Will The Oscars Deliver on Their Promises of Diversity?
Words by Audrey Camille
Illustration by Katie Herchenroeder
The 91st Annual Oscars holds the potential to make history or fall short on its promise of diversity. The Academy is often under a lot of heat as moviegoers and actors alike call them out for their lack of diversity.
This season Spike Lee picked up his first ever nomination for Blackkklansman, a fact that shocked many. Lee, a Brooklyn native, could become the first African American to win Best Director. The connection the film makes between the 1970s KKK and the current political climate makes Blackkklansman a strong Oscar contender.
Further,for the first time ever, a comic book movie has been nominated for Best Picture.Though Christopher Nolan’s The DarkKnight was said to be snubbed by many, BlackPanther snags the first ever nomination for comic book movies. Of course,it is not the first blockbuster to be nominated the night’s highest honor – Lord of the Rings: Return of the King wonback in 2004 – but considering the massive culture impact Black Panther had worldwide, this is an incredibly special moment. Forthe first time ever, a comic book movie has been nominated for Best Picture.
One filmracking up controversy through this awards season is Green Book, starring Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. Tellingthe story of a black man who goes on tour in the deep South in 1962, this filmwas a sure-thing for Awards Season. It only started getting controversy afteran interview with Mortensen defending director Peter Farrelly – a white man –telling a story of racism. This criticism as well as Mortensen snagging a BestLeading Actor nomination poses the issue of this being a “white savior” projectto many. Regardless of this controversy, however, the picture racked up fournominations.
Of thetwenty actors nominated across the four categories, only five are people ofcolor, and of the five, only two are black. Both of these actors are insupporting roles – Mahershala Ali for GreenBook and Regina King for If BealeStreet Could Talk.
You canwatch the 91st Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24that 8pm.
