Jamie Foxx is voicing his frustration over efforts to diminish the achievements of Black people, calling out attacks on Black history and diversity initiatives.
Speaking with Extra’s Melvin Robert at the L.A. premiere of Number One on the Call Sheet, the 57-year-old entertainer emphasized the importance of preserving and telling Black stories.
“You don’t realize what exists when you’re trying to make it. You don’t know about being ‘number one on the call sheet’ until you get there,” Foxx explained. “Look at Will [Smith], look at Denzel [Washington]—these guys have carried that torch, and now we get our turn. I love leading that artistic charge.”
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For the two-part documentary, Foxx assembled some of Hollywood’s biggest Black stars to celebrate their journeys.
“To get all these incredible men and women together to talk about it—it’s powerful,” he said. “Hollywood doesn’t give out ‘yes’ easily. You know how hard it is to get a ‘yes.’ So we made a promise to guys like Kevin Hart and The Rock: ‘We want this to be an unforgettable moment for you.’ And we believe we’ve created something special.”
Foxx also made it clear that neither his art nor Black history will be erased.
“They’re trying to wipe away everything we’ve done,” he said. “They’re coming for DEI, affirmative action, even Black history. But why target our history? The more you erase, the more we replace.”
He added, “We contribute so much to culture—our swag, our fashion, our music, our moves—and we don’t even charge for it! But if you’re gonna come for DEI, maybe it’s time we take some of our stuff back.”
Number One on the Call Sheet celebrates the impact of Black actors in Hollywood, with Reginald Hudlin directing the installment on Black leading men and Shola Lynch helming the segment on Black leading women.
The documentary premieres March 28 on Apple TV+.
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