Gonna' Set Me Up??? (or Diversity within the Academy)

First off Let me start this article off by congratulating Cheryl Boone Issacs on her new position as "the first black president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences" which is how the media describes it.

Again, Congrats as we watch your change color as Obama's did throughout his term....

Secondly, this "noise" (that we hear almost yearly about Blacks being overlooked by the Academy) couldn't have been more better executed to the masses if  "Olivia Pope" had created this "no look pass" dropping a two to three day introduction to Boone, as the new Prez to the world.

This is How it went down... (And Please, feel free to correct me)
- Isn't it the norm that when the Oscar noms are announced, it's usually presented by two familiar "celebrities\personalities"...???
So when I saw this unfamiliar face (Cheryl Boone Issacs) I said to myself "who is this person?"

- Then in less than an hour there was the "Dick POOP" viral clip of Boone mispronouncing "POOP" for "Pope". (Irony of my "Oliva Pope" reference...hmmm)

- The very next day the one person whom is often accused of being hired and paid big ca$h to quash Black, racist issues, Al Sharpton, addresses the media over the lack of black nominees from the Academy pops up..)
Really!

- And on the third day, Boone responds to the outcry (yet another intro to the Prez.), Boone Isaacs insisted the academy is "committed to seeking out diversity of voice and opinion" and that outreach to women and artists of color is a major focus.
"In the last two years, we've made greater strides than we ever have in the past toward becoming a more diverse and inclusive organization..."
Boone Isaacs said.
..."I would love to see and look forward to see a greater cultural diversity among all our nominees in all of our categories."

This rebuttal (from the Academy) seemed to say "Okay, let's get this ISSUE off the table and out of the way because there's a new Sheriff in town. And guess what? She's not only BLACK But a FEMALE!!! (Whoa!)...
So back the f___ off"! (Picture me laughing).

And that very evening in what I consider a bit of Spiritual Enlightenment, the very attractive Jessica Chastain chose to boldy speak on the issues upon accepting her award at 2015 Critics' Choice Awards, (irony is the person who speaks up has a very pale complexion).
The next day, Chastain stated that she was attacked with racial comments afterwards.

Now for anyone paying attention to this issue then they are quite aware that various articles have been written, if not every other year then every year regarding the diversity issue I site some samples below:

2012
Blacks in Hollywood: Shut Out or Missing in Action?
http://to.pbs.org/1BpZLAn

2011
NY Times Hollywood Whiteout
http://nyti.ms/1JpY5KK



Devil's Advocate....

As much "outrage" Blacks may feel over this issue, I hope they are keeping in mind that Last year we saw Lupita Nyong'o win for "Best Supporting Actress" and Chiwetel Ejiofor (also nominated for Best Actor) and Steve McQueen won the Oscar as part of the "Best Picture of the Year" team.
with the "12 Years a Slave" win...

I must also make light that the studios have a number of Slavery films on the Hollywood roster to be produced so this need to be recognized by this Academy may be setting you up for more nominations filled with talents from this new "genre" of films.

So from this point You can't say sh__ because if the proper industry research was done, one might've looked before leaping (or have Sharpton do the research before sending him out to the media).

This got me thinking again to a blog I wrote in 2013 on the film, "Best Man Holiday" and how I thought there were definitely three nominees in that film alone. And now with all the buzz around Julianne Moore for the film (Still Alice), Monica Calhoun couldn't get a nod for "Holiday"? Okay the films varied but at least a nod shows a form of recognition as we've seen people get nominations and awards for doing
way less.

If Black people have the NAACP Image awards and Latin culture have the ALMA awards could this in itself could be seen as an "issue" ? I've yet to recall any White talents win those awards (again, feel free to correct me).

As for the future, I am predicting that the first Black Academy award winner for Best Director will be Lee Daniels as he is Black and gay so that will kill two birds with one stone rather than a Black, female as we've already seen the first female Academy winner in director Kathryn Bigelow with "The Hurt Locker" (ironic that she's also worked with Chastain? Hmm).  So picking a winning female would only knock off one issue.

Will things change? I have found that often society is never completely satisfied so the more things change the more certain societies want.... And as long as "old Money" who are a part of certain societies are around and they continue holding on to their "old" ways of thinking.... And as long as the many people keep looking for recognition from others (be it for awards or for getting industry work) while not gathering together to create content for themselves.....