Last year I wrote several articles that dealt with the wasteful spending associated with entertainment and sports award ceremonies and celebrations. One in particular, entitled And The Little Gold Knick Knack Goes To.... Who Gives A S#%t? www.academyshame.blogspot.com pertained to the 2015 Academy Awards. Well here we are a year later, my fellow Observer, and although I hate to write about horses I've beaten that have recently passed away, along comes some idiot that reheats my already irritated hash over the situation and makes me reach for my redundant writing apparatus yet again. This weeks thorn in my repetitive side is spearheaded by two Hollywood diversity driven dimwits, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee who have a few dozen Oscar Underground Railroad sycophant supporters in tow. All are asking everyone within ear or eye shot of Facebook, Twitter or E! to boycott the upcoming Oscars. Not because of the astronomical cost of holding the event that would feed a small country for a month.... no ...not for that, my silly loyal reader. They want you to tune them out and turn them off due to the fact that the awards are not diverse enough for their liking in the choice of actor nominees. Citing that for the second year in a row all of the twenty acting nominees are all white. Smith has stated online that the Academy fails to recognize the artistic accomplishments of "people of color". She also tweeted that "At the Oscars.... people of color are always welcomed to give out awards.... even entertain" (part 1) and poses the question in part 2 "should people of color refrain from participating all together?". In a video post on Facebook she said "Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power.".
Spike Lee was a little less sophisticated in an online post that read "40 white actors in two years and no flava at all?". Putting the blame on Hollywood administration by claiming (in all capitals) that until minorities are allowed into the executive offices of the Hollywood studios, TV and cable networks that would give them a "green light vote" the Oscar nominees will remain "Lilly white". He also quoted Dr. King in the rant. "There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because conscience tells him it's right.". He goes on to inform readers that "It's no coincidence I'm writing this as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.". All slang and racial innuendos aside, his statement would probably have weighed a little more on the side of accuracy if not due to the fact that Dr. King would have turned 87 this year. Oh, well... maybe math is not his strong suit.
The president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, who is black, claimed that she is "heartbroken and frustrated over the controversy" and "lack of inclusion". She continued by stating that although the Academy has implemented changes in order to diversify membership "the change is not coming as fast as we would like" and "we need to do more, and better and more quickly".
Repetitious race card player and baiter Al Sharpton quickly jumped on the "lack of color variety at the awards" boycott bandwagon by calling for the TV audience members to "turn the dial". That by getting the Nielson ratings for the ceremony to drop a few points, would send a message to advertisers that they are displeased with the lack of diversity in the nominees. This would attack the Academy's wallet since advertisement money received for time during the awards supports most of the costs incurred producing them.
"Edith!... Edith!.... Get me a beer, will ya? The Oscars are comin' on the set and I'm gonna watch this year. Cause they're exactly how I like em'....with no coloreds." At least that's what these people would have you believe is the attitude of the Academy voters and viewing audience. Now some of these critics have a small point in the fact that no actors "of color" (their words... not mine) have been nominated this year, but plenty of people from plenty of different ethnic backgrounds have been nominated in plenty of other categories besides acting, but according to them, the awards aren't diverse enough. Really?!?! Are these jerks kidding? How shallow can you be? It's not enough... for them to make a salary for one picture that most of us will never see in our lifetime. It's not enough.... that they have achieved success in the profession of they have chosen that most people only dream about obtaining. It's not enough.... that they are adored by fans worldwide. It's not enough.... that they want.... for nothing.... except a little gold pat on the back. They want for that. They feel entitled to it. Not for the recognition of an outstanding performance in their profession but to justify the persecution they claim due to the color of their skin. They say that it's not just about the award, that Hollywood itself is not diverse enough in it's dealings. (Even though there are more and more people that used to be referred to as minorities in the film industry than ever before.) That's a good cover story for the press and the internet, but I believe the truth lies in the need for attention at the foot of a little gold statue. It's all too easy to be the actor who cried "racism" when people you feel that should be recognized aren't, including yourself. I find it inexcusable for people with such influence that could champion a cause that really mattered, choose to use that power to try to dictate change in the way we hand out awards. The fact is, a true artist, isn't interested in awards. As much as I cannot stand Eminem, when he was nominated for and won an Oscar in the Best Music category for Best Original Song in Eight Mile, he didn't even show up at the ceremony to accept it. On the other side of the rapper film coin (insert 50 Cent joke here) even though Straight Outta Compton received a nomination for Best Original Screenplay, critics are screaming "racial foul" for the flick not getting a Best Picture nod. I didn't hear Slim Shady griping....did you? We didn't even see him for that matter.
I'll be the first to admit that black actors, directors, composers and other professions within the motion picture field were not recognized by the Academy the first ten years of it's existence, but in the 77 years since there have been 141 nominations in 18 of the 25 current categories. And that's just "people of color".... even before the Civil Rights Movement when the Academy could have snubbed any black actor or writer or composer without question. Further more, while researching other ethnic nominees, Hispanic nominees were so diverse that they were separated into 9 subcategories of nationalities from Mexican to Uruguayan to Chilean. Still not diverse enough? By the way, in the Mexican slot alone, 73 have been nominated for Oscars. Moreover, if that's not enough for these self important crybabies, the president of the Academy is not only just the third woman to hold the office she is also the first African American elected to that position. They might also want to note that of the approximately 6000 voting members of the Academy, this years percentage of non-white members is at an all time high and with new membership rules being implemented is projected to keep increasing. The event itself this year will be hosted by a black man in lieu of a "Lilly white" gay man in his Fruit of the Looms.... Or should I say Tidy "Whitey's"?
What these over the top attention mongers aren't moaning about is that "people of color" aren't the only ones being snubbed this year in the big categories, which seem to be the only ones that matter to them. I'm sure some of these names will fall into Spike's "Lilly white" joint category. Despite all the hype and speculation, Star Wars The Force Awakens, didn't come close to Best Picture. Ridley Scott was passed over for Best Director. Aaron Sorkin was dissed for his Steve Jobs screenplay. Last years Oscar favorite Michael Keaton was overlooked for Best Supporting Actor in Spotlight. Johnny Depp was left off the Best Actor list for Black Mass. Perennial Oscar beloved sweetheart Helen Mirren was forgotten twice for Best Actress in Trumbo and Woman in Gold. I don't hear any of them bitching that their not in the running for a little gold man.
When we look at the way our society rewards our elite, holds them in higher regard than we do each other, that's what "diminishes dignity". Not in the way we choose which of those elite to reward, emulate or hand a trinket to. The only thing that these people who cry the loudest of racial injustice accomplish is separating us even more than we already are. They have forgotten the most important part of true diversity is that we all are important no matter who we are or what we do. They don't hand out awards or hold a multi-million dollar ceremony for the guy that cleans the streets, the woman that cuts your hair or the person that fixes your toilet, but they are just as important to society, if not more so, than the ones we idolize on the screen. Strictly an Observation. If you'll excuse me, my daughter wants me to vote on her Best "Picture".
I like this one....
View my other articles, posts and Like Strictly an Observer on Facebook
View all Strictly an Observer Articles on Tumblr
Strictly an Observer is on Pinterest
Strictly an Observer is on My Space
Follow Strictly an Observer on Twitter
Follow Strictly an Observer on Google+
Contact Strictly an Observer. I welcome all correspondence.
No comments:
Post a Comment