As I watched both Jada Pinkett Smith and Janet Hubert’s videos this morning, I reflected on the Oscars being a mirror to so many other institutions like corporate America and the educational systems that lack diversity in their administrators, faculty and teachers. I do not disagree with what either of them are saying. Yeah I know…so on the fence. For me I would like to focus on Viola Davis’ speech after she became the first African-American to win an Emmy for Best Actress. “The only thing that separates women (men) of color from anyone else is opportunity.” This is so true. I have experienced this personally and heard story after story from others.
Spike Lee posted his response on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s holiday via Instagram saying, “the real battle is not with the Academy Awards specifically, but with the dearth of people of color in executive positions.” He argued “the lack of diversity in those spaces is the reason why diverse films are not greenlit and why actors of color continue to net fewer opportunities and fewer accolades. People, the truth is we ain’t in those rooms, and until minorities are, the Oscar nominees will remain lily white.”
So my question to those great actors, directors, writers, who are planning to boycott by not showing up, how do we change it for better if we are not in the room or on TV to talk about the issue at the event itself?
- What if instead of not being present, they came and stood up each time as a new award was being given?
- What if on the red carpet they wore all black with a button that said #ocasarsowhite forcing everyone to address it?
- What if all TV personalities conducting interviews on the red carpet asked all actors, directors and writers, what they thought about this issue on camera?
- What if they blocked traffic to all the limousines trying to get to the event?
- What if every time an award was won, we flooded social media with the diversity that did not get nominations and tag Cheryl Boone (the Academy president) and @TheAcademy.
The list could go on and on. To quote Dr. King whom Spike Lee quoted, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it’s right.” We cannot make it easy for the Academy, movie distributors, executives, directors, producers and even their fellow actors to stay silent which they will continue to do if we are not in the room.
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