This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Rochester chapter.
The Academy Awards are coming up on February 28th, but the Academy has recently faced backlash over the lack of diversity in its nominations. People of color aren’t being represented, and people are speaking out with the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite, pointing out the need for change and diversification.
Looking at the list of nominees, current A-list stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio (The Reverent), Jennifer Lawrence (Joy), and Kate Winslet (Steve Jobs) will be honored–but what’s missing from this list are actors and actresses of color. All the nominees in the major award categories (Best Actor/Actress in a Leading/Supporting Role) are white.
Many believe this snub is unjustified. For example, Idris Elba had a supporting role in Beasts of No Nation, which followed the story of a civil war raging in Africa. He was honored by other prominent award shows, such as the Golden Globe Awards and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. But when it came to the Oscars, Elba, and the movie that featured an all-black cast, received no recognition.
Similarly, Michael B. Jordan, who starred in the most recent movie of the Rocky franchise, Creed, was also snubbed, despite the overwhelmingly positive reviews the movie received.
Numerous stars have spoken out over this lack of diversity, such as Lupita Nyong’o, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2014 for her role in 12 Years a Slave.
She writes,
“The awards should not dictate the terms of art in our modern society, but rather be a diverse reflection of the best of what our art has to offer today. I stand with my peers who are calling for change in expanding the stories that are told and recognition of the people who tell them.”
Other stars, like Jada Pinkett Smith, have moved to even boycott the show. Smith points out, “People of color are always welcomed to give out awards…even entertain … But we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.”
In response to the growing backlash and the rise of the hashtag, #OscarsSoWhite, the Academy announced that it’ll be making changes to the membership of its voters.
In 2012, a study found that the Academy was composed of voters who were 94% Caucasian and 77% male, with the median age being 62.
But by 2020, the Academy plans to change this by doubling the amount of voters who are women and people of color. In addition, there will be no more life-long memberships, with 10-year terms being implemented.
These measures to diversify emphasizes the power of #OscarsSoWhite and the importance of speaking out. And while this is definitely not the ultimate solution to the lack of minority representation in Hollywood, it’s a step in the right direction.