The president of the Academy of Hollywood, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, reacted today to the lack of diversity shown by the Oscar nominations in his last two editions and promised “big changes” after black artists threatened to boycott the ceremony .
“I would like to acknowledge the excellent work of the nominees of this year,” Isaacs said in a statement sent to the media. “While we celebrate their outstanding achievements, I feel pained and frustrated by the lack of inclusion. It is a difficult but important topic of conversation, and it is time of great change,” he added.
The Academy did not choose any black actor for the second year in the Oscar nominations, a situation that in 2015 prompted the creation of the label #OscarsSoWhite (Oscars as white) in social networks and that after the announcement of nominations on Thursday, intensified with #OscarsStillSoWhite (Oscars still as white) label.
The last time there was a similar situation was in 1997 and 1998.
Isaacs (a black woman) stated that the Academy will to take “drastic measures to change the composition of our membership” and promised that the invitation extended to the group in the coming years will be “a much needed diversity.”
According to figures from the Los Angeles Times, 93 percent of academics are white, 76 percent are men and the average age is 63 years.
The president of the organization said that there have been changes in this respect over the past four years, but admitted that the results are not being reflected as he wanted.
“We need to make more changes, better and faster” he said.
Isaacs said that in the 1960s and 1970s, the Academy tried to recruit younger members to keep “vital and relevant,” and that in 2016 “the order is bet on the inclusion in all its facets: gender, race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. ”
“We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and we thank all of you who have contacted me to progress together,” he concluded.
Among the 20 candidates in the categories of interpretation of this year there is no black artist despite names like Will Smith (“Concussion”), Michael B. Jordan (“Creed “), Idris Elba (” Beasts of No Nation “) and Samuel L. Jackson (” The Hateful Eight “) departed with options.
Benicio Del Toro (“Hitman”) and the actresses were also left out Kitana transgender Mya Kiki Rodriguez and Taylor, both for “Tangerine”.
In the top category, best picture, was apart from the competition “Straight Outta Compton”, a huge commercial success in the US on the formation of the famous rap group NWA
Spike Lee, who received an honorary Oscar in November, took the feast day dedicated to the memory of civil rights leader in America, Martin Luther King, and announced that neither he nor his wife will attend the gala Feb. 28.
“How is it possible that for the second year in a row all nominated actors are white? Not to mention the other categories. ¿40 white actors in two years and no ‘flavor’ ?. Can not we do anything? “she lamented Lee.
Meanwhile, Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith’s wife, said in his Facebook profile that this year will not attend the ceremony and not even see it on television.
“It is time for people of color to realize the amount of power and influence that we have amassed and that we need not ask to be invited anywhere,” he declared interpreter.
The 88 Academy Awards will be hosted by the black comedian Chris Rock.
No comments:
Post a Comment