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When Fatima Reedy was 19, she moved to Los Angeles from Utah to act. She had no connections and no representation — just a dream. After about a year of auditioning, she was approached by two agents, who were white.
“They basically told me they would only sign me if I permanently flat-ironed my hair and if I pretty much conformed to, in my eyes, ... their white clients,” she said. “I was like, ‘I’m Black, I can’t get rid of my hair, can’t get rid of my curves, can’t get rid of my curls.’”
She didn’t want to keep auditioning for the trope of sassy Black friend and became frustrated that they didn’t send her out for leading roles. Later, she realized she was the only person of color on their roster.