Actors, justified in their anger, still wrong to boycott Oscars

Saturday Night Live joined in on the #OscarsSoWhite controversy as they created a skit criticizing the Oscars and this year’s nominees. The skit showed a mock awards show congratulating actors, who happened to be all white. The point of the skit was made obvious when a white actor, merely a man heard over the phone, was nominated above the black woman who obviously had a larger role.

In all reality, even though the situation was obviously exaggerated on Saturday Night Live, it cannot be overlooked. This is the second year in a row that all 20 contenders for the Oscars are white. Also, this act of racism exceeds nominees for actors and actresses. Some may argue that this is an act of racism, but if you take a look at the board for the Oscars, it is more than just “mere coincidence” that all of the nominees this year were white.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors features only two members that are of minority groups. All of the other 50 members are white.

Recently, there have been many people, including actors, actresses and directors, who have boycotted this year’s Oscars due to lack of diversity in the nominees. Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee will not attend the Oscars this year.

It is not merely that there are no black people nominated, but that there are individuals that deserved to at least be nominated based on their outstanding performance. There is no doubt that there was talent that was failed to be recognized in this year’s awards. “Straight Outta Compton,” “Creed,” and “Concussion” were among many successful films that will receive no recognition at the Oscars this year. On top of this, even actor Will Smith’s amazing transformation in “Concussion” into character Dr. Bennet will be disregarded at the awards this year.

In order to ensure that this “incident” does not occur again the board must add new members representing the minorities, which is being carried out for next year’s board. This will offer new, insightful opinions and broaden the views of the board. The board is meant to nominate individuals, and further films and other works, based on talent. Whereas there obviously is much talent in this year’s nominees, adding new members will ensure no talent is missed or merely disregarded.

With that said, even though it is necessary to expand the board’s diversity, it is not necessary for these actors, actresses and directors to boycott the awards show and not attend altogether. Even though there are not any black nominees, there are still great nominees up for an Oscar, and not going would be disrespecting them. Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jennifer Lawrence and various other well-established actors and actresses are up for an Oscar. On top of this, successful films such as “The Revenant” are up for Best Picture. Not attending the Oscars would disregard the hard work and determination both fellow actors, actresses and directors showcased this year with different works.

The voices of the Smith’s, Lee and many others have already been heard. The board of governors are going to add new members broadening the diversity, so their decision to not attend the award ceremony is disrespectful. According to New York Daily News, “The Academy further promised a “global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity.” Knowing this, these individuals, alongside many of the others who were offended by this, can be sure that in the future the nominees picked for the Oscars will not be picked by a board composed of mainly white members. The choices made will be made on who deserved it the most—not because of what color they are.

This year, there was talent that was overlooked by the board. However, now, future Oscar shows will display a wider perspective and will not pass over respectable talent.