To Be a Black Agent Is to Be Devalued

To be a Black Agent is to be devalued. To be a Black Agent is to be considered less qualified and less capable.

I’ve received a tweet from a writer, who’s materials were extremely subpar, so I told him exactly what he needed to do to improve. His reaction was, “I can’t even get a Black Agent. I quit.”

I’ve received an email from a now former client who I helped develop from absolute nothing, questioning why I was helping two 17 year old twin girls get their careers started. While admitting I did the same for her, but she didn’t hold up her end of the deal.

I just had my number one client choose to stay with a white agent because together they made $3,000, while we made over $50,000 together and he felt like they were better because he made that off one job over the course of a year.

I’ve received emails and voicemails from strangers calling me a racial slur and a dyke. Just cause, no reason. They just felt moved to.

I’ve had a casting director tell me my clients didn’t pop and that’s why she wasn’t calling us in, then when I pointed out those same clients were placed by me at well-known agencies and were actively being called in daily, she changed her tune and said I didn’t have a name.

I’ve been told that only legit agencies are members of certain labor unions and associations. I’m licensed and bonded by the State of California. Meanwhile, those same labor unions and associations have harbored agencies who have stolen clients funds, ran headshot schemes, and had sex scandals.

I’ve had the head of Creative Diversity at a “premium cable network,” her words not mine, question why they should consider working with me, when they’re already working with the top 20 white owned agencies. Yet somehow she’s head of diversity, and by the way she’s Black.

I’ve interviewed for entry-level positions at other agencies where I’ve been the only Black face in the room. The Creative Director at this agency was so uncomfortable by my presence that he conducted the entire interview with his back to me, looking over his right shoulder occasionally. No, not because he was working, we were in a conference room.

I’ve had people scrutinize and question my state approved contract and check authorization form, but then willingly sign the same state-approved contract and check authorization form at white-owned agencies without an issue.

I’ve had a client, whom I was 1,000% invested in, give me excuses for two years about updating her headshot and resume, literally giving me nothing with which to help her career, but then asked me to dinner one night to help her update her materials for a manager she wanted to get. I was speechless.

I’ve had a stranger come into my Instagram thread and tell me that identifying as Black scared her. That other agents just called themselves agents. That I should abandon my identity, while she proudly proclaims her Black Muslim heritage.

Yesterday, I received an email from a stranger, asking me to represent them; but they wanted the ‘agency fee’ to be donated to the BIPOC because they wanted to “put their money where their mouth is.” When I asked for clarification on what ‘agency fee’ meant to them, they confirmed that it was “the commission that goes to the agent.” They wanted me to work entirely for free.

Being a Black Agent in this industry is absolutely fucking exhausting.