Ah, the Oscars. For many actors, screenwriters, producers, directors, costume designers, and more it is the pinnacle of success. Hollywood has recognized your outstanding achievements and rewards you with a small golden statue only given out to very few and puts you on the international stage. Some famous names who have received such an honor are Jack Nicholson, Matthew McConaughey, Jamie Foxx, Robin Williams, Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o. This February, the 88th Academy Awards will take place in LA and this past Thursday, the nominations for the award show were announced to the public.
Last year, many people were upset over the lack of diversity being recognized at the Oscars and created a hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. The Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, and Actress last year had a roster full of white people. Nothing was wrong with those particular actors and films, all great narratives with amazing and important stories to tell. But that was 2014, there are many stories to hear. Narratives where people of color are not at the mercy of white people or only succeeding because of white people are important. Presenting films with the color hierarchy of past is painful and only further reinforces the limited roles people of color can have in Hollywood. That is why the movie "Selma," a film with a predominately black cast and a black director was so important and why many were perplexed when it was only nominated for Best Picture and Best Song. Although the performance of the song was powerful at the awards ceremony and it did take an Oscar home. Neither David Oyelowo, who played Dr. King or Carmen Ejogo, who played his wife, received nominations for their performances.
After hearing all that, one would assume, it can’t get worse this year. Well, I’m sorry to say but it did. This year, the pool of people of color even relevant to these nominated films got even smaller. Now some of you readers may be thinking, “Well, maybe not enough people of color are being featured/apart of these films.” If you’re thinking this, then you are correct. Within the past five years, people of color have made a huge step forward in television. From "Empire," to "Fresh Off the Boat," to "Black-ish," to "The Mindy Project," representation on television has grown exponentially. It’s more difficult to grow on a larger screen, and it’s even harder for that growth to be acknowledged. The outrage over the nominations caused a rekindling of the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag and even a modification. This year the hashtag is #OscarsAreStillSoWhite, and this promotes the notion that even great films with people of color acting, directing, producing, etc. are being made but they will not be celebrated.
As a person of color, I do not wish to diminish or discredit the films that were nominated. I saw "The Danish Girl" and loved it and plan to see "Joy" before returning to college. I believe a quote from David Oyelowo when asked if he was mad about "Selma" being snubbed at the Oscars sums up the frustration perfectly. “Generally speaking, we as Black people, have been celebrated more for when we are subservient. When we are not being leaders, or kings, being in the center of our own narrative driving it forward.” This frustration (obviously) is not just with Black people. It stretches to Latinos, Asian-Americans, Native Americans, and LGBTQ community. As we enter 2016, let’s hope year filled with transition and change within Hollywood to broaden the spectrum critically acclaimed entertainment.
