The #OscarsSoWhite / by .@tamtammurray

The Academy of Motions Pictures is getting a lot of shade via social media like twitter and Facebook from Actors and avid movie supporters. This is the second year in a row the hashtag #oscarssowhite has been trending after the announcement of the Oscar nominees were announced and a lot of negative commentary has been mentioned with the Academy’s name being dragged through the mud metaphorically in cyberspace. This year a certain celeb decided to throw her opinion into the mix of things. Jada Pinkett Smith released a video January 18th 2016 stating “At the Oscars… people of color are always welcomed to give out awards...even entertain, but we are rarely recognized for our artistic accomplishments.” She continues to speak about the power and influence people of color have in media and popular culture and invited her fellow black actress’s and actors to boycott the Oscars 2016. Reponses to Smith’s rant began to appear from Janet Hubert who was the original Aunt Viv from Fresh Prince, opposing Smith’s point of view, she stated in her video; “I find it ironic that someone who has made a living, and made millions of millions of dollars, from the very people you talk about boycotting, because you didn’t win?”

The Academy’s President Cheryl Boone Isaacs released a statement saying that the academy will be reviewing its membership to bring about diversity as soon as possible. 

Both Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith expressed gratitude to Isaacs’s quick response to Smith’s Internet breaking video. 

I am excited to see the progress of the academy’s acting members make a change when choosing their nominations for the upcoming years. Curiosity peaks when both Hollywood and their much recognized award ceremony is called out for their lack of representation of our colorful and diverse culture in North America.

Written by: Tamarinn Murry