Why are we Celebrating #OscarsLessWhite?
The nominees for this year’s Oscars are out, and everyone seems to be celebrating. Why? Because apparently #OscarsLessWhite just became a thing, with four out of nine Best Picture nominations primarily featuring African American characters, three black Best Supporting Actress nominees and four Best Documentaries directed by black filmmakers. Ruth Negga, half-Ethiopian and half-Irish, is representing the black community in the Best Actress category, the first thespian to do so since Halle Berry received her nod in 2002. Behind the scenes, Bradford Young is the first black man to earn a cinematographer nomination in nearly twenty years. This surprising turn was celebrated all the more because it came at an unexpected moment, when racial tension was brewing across the country with the election of a populist, supremacist president. As every American struggled to overcome isolation and embitterment, the film industry rose to new heights and fought for equality and acceptance.
Producers and casting directors are still hesitant when it comes to thinking outside the box about casting minority thespians.
This was a true leap towards diversity for the Oscars, especially considering the fact that for the past two years, white actors have been the only ones taking seats as nominees for the four most prestigious awards. It also serves to prove that Twitter activism actually works, as #OscarsSoWhite’s ubiquitousness shook the industry and prompted academy board directors, producers and directors alike to take immediate action. Many industry veterans like Jada Pinkett Smith, Lupita Nyong’o and George Clooney have publicly criticized the awards, sparking strong reaction from fans and movie enthusiasts. Immediately after the media protest storm swept Hollywood during last year’s Oscar season, academy board director Cheryl Boone Isaacs was forced to push for reforms that would “double minority representation by 2020.”
For one year, a lot of progress has been made, as we can clearly see from the increased diversity of 2017’s nominees. However, we have to be wary—it is too early to lay down the fight just yet. When there are still talented Hispanic, Asian and Native Americans out there who do not get the shot that they deserve, whether it be in producing, screenwriting, acting or anything in between, it is not the time to start celebrating over #OscarsLessWhite. We have to keep in mind that just because there is more black representation, this doesn’t mean that other minorities are not being ignored.
The statistics are very disturbing, to say the least. In the last thirty years of academy nominations, only seventeen were granted to Latino performers, American and foreign combined. Six Asians received nods in 25 years, all of them hailing from other countries besides the United States. When it comes to directing, however, the numbers are even more skewed–in the course of the Academy’s history only three black directors have been nominated for the top award, and none have actually won. And that is not to mention the gender disparity seen in this category, alongside most non-acting awards; Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the Oscars for Best Director in 2009, after 81 years of female exclusion. Until now, she is still the only female director blessed with the golden statue. There is a reason Best Director has been dubbed an all-white-male league.
Furthermore, although updates to the Academy board’s quotas are all well and good, the root of the problem lies in Hollywood itself. As acclaimed African American thespian Viola Davis eloquently phrased, “You can change the Academy, but if there are no black films being produced, what is there to vote for?” Producers and casting directors are still hesitant when it comes to thinking outside the box about casting minority thespians. The stigma that surrounds films with diverse casts and their box office capabilities still exists, and unless this deep-rooted bigotry is addressed, we will likely see continued discrimination for years to come. According to USC Annenberg’s most recent industry-wide study about diversity in entertainment, 71.7 percent of all film and television characters with speaking roles are white. Over 41 of the 100 top-grossing Hollywood movies have no Asian characters whatsoever.
It is impossible to deny that the inclusion of brilliant African Americans in this year’s Oscar nominations is a step in the right direction. But to quote Daniel Mayeda, Chairman of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition, “Now we just have to make sure that Hispanics, Asians, Muslims, LGBT+ and others also are represented in the future.”
#OscarsSoDiverse