In spite of brilliant films with performances by outstanding Black actors and other actors of color, Hollywood bosses still foster racism and the exclusion of people of color in films distributed to its billion dollar global market.
For the second year in the row, all 20 slots in lead and supporting categories went to white actors, in spite of last year’s protests and anger throughout the industry. (#OscarsSoWhite)
The awards were ironically announced on the eve of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., which is now a national holiday in the U.S.
This year’s list of Oscar nominees passes over popular, well-reviewed performances in the movies “Creed,” “Straight Outta Compton,” “Concussion,” and excludes prominent actors of color in 2015 films including Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, Will Smith, Samuel L. Jackson, Benicio del Toro, and Mya Taylor, among many others.
While white actor Sylvester Stallone was nominated for supporting actor for his performance in “Creed,” the film’s Black writer-director, Ryan Coogler and Black actor, Michael B. Jordan were not nominated.
In addition, there are no Black people nominated as directors, composers, cinematographers or writers.
“For the two Black movies that made over $100 million at the box office, touched a nerve and are artistically fresh, only white people were nominated. How does that work?” asked producer and academy member Stephanie Allain, referring to “Creed” and “Compton.”
After great outrage and protest were directed at the academy last year for excluding Black, Latino, Asian and Native actors, it would seem that more careful attention would have been given to reflecting a stated goal of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to increase diversity in the Hollywood entertainment industry.
In 2015, only white actors were chosen in the acting division of the Academy, even the brilliant performance of David Oyelowo was snubbed. He gave what many thought was the best performance of the year as the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in “Selma.”
In spite of its billion dollar global market, it has non-profit status, which implies addressing community needs. The Academy is imbued with racism (and sexism) and reeks of white supremacy across all areas of production, both on and off the big screen.
Some 75 percent of movie roles go to white actors. The acting branch of the academy is 94 percent white and 74 percent male. Latino, African American, Asian and other people of color now make up 51 percent or more of movie-goers in the U.S., which means that Hollywood could be casting them as heroes and heroines in somewhat equivalent numbers and still do well domestically.
The image of a white hetero male combating adversity on behalf of everyone else, with little exception, is the main focus of most Hollywood action movies. Los Angeles, the company town for the film and entertainment industry, is known for being one of the largest and most nationally diverse cities in the world, but people of color are systematically denied jobs and education in film production and all its related areas of production and distribution.
“Certainly, the lack of variety in Hollywood is not the biggest problem in the world today,” writes A.B. Wilkenson (Huff Post), “… yet it is a serious issue and one that we can do something about. In the true U.S. tradition of protest we can boycott movies and shows that are discriminatory as a tactic to force change.
“Passing along “#boycott” followed by a film’s name, … and acting on it can be powerful in numbers. As Common and John Legend’s recent Golden
Globes acceptance speech for best song in”*Selma*” reminds us: “*Now is our time to change the world — Selma is now.”*
