After the lack of diversity found in the 2016 Oscars that generated the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag, this year's Emmy awards provided a satisfying contrast to the Oscars' diversity gap. While no people of color were nominated for a 2016 Oscar, actors of color were nominated in every leading actor category of the 2016 Emmys for the first time in their 68-year history. People of color made up almost 25 percent of nominees. Aziz Ansari made history with his nomination for a leading role on a television series as the first South Asian actor to be nominated.

Despite the Emmys' groundbreaking nominations, Hollywood still has far to go in terms of representation. Even when people of color (POC) win awards, the roles they are acknowledged for often perpetuate negative stereotypes. We often only see actors of color playing inferior roles compared to their white counterparts.

A recent example of this can be seen in the movie "Ghostbusters." While feminists praise the all-female cast as being progressive in a movie that originally starred only men, many found the movie to be an example of "white feminism." The only black character stood beside three white scientists as a street-smart NYC subway worker. While many young girls can look up to the brilliant, kick-ass ghost-fighting team, what does this movie tell young black girls when the only character who looks like them is not a scientist, but a transit worker?

Hollywood's Diversity Report found that broadcast shows whose cast was made of at least 40 percent minorities received more attention on social media and received higher ratings. Despite the report's findings that audiences prefer diverse casts, Hollywood still fails to cast minorities in lead roles. Even when minorities have a chance to be represented in lead roles, Hollywood often casts white actors to play them instead. In a fight for visibility, many Asian actors have called out the whitewashing of roles where white actors were cast instead of or in place of Asian actors. Recent examples of this are the casting of Scarlett Johansen as the lead in "Ghost in a Shell," which is originally a Japanese graphic novel, and the casting of Tilda Swinton as an originally Tibetan character in Marvel's "Doctor Strange." There are many excuses made for whitewashing, or "race-bending" as some people refer to it.

Casting directors claim that a personality match between a character and actor is a more important basis to consider than race. However, this absurd idea suggests that there are no minority actors talented enough to play these characters, which we all know is ridiculous. This is also an idea that clearly only works one way. When a black Stormtrooper was cast in "Star Wars," fans took to social media to oppose the casting because, for some reason a black Stormtrooper was the most unrealistic thing in a movie with laser swords, scared robots and mystical energies flowing through the galaxy. White fans were also in uproar after a black actress was cast to play the role of Hermione in a Harry Potter play, even after JK Rowling herself came out in full support of the casting. When actors of color are cast in roles typically given to white actors - even when there are absolutely no physical specifications that contradict the casting of a minority - POC are accused of stealing the roles of white actors. However, it's perfectly alright when a white actor assumes the role of a character who is obviously described as not being white.

As minorities struggle to address the discrepancies in Hollywood representation, we can celebrate the accomplishments that have been reached so far. We remain excited for the release of Marvel's "Black Panther," starring Chadwick Boseman as an African prince-turned superhero. Along with "Black Panther," we await the new Marvel series "Luke Cage," the "bulletproof black man" as executive producer Cheo Hodari Coker referred to the character. The representation of minorities is especially important for children. Kids of all backgrounds need to be able to see themselves as superheroes, scientists and leaders so that they can believe in their own ability to walk the same path.