The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which awards the Oscars, said Friday it is working on new diversity and inclusion efforts amid the continuing criticism over the lack of diverse nominees for the film industry’s highest honors.
In response to the Oscars So White hashtag started by activist April Reign, the Academy in 2016 began trying to diversify the film industry professionals invited to join its ranks ― focusing on women, people of color, younger filmmakers and international filmmakers.
Last week, “Selma” star David Oyelowo said that members of the Academy complained and retaliated when the cast of that 2014 film wore “I Can’t Breathe” shirts to the film’s New York premiere — in memory of Eric Garner, a Black man who was choked to death by New York police officers that year.
In the more than 90 years of the Oscars, no Black director has ever won the Best Director award, no Black women have been nominated in that category, and only two films by Black directors have been awarded Best Picture: Steve McQueen’s “12 Years a Slave” and Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight.”
The Academy has often pointed to those recent films to pat itself on the back, despite having a long way to go toward demonstrating that its members fully value Black filmmakers and stories.
