The Controversy Sparked By The Academy Awards' Lack Of Inclusion

By Victoria Robertson on January 21, 2016

The topic of diversity has become increasingly hostile over the past few years, typically boiling down to accusations of racism.

With recent protests including the well-known, Black Lives Matter agenda, taking college campuses (and other communities, for that matter) by storm, it only makes sense that this lack of inclusion escalates into the realm of entertainment.

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Oscar nominations were released late last week, and for the second year in a row, all acting nominees were white, leading to a mixture of outrage and disappointment amongst the acting community and the public.

Lupita Nyong’o, the last black actress to win an Oscar (she took home the Best Supporting Actress award in 2014) spoke out today on Instagram about her disappointment, stating:

“I am disappointed by the lack of inclusion in this year’s Academy Awards nominations. It has me thinking about unconscious prejudice and what merits prestige in our culture. 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.”

And Nyong’o isn’t the only one to speak out against the Academy. Jada Pinkett-Smith, wife of Will Smith whom many expected to receive a nomination for his performance in “Concussion,” spoke out, claiming she and her husband wouldn’t be attending the Awards, but would rather boycott the ceremony, inviting others to do the same.

This has stirred controversy from other entertainment stars, as some believe the comments are unproductive in achieving the overarching goal: inclusion.

While Will Smith is only one of several black actors whom fans and colleagues alike believe were snubbed, a boycott of the ceremony feels too much like a step backwards than anything else.

And despite the publicity given to the topic of racism, this is not the only element of inclusion that still needs to be discussed.

Actor Idris Elba says it best in his speech to British Parliament:

“Diversity in the modern world is more than just skin color — It’s gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, social background and — most important of all, as far as I’m concerned — diversity of thought. Because if you have genuine diversity of thought among people making TV and film, then you won’t accidentally shut out any of the groups I just mentioned.”

Elba’s speech best summarizes the problem with the Black Lives Matter protests and the Oscar boycott. These movements are counterproductive, as they themselves exhibit a lack of inclusion.

While the point of the movements is to bring awareness to the problem, something that certainly needs to be addressed in the near future, nowhere in these protests are the other oppressed demographics included.

Diversity of thought was certainly lacking when Oscar nominees were picked, especially given the great, diverse year film had, and this is the subject that should be targeted in future protests.

Not white vs. black.

Not straight vs. gay.

Not male vs. female.

Diversity in general. Diversity in every aspect of the word.

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In a release from Academy President Cheryl Boone-Isaacs released on Monday, she said:

“We have implemented changes to diversify our membership in the last four years. But the change is not coming as fast as we would like. We need to do more, and better and more quickly … In 2016, the mandate is inclusion in all of its facets: gender, race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. We recognize the very real concerns of our community, and I so appreciate all of you who have reached out to me in our effort to move forward.”

While the lack of progress is truly disheartening and Boone-Isaacs’ message to the public should certainly be taken with a grain of salt, as a society, we need to come together and fight these injustices. Inclusion refers to everyone, something that’s long been overlooked.

As disappointed as this years’ Oscars has left us, it’s important to not let it turn us into a society that points fingers in a counterproductive manner.

Rather, let this strengthen our bond as a society so we can stand together and elicit change in a meaningful, positive way.

It’s about time for a step in the right direction, and there’s no better time than now.

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