In 2015 and 2016, not a single African-American actor or actress was up for an Oscar nomination. Angry viewers and celebrities boycotted, protested, and revolted against the famous film awards show. The hashtag #OscarsSoWhite began trending. Unfortunately, this lack of diversity is neither new nor special within all awards shows.
The First Academy Awards in 1927 began the modern-day awards show. It started the various movie and television awards that then moved into music awards. While the frivolity and expense of shows has increased, many issues have remained the same, particularly, the lack of diversity. In the early 1900s, the Oscars were held at a hotel that did not even allow people of color within its building. Best Supporting Actress that year went to Hattie McDaniel, the first black person to win an Oscar. McDaniel had to accept the award in a separate area of the hotel, at a table pushed up against a wall.
Since McDaniel’s win, only 16 black actors, actresses, musicians, directors, and film-makers have won an Oscar. Furthermore, with many Hollywood Latino roles perpetuating Hispanic stereotypes, there have been few LatinX nominations in Oscar History. In fact, there has never been a Latina winner for the Best Actress Role, and José Ferrer remains the only Latino to win Best Actor. Mental disabilities, sexual orientation, transgender and transsexual celebrities among other identities are almost always under-represented at any film awards show, whether it be the Oscars, Golden Globes, or People’s Choice Awards.
The Music Industry has not been much better. In 2009, the infamous Kanye/Taylor Swift feud began when Kanye interrupted Swift’s acceptance of the VMA’s Best Female Video. Kanye is often seen as an arrogant man bullying the innocent Taylor Swift. However, looking closely at it, many argue that Kanye was calling attention to the fact that Taylor Swift won the award over Beyonce’s Single Ladies video not because of her talent, but simply because of race. In fact, the music industry often looks over minority populations. Various categories that pay tribute to black heritage, such as hip hop and rap, have been taken over by white artists. Music videos make fun of or discredit other cultures. For example, Swift’s music video, Wildest Dreams, drew backlash for culturally appropriating African colonialism, but still went on to sell millions of copies and was at the top of most music charts.
Though so many artists of minority backgrounds, both in film and music are creating incredible works, they are rarely recognized for it. From the very beginning, diversity has been lacking in Hollywood. Yet, almost a century later, little has changed. It may be time for award ceremonies to look at talent separate from the color of the person creating it, and finally credit these talents.