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Gabrielle Union and Nate Parker Weigh In on Hollywood's Diversity Problem: "It's a Very Homogeneous Group"

Birth of a Nation co-stars offer solutions

By Francesca Bacardi Jan 26, 2016 1:51 PMTags
Watch: Gabrielle Union Speaks Out on 2016 Oscars Controversy

Gabrielle Union is ready to see changes in Hollywood.

The Birth of a Nation actress opened up to E! News' Marc Malkin at the Sundance Film Festival and revealed she thinks it's "delusional" if people don't see what's right in front of them.

"I think Shonda Rhimes said it best. She said, 'I'm not a trailblazer for casting my shows like reality,'" Union recalled. "Diversity isn't brave. It's not a fad. It's reality...If you look around the room it's pretty diverse, and everyone should have a place at the table.

"Those are just facts," Union added.

The Being Mary Jane star felt that if there are people who can't see the truth, then they shouldn't be part of Tinseltown. "I don't think you have a space in Hollywood," she mused. Instead, she just wants to see everyone's face "reflected."

"It's representation," she said. "It's seeing your face reflected."

But with changes, such as The Academy's membership plan set to take place by 2020, Union said the country can move on from a dark time period.

"Every step forward takes us further and further away from a very shameful past," she explained, adding that it has to start with the executives.

"I think if you see who runs Hollywood it's a very homogeneous group and they like to see themselves reflected," she said.

Watch: Nate Parker Talks Diversity at Sundance 2016

Union's co-star and director of Birth of a Nation, Nate Parker, also revealed his thoughts on the diversity issue to Marc.

"It's cultivation. I think diversity is more than a color palette," he said. "It's a celebration of heritage and culture and that's the one thing that we don't do so often."

But like Union, Parker said that there are still bad memories that the U.S. has to overcome. "Before that we have to heal," he explained. "There are wounds that exist because of the legacy of slavery in this country."

He added, "We have all the tools to really promote celebrations of different types of people."

To hear what else they have to say about diversity in Hollywood, watch the videos.