THE BIG PICTURE: Can Cannes, and the world, show Black people some respect?

The Cannes Film Festival in France has a problematic reputation for how it treats Black people.& The 76th annual festival—which took place from May 14 to May 25—has now come under fire from the general public, with many people accusing it of disrespecting Black people and giving white people preferential treatment. Black women in particular have been speaking out about this problem, which received worldwide attention after a May 21 incident involving singer/actress Kelly Rowland reacting to how she was treated by a white security employee during a Cannes Film Festival premiere.  The controversy over this incident speaks to a larger issue of how Black women often have to deal with a double standard when it comes to getting respect. What wasn’t as widely reported was the fact that the Cannes Film Festival this year chose not to include any movies from Black directors for the In Competition category for the festival’s biggest prizes, while several movies from white and Asian directors were chosen for this category. Kelly Rowland poses for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film “Marcello Mio” at the 77th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Photo credit: Scott A Garfitt,...