By Monique
There’s still fallout from the lack of minorities nominated for Oscar nominations. While there was a hashtag yesterday, there’s more concrete outrage from two of Hollywood’s biggest criticizers, Spike Lee and Rev. Al Sharpton. Both men gave statements on the issue, and both said their sentiments in their own way.
First here’s the official statement Sharpton gave out via his National Action Network:
“The lack of diversity in today’s Oscar nominations is appalling and while it is good that Selma was nominated for ‘Best Picture,’ it’s ironic that they nominated a story about the racial shutout around voting while there is a racial shutout around the Oscar nominations. With all of the talent in Selma and other Black movies this year, it is hard to believe that we have less diversity in the nominations today than in recent history.
National Action Network (NAN) has formed a task force on the movie industry to deal with diversity as I engage in dialogue with Sony Pictures Co-Chairman Amy Pascal. The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains, the higher you get, the whiter it gets. I have called an emergency meeting early next week in Hollywood with the task force to discuss possible action around the Academy Awards.”
And Spike Lee let his frustration loose on The Daily Beast. The short version of what he said was “F— ’em.” The long version is this:
“Join the club!”[ he said referencing his own films getting snubbed by the Academy]. “But that doesn’t diminish the film. Nobody’s talking about motherf—in’ Driving Miss Daisy. That film is not being taught in film schools all across the world like Do the Right Thing is. Nobody’s discussing Driving Miss Motherf—in’ Daisy. So if I saw Ava today I’d say, ‘You know what?’ F— ’em. You made a very good film, so feel good about that and start working on the next one.”
I’m excited to learn more about the emergency meeting Sharpton is having. I hope he gives more details about it after it happens. But I’m also waiting on more prominent people to come out and give their two cents about the heinousness that is the lack of diversity at the upcoming Oscars.
What do you think about what Sharpton and Lee had to say? Give your opinions in the comments section below.
Julian 