This year's Black History Month is upon us and it's a great time to reflect on the importance of fostering inclusivity and diverse narratives in popular culture. As one of the most beloved and iconic franchises in history, Transformers has also recognized the significance of representation. In this post, we'll shed light on several talented individuals who have contributed to the Transformers franchise in its fourty-year-long history.
Origins[]
In 1915, the historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. As the organization developed, the observance became the Negro History Week in February 1926. In 1975, President Ford issued a message about the Observance of Black History Week urging all Americans to "recognize the important contribution made to our nation's life and culture by black citizens." The following year, Black History Week grew to become Black History Month in the United States, and is now celebrated in several countries in more recent times. (source)
Individuals[]
Tyrese Gibson[]
Gibson portrayed Sergeant Robert Epps in the first three Transformers live action movies. His character was an U.S. Air Force Combat Controller and technical sergeant of a Special Operations team based at the U.S. SOCCENT base in Qatar and William Lennox's best friend. Before he was cast, Ashley Walters was approached for the role but he turned it down as he signed a deal with an Independent in the UK.
Bernie Mac[]
Mac played Bobby Bolivia, an used car salesman, in the first live action movie. Unfortunately it was one of his final movies, as he died in 2008 at the age of just fifty years.
Jerrod Carmichael[]
Carmichael played Jimmy, a young man from South Dakota, who was hired by Cade Yeager through a want ad. Aside from Transformers, he is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer and filmmaker who won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2022.
Dominique Fishback[]
Fishback played Elena Wallace, an artifact researcher and intern at the museum in Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. During her acting career she also has won two awards, such as Best Supporting Actress (African-American Film Critics Association Awards) and Outstanding Supporting Actress (African-American Film Critics Association Awards), both in 2021. She also was nominated for further awards.
Conclusion[]
Those were just a few of many black people, who contributed to the Transformers franchise over time, however feel free to talk about other contributors in the comments below. Let's celebrate all those great people who worked on Transformers over the last four decades.
