Do you know about the significance of Robert Townsend? Initially starting off as a comedian and actor Robert went through Hollywood in standard fashion, taking auditions and casting calls and whatnot. He saw how black actors had very few jobs, and essentially no films to get into. The few roles offered were very stereotypical. And damaging to the psyche of the crowds that watched it. Especially for the black people it depicted. That’s if you believe that we’re effected by the images we see on our TV and/or movie screens, whether fiction or non-fiction. There was a huge lack of work for the black community in the film industry, and this is what drove Robert Townsend to not only become a writer and actor, but to become a director. So, he could direct films for black people to star in and provide jobs. When Robert Townsend directed and acted in the movie Hollywood Shuffle, a satire film on the experience of black actors in Hollywood. He gave a voice to many under-appreciated people and changed a lot of stereotypical thoughts about black films. Not only that — Townsend maxed out a handful of credit cards, or $60,000 in debt, to make the film. Which went on to gross more than $5 million at the box office.