Tracee Ellis Ross: "I think racism usually trumps" sexism in Hollywood

theGrio REPORT - Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross recently sat down at a roundtable of comedy actresses, including Amy Schumer, Lena Dunham, Gina Rodriguez, Ellie Kemper and Kate McKinnon, to talk about everything from self-worth to racism and sexism.

TheGrio Staff

May 30, 2015

Black-ish star Tracee Ellis Ross recently sat down at a roundtable of comedy actresses, including Amy Schumer, Lena Dunham, Gina Rodriguez, Ellie Kemper and Kate McKinnon, to talk about everything from self-worth to racism and sexism.

Ross shared some of her experiences in dealing with the lack of diversity in movies, especially the lack of roles for black women.

“I think racism usually trumps [sexism],” she admits. “I think very often in comedy, a lot of the sexist stuff or racist stuff happens behind the scenes. We’re all playing roles and we’re all outspoken women who would, I imagine, speak up.”

Ross also pointed out that women who demanded to be treated well and who had a healthy self-worth were often demonized by the label “diva.”

“I was raised by a woman [singer Diana Ross] who has high standards for what she’s worth, which has been called ‘diva behavior,'” Ross said. “I have witnessed flagrant, disgusting behavior, and that is not my mother. There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.”

Check out the clip below.