If you still don’t know how bad it is, it’s pretty bad. None of the nominees in all 20 categories for acting in the upcoming Academy Awards are of color. And the reactions aren’t pretty at all.
Jada Pinkett-Smith posted a video on Facebook asking, “Is it time that people of color recognize how much power, influence, that we have amassed, that we no longer need to ask to be invited anywhere?” She also followed it up with a few tweets expressing how much it has all gone too far.
At the Oscars…people of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain, (pt. 1)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
But we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments. Should people of color refrain from participating all together? (pt 2) — Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
People can only treat us in the way in which we allow. With much respect in the midst of deep disappointment. J (pt 3)
— Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapsmith) January 16, 2016
She then announced that she wouldn’t be attending the awards show come Feb. 28.
This morning, Spike Lee called out the execs of the Oscars for being unable to use their influence to recognize people of color for their contributions to film.
And Chris Rock, host of the this year’s awards show, unabashedly called out the racism along with a promotional video for the Oscars, just to prove a point:
The #Oscars. The White BET Awards. https://t.co/8qjLR0uysI
— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) January 15, 2016
Tsk, tsk. Things aren’t looking good for one of the most prestigious awards shows for film. Looks like the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio still hasn’t won an Oscar doesn’t look like much of an issue now, does it?
Photo courtesy of PopSugar