#OscarsSoWhite trends amid Oscar nominations controversy
As the Oscars nominations were announced this week, some were quick to point out candidates missing from the list.
For a second year in a row, no minorities were nominated in any of the four acting categories.
Many took to Twitter to voice their disapproval at the lack of racial diversity in the nominees for the oscars.
April Reign, an editor who started the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag in 2015 after critically acclaimed ‘Selma’ was snubbed at the Oscar nominations announcement.
Both the #OscarsSoWhite hashtag and the #OscarsStillSoWhite hashtags trended, and Reign tweeted yesterday to say: “It’s actually worse than last year. Best Documentary and Best Original Screenplay. That’s it.”
Among those expected to at least be nominated were Will Smith for ‘Concussion’, Michael B Jordan for writing and directing ‘Creed’ and Idris Elba, for his role as an African warlord in ‘Beasts of No Nation’.
Some were shocked to find out that the cast of the ‘Straight Outta Compton’ biopic were passed over.
The best original screenplay nomination, which Reign tweeted to note, went to the writers of Compton, who are both white.
The Oscars will take place on 28 February, and will be presented by black comedian Chris Rock.
Last year’s Emmys saw black actress Viola Davis become the first African American to win best actress for a drama.
At the time she made a speech which went viral. She said: “In my mind, I see a line. And over that line, I see green fields and lovely flowers and beautiful white women with their arms stretched out to me, over that line. But I can’t seem to get there no how. I can’t seem to get over that line.”
“That was Harriet Tubman in the 1800s. And let me tell you something: The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity.
“You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there. So here’s to all the writers, the awesome people that are Ben Sherwood, Paul Lee, Peter Nowalk, Shonda Rhimes, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.
“And to the Taraji P. Hensons, the Kerry Washingtons, the Halle Berrys, the Nicole Beharies, the Meagan Goods, to Gabrielle Union: Thank you for taking us over that line. Thank you to the Television Academy. Thank you.”
Watch the speech by Viola Davis here:
