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Last month, I was reminiscing about my childhood while watching ‘Girlfriends’ on Netflix. It took me nearly three weeks to finish every season, and it brought me back to six-year-old me — eating popcorn with my mother on the couch, watching Joan and Toni rekindle their friendship.

Mara Brock Akil, the show’s creator, was successful in making you fall in love with every character on that show. Easily, I was drawn to the four female quartets. Joan Clayton, a career woman that was desperate for a stable relationship; the fashionable Toni Childs, whom you will always see on every club’s VIP list; the happily married Maya Wilkes, Joan’s paralegal turned best selling author; and the clueless, yet kind-hearted Lynn Ann Searcy. The four actresses epitomized strong Black women, but my favorite character of the show was William Dent, the lone male of the girl pack.

As the news of his career downfall broke, followed by health difficulties that hospitalized him, Reggie Hayes has been in the center of attention. While the critically acclaimed ‘Girlfriends’ has been selected as one of the many hit Black television sitcoms to appear on the Netflix streaming platform, numerous fans of the show expressed their concern for the 51-year-old actor’s financial stability. While being interviewed by the Chicago Tribune, Hayes opened up about facing hardships after the show’s cancellation mid-season, while battling cardiovascular conditions.

Hayes portrayed William Dent, a neurotic yet powerful attorney who was on the corporate track to becoming a partner at one of the top law firms in Southern California. His character illustrated how the show’s creator wanted to create a male’s perspective on the issues that Black women face in relationships and society.

Dent was a complex character with a double side to his personality. His tall physical stature, deep voice and short fro made him look appealing. He was a geek, but was confident when interacting with the opposite sex. William was a pushover, but he was aggressive in achieving a goal. The contradictive layers are what made him brilliant on screen. Hayes was a fan favorite during the show’s success. He was given the award for Best Supporting Actor in a comedy series at the NAACP Image Awards. In 2007, Hayes was chosen as the World’s Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine.

‘Girlfriends' was a smash hit for African American viewers. The narratives that the writers created for each episode were relatable for Black women facing similar issues. The sitcom was completely different compared to other African American themed television shows. The four friends were based in upper-middle-class living conditions, as each person was trying to be on a higher level. The series lasted for eight seasons until its untimely cancellation in the late 2000s.

Despite the success of each cast member after the show ended, Hayes’s luck for opportunities in the film and television world was minor. While reading his interview with the Chicago Tribune, I was startled that his financial struggles forced him to transition to measly living conditions. I was confused by how a high profile actor had trouble finding gigs in an independent market that stressed the importance of how Black artists should stand with one another.

I was nearly heartbroken by how the performer of one of my favorite characters went through a socially traumatic period followed by an ongoing battle with congestive heart failure. Hayes opened up about seeing other actors who started on television find more success. In the interview, he would compare himself to the likes of Friends actor Matt Leblanc, who received amazing offers within movies and television roles. It saddened me when I read about how his ambitions of rebuilding his dream house were deferred when he had to settle to share a home with close friends.

Although Hayes received guest roles in different projects, the way he primarily survived was by working odd jobs, such as a bouncer — despite not being a confrontational person.

We are currently in a time when stories from brilliant Black minds are noticed, as numerous Black storytellers are finally creating tables for us to sit. Issa Rae launched a production company for music and television. Tyler Perry, currently owning a 30-acre film studio in the city of Atlanta, is declared the first African American billionaire in the movie industry. ‘Black-ish’ actress, Marsai Martin, is developing a non-fiction series showcasing trailblazing Black women. We finally see the fruits of our labor, but the issue lies in giving the same opportunities for veteran African American artists who laid the foundation. Reggie Hayes is a phenomenal actor that deserves every ounce of credibility.

I conclude that Hayes’ career demise does not fall upon poor choices; It is the lack of support that he is receiving in a business that is beyond competitive. When working in a fast-paced industry, you will hardly see any hands reach out to you when you are down. The idea of “coming and going” is common in this field of work, but using that same ideology towards legendary performers is demeaning.

Reggie Hayes’ commitment to Black culture is visible. Our lack of recognizing his contributions is harsh on our end. Black entertainment should open its doors for Hayes, and we should not wait for a ‘Girlfriends’ reboot for that to happen.