documentary spotlighting Black excellence in Hollywood—I didn’t just see a reflection of the entertainment industry, I saw myself. I saw the dreams, the doubts, and the drive that so many young Black professionals like me bring to spaces that weren’t always built for us. The film doesn’t just celebrate the wins of Black actors and creators who’ve paved the way—it peels back the layers of what it really takes to get there.
“The cumulative lesson is there is not a [one] path to success. There are so many paths to success,” the docuseries’ co-director, Reginald Hudlin, told theGrio. “And the lessons aren’t just for ‘oh, I want to make it entertainment.’ These are the lessons of winners. I don’t care what profession you’re in, there’s a mindset that is a winner’s mindset.”
As a young professional navigating my own career, I couldn’t help but take notes—mental and literal. There’s something about hearing legends like Whoopie Goldberg, Jamie Foxx, Angela Bassett and Denzel Washington speak their truth that hits differently when you’re in the trenches of building your own path. From the importance of owning your narrative to understanding that “making it” means more than just landing the lead role, here are five moments that resonated with me the most.
The power of passing the torch
One of the most beautiful takeaways from “Number One on the Call Sheet” is how success doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The journey of Black actors and actresses in Hollywood is a multigenerational conversation—one where the torch is passed with intention, respect, and admiration. Sidney Poitier’s groundbreaking work opened the doors for Denzel Washington, who, in turn, inspired Daniel Kaluuya. Dorothy Dandridge’s grace and trailblazing career paved the way for Halle Berry, whose historic Oscar win lit a fire in Taraji…
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