The idea that people should not be offended by the lack of minority representation in Hollywood and in the 2016 Oscars program shows that there’s a misunderstanding of this issue. For the second year in a row, the Academy has ignored the contributions of minority actors. Black and other minority groups in all walks of life have the right to be frustrated by the inequalities we happen to see. It doesn’t matter if it’s Hollywood, police brutality, jobs, poverty, education, or anything else. We can advocate for change in every corner of American life.
Yes, the circumstances in Hollywood are much improved from the early days when minority actors were not given any roles or were casted in insignificant and sometimes stereotypical roles. However, Black actors and other minority actors still do not have adequate roles in Hollywood and are not even casted in films where the characters are supposed to be people of color. They also do not receive the amount of accolades as their white counterparts. And this is not because there’s somehow a shortage of capable minority actors. #OscarsSoWhite has been happening for decades except for a few years here and there.
There has been a history of minority actors not being fully included in the mainstream and this is the reason why there have been television shows staring all minority casts. BET and the NAACP Image Awards were especially created to give opportunities to minority entertainers. Anyone who has watched the various BET channels or the NAACP Image Awards program has seen the representation of Black actors and musicians with the presence of non-Black entertainers. And there’s nothing wrong with having programing tailored to or featuring specific groups. The problem is when diversity is preached, but is hardly depicted; this is what’s going on in Hollywood.
At the end of the day, the Oscars are just an award show; however, what our entertainment industry exhibits to the world and to the younger generation does influence our society. How can children of color believe that they can do anything, especially if they dream of a career in entertainment, if they don’t see themselves on the screen or behind the scenes? How can we assess the marketability and success of minority actors if their work is not held to the standard of their white counterparts or if they’re not given roles were they can also shine?
It may seem small, but this problem of equality in Hollywood does transcend into daily life. If we’re in an “equal opportunity” society, then that should be reflected more on the television and film screens…award shows included. Or is that just too big to hope for?
Writer and blogger. Perspectiv.words Founder, Chief Editor, and Contributor. I write to speak out and uplift. I also share my views on current events, culture, history, or any topic that moves my fingers to a pen or to type.
