The disgust over the Oscars continued lack of diversity continues.
On Friday, Jan. 16, Rev. Al Sharpton had a few choice words for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the long list of Oscar nominee snubs. In fact, the Los Angeles chapter of his National Action Network is calling for a boycott of the upcoming awards show.
“Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains, the higher up you get the whiter it gets,” Sharpton said in a statement, “and this year’s Academy Awards will be yet another Rocky Mountain Oscars. Yet again, deserving black actors and directors were ignored by the academy — which reinforces the fact that there are few, if any, Blacks with real power in Hollywood. Being left out of awards consideration is about more than just recognition for a job well done; winning an Oscar has long-lasting cultural and economic impacts.”
All white Oscar nominations are another example of the lack of diversity in Hollywood. Like the Rocky Mts. The higher u climb the whiter.
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) January 14, 2016
Hollywood has a fraudulent image of progressive and liberal politics and policies. We must take direct action to correct this. Talk is cheap
— Reverend Al Sharpton (@TheRevAl) January 14, 2016
In case you’ve been living under a rock, for the second consecutive year, all 20 acting nominees are White. In the directing category, there is only one person of color, Alejandro G. Iñárritu. As for best picture, films featuring predominantly Black casts like Creed or Straight Outta Compton were kept out of the running as well. Before that, 2011 was the last time all of the acting contenders were White and then again in 1998.
For the second year in a row, social media retaliated in their own way by launching the now popular hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. Meanwhile, NAN L.A. (National Action Network) is urging a nationwide “TV tune-out” of the Oscars show, which is to air live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET as well as in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
“The lack of African Americans and women excluded from the major categories of Oscar nominees is appalling,” said Najee Ali, NAN L.A.’s political director, in a statement. True — but is a boycott enough? Better yet, is it the right route to take? Sharpton’s statement added that NAN will be gathering at a Hollywood summit next month “to bring light to those studios and others in the film industry who aren’t living up to their obligations. We will not sit idly by and allow our community to be disregarded.” The Academy has not yet responded.
What are your thoughts on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continued lack of diversity and the route we should take to respond? Sound off in the comment section below.
