Drawing a parallel with Viola Davis, who has achieved the rare feat of winning an Oscar, an Emmy, and a Tony yet still contends with wage discrimination, Hounsou said, “Viola Davis articulated the issue with great eloquence. Her situation mirrors mine and countless others in the industry.”
Hounsou, who immigrated to the United States at the age of 23, recounted how his experiences in Hollywood, particularly his work with Spielberg on “Amistad”, served as a catalyst for establishing the Djimon Hounsou Foundation. The foundation, as per its website, is dedicated to “fostering a profound connection between the African diaspora and the motherland, and mending the scars left by the legacy of slavery.”
“My acting career has been an eye-opening odyssey,” Hounsou shared on the “African Voices Changemakers” episode. “During my research for ‘Amistad’, I became acutely aware of the severed ties between Afro-descendants and their roots and culture. Understanding one’s origin is fundamental to self-identity, and I felt an irresistible urge to give back to my people and continent. This impulse led to the inception of my foundation years later.”