{Hollywood figures lead boycott of Academy Awards citing a lack of racial diversity in nominations – two years in a row.}<\/p>\n
Hollywood heavyweight Spike Lee says he will boycott this year’s Oscar awards because of a continued lack of racial diversity in the list of nominees.<\/p>\n
By Tuesday, the prominent filmmaker and director Lee along with actor Jada Pinkett-Smith had announced they would not be attending the ceremony on February 28 to protest the lack of recognition of black actors and others from minority backgrounds.<\/p>\n
All 20 Oscar nominations for acting awards are white – for the second year in a row. <\/p>\n
Lee called the Academy Awards “lily white” in an Instagram post on Monday, which was Martin Luther King Jr Day.<\/p>\n
“40 white actors in two years and no flava at all. We can’t act?!” he wrote.<\/p>\n
“As I see it, the Academy Awards is not where the ‘real’ battle is. It’s in the executive office of the Hollywood studios and TV and cable networks. This is where the gate keepers decide what gets made and what gets jettisoned to ‘turnaround’ or scrap heap. This is what’s important.<\/p>\n
“People, the truth is we ain’t in those rooms and until minorities are, the Oscar nominees will remain lilly white.”<\/p>\n
Also on Monday, Pinkett-Smith – who is married to actor Will Smith – posted a video on her Facebook page with the caption: “We must stand in our power.”<\/p>\n
Will Smith was recently nominated for a Golden Globe award for his role in the film Concussion. <\/p>\n
“Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking for it, diminishes dignity and diminishes power, and we are a dignified people. And we are powerful. Let’s not forget it,” said Pinkett-Smith.<\/p>\n
Her video has been viewed more than seven million times.<\/p>\n
The lack of diversity has revived a hashtag on social media from last year: #OscarsSoWhite.<\/p>\n
David A Love, editor of blackcommentator.com, told Al Jazeera: “It is really disconcerting to see that even though it’s 2016, America is still dealing with the same problems of lack of diversity in various institutions.<\/p>\n
“I think the problem really goes to the heart of the fact that the motion picture industry – like so many other institutions – is very slow to change.<\/p>\n
“You have a situation where essentially white males are dominating the industry, and as a result you don’t see diverse voices – blacks, latinos, other people being allowed to really express themselves… It’s an ongoing problem that people should be concerned about.”<\/p>\n
Some have argued there were no non-white actors in the running this year.<\/p>\n
However, some Oscar watchers had expected actor Idris Elba to be nominated for his role in Beats Of No Nation, as well as Smith for Concussion.<\/p>\n
There were also hopes that actors in Straight Outta Compton, of which the screenplay has been nominated, would also be recognised.<\/p>\n
“When you consider the fact that there were a number of outstanding actors, actresses and directors who were considered for the Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and other awards – the fact that none at all have been considered for the Oscars, it really makes one wonder what is going on here,” said Love.<\/p>\n
African-American actor Chris Rock will host next month’s ceremony. Addressing Rock’s role in the awards, Love said: “You can’t have symbolism to make up for years of systemic discrimination.” <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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