By Boyce Watkins, PhD on Mar 3rd 2011 12:28PM
Filed under: Dr. Boyce Money
I don't watch the Oscars, the Academy Awards, or whatever you like to call it. But, then again, I never have. While I spent years thinking that perhaps I was the only person not sophisticated enough to appreciate what I deemed to be the most boring night of the year, I then saw data showing that
viewership fell again this year, implying that perhaps I am not alone in my disdain. While there are some who watch the show religiously, the truth is that many Americans (especially black folks), would rather watch old MC Hammer videos at the dentist's office than endure the psychological tragedy of being both insulted and bored senseless, all at the same time.
Even the Academy Awards that were supposed to be proud achievements for our community were incredible disappointments. Halle Berry was less than flattering when she had to go into "overskank" to win her Best Actress award for the film 'Monster's Ball.' It did me no pleasure to see a black woman forced to demean herself in order to keep her career alive. Also, the only time I wasn't happy to see Denzel Washington in a film was when I saw 'Training Day.' Of course, Denzel got the Best Actor award for this movie, primarily because he was "just so darn authentic" as a black male criminal.
This year, Black Hollywood is up in arms over the fact that
African Americans were again a serious no-show for the Oscars. Well, it's not as if we didn't show up hat-in-hand, hoping to be validated by the Hollywood establishment (like we do every year). In spite of their overtures, Black Hollywood was left out on the front porch like kittens hoping to get saucer of milk.
Samuel L. Jackson was highly outspoken about the fact that black males were missing from the ceremony, citing the fact that there were no black male presenters all night long.
Idris Elba made it plain by stating that the "Oscars are not designed for us." No African Americans were nominated for any of the acting awards presented this year, giving us yet another year to complain about how some of our most talented citizens are relegated to the back of the Hollywood bus.
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Black Celebrity Photos
Halle Berry appears to be preparing for her daughter's upcoming 3rd birthday, as she and Nahla Ariela Aubry (b. March 16, 2008), go on a shopping spree at Toys R Us in Beverly Hills. The two then go to My Gym Children's Fitness Center where Halle walks out carrying a brochure on February 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
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Hot Shots!
In this photo provided by StarPix, Abigail Breslin, left, and Alicia Keys arrive at a screening of the film "Rango" Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011 in New York.
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Singer Chaka Khan and musician Cee Lo Green attend the 19th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at the Pacific Design Center on February 27, 2011 in West Hollywood, California.
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Rapper Foxy Brown attends BET's Rip the Runway 2011 at The Manhattan Center on February 26, 2011 in New York City.
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Halle Berry appears to be preparing for her daughter's upcoming 3rd birthday, as she and Nahla Ariela Aubry (b. March 16, 2008), go on a shopping spree at Toys R Us in Beverly Hills. The two then go to My Gym Children's Fitness Center where Halle walks out carrying a brochure on February 28, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
Hot Shots!
Rapper and a New Jersey Nets' minority owner Jay-Z, left, and Beyonce Knowles react in the final seconds of regulation play during an NBA basketball game between the Nets and the Phoenix Suns, Monday, Feb. 28, 2011, in Newark, N.J. The Suns won 104-103 in overtime.
Hot Shots!
Actress Jennifer Hudson stands backstage at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards held at the Kodak Theatre on February 27, 2011 in Hollywood, California.
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American R&B singer Ne-Yo is seen attending the BBC Radio One studios.
EXCLUSIVE February 26, 2011
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Nicole Richie was spotted leaving the gym in a hat, shades and tights, on a cold Saturday, February 26th, 2011.
Hot Shots!
R&B singer Usher is seen leaving the BBC Radio One studios on February 22, 2011 in London, England.
Hot Shots!
Will Smith prepares to depart LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) with his family Jada Pinkett, Willow, and Jaden Smith on February 26th, 2011in Los Angeles, California.
Hot Shots!
Perhaps I am too plain-speaking and politically incorrect when I say "to hell with the Academy Awards." I don't garner additional respect for any actor or actress just because they show me that silly statue shaped like a little gold man. The actors all like to wrap their palms around the nameless man's pelvis in a really awkward way, like they are grabbing a baseball bat or police baton when they win. I often wonder if they all agreed that it's proper protocol to hold the statue in that way, or if it's just more comfortable to smudge it. That's as deep as my mind gets when I watch that incredibly dull awards show.
I am hopeful that one day, Black Hollywood will regain its collective self-esteem and find something else to do on Oscar night. Perhaps by positioning more black filmmakers to green-light our own projects and sell tickets to our community, we can let go of the need to beg for validation from those who've proven time and time again that they have almost no respect for us. Given that the Oscars of 2011 had as much diversity as the ceremony did in 1940, it's clear that progress is not being made.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook,
please click here.
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Comments: (37)
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By: westfall on 3/03/2011 12:52PM
So since it is so obvious that Hollywood shuts us out, why have we not evolved into our own in the 83 years that they have been having these awards? Idris Elba? Two things: Daddy's little girls and Obsessed. What did he expect? Samuel Jackson? Soul Men? We need to be honest with ourselves and admit that we have not done much for ourselves. Take Tyler Perry's example and get your own. We have a whole lot of very talented and handsome and beautiful and worthy black actors who take these nothing sterotypical roles just so that they can pay the bills. Quit accepting the bones that these white people throw you and work as waiter and waitresses, band together to garner resources for good black film projects and quit begging at the door of this arrogant white majority in film. Steve Martin even joked about being in the room with so many Jews. Change it.
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By: MMW on 3/03/2011 10:20PM
When we earn an oscar, we will receive one. Stop crying. I saw all of the movies that won awards. There was some excellent acting in those movies. What black actor starred in a movie that topped the acting in those movies. It certainly was not "FOR COLORED GIRLS" several White actors were snubbed also. If that's what you call it. I have seen oscars (in my opinion), handed out to some of the worst actors/movies, but I do not exactly know what criteria is used when awards are handed out. Everything is not Black and white.When something does not go the way we think it should, we do not consider all factors involved. It immediuately becomes BLACK AND WHITE. So sad.
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By: andrea coffer on 3/07/2011 3:18AM
Please do your research on how voting goes for the Academy Awards. They have used the same voters for the last 50 years. Several has admitted to not even watching the movies they vote on. They may ask their friends.
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By: Eugene on 3/03/2011 12:57PM
This game is getting to be real boring. Blacks are left out of the Academy Awards one year, then the next year there are so many of them nominated and presenting that the red carpet actually looks like ceremonies for the NACCP Image awards instead of the Academy Awards and all is forgiven by "Black Hollywood". I am not getting into an uproar over it. That is the beauty of having other options available such as reading a book, the internet, and alternative television programming.
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By: Paul K on 3/03/2011 1:19PM
Those voting don't always vote with their heart. It's all politics. I guarantee most of the people judging and voting on these movies haven't watched nearly as many movies as the fanatic movie-goers. They just watch a few of the more popular movies, a few key scenes from others and go on hearsay and popular vote for the rest. They only consider black actors when they're featured in stereotypical or biographic roles.
At the same time, knowing all this, I don't know why black actors keep harping on the Academy's snubs. You should know by now if you ain't playing a maid, a slave, a thug, an angry and promiscuous black woman or Ray Charles, you aint getting even so much as a nomination from the Academy. Be glad you can get that. Asians and latinos can't even get an Oscar nom for playing their own stereotypes.
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By: girlking on 3/03/2011 1:47PM
I agree with you westfall. It's time for us to have our own movie award program. There are enought projects out there that could and would be represented. The more we promote ourselves the less validation we'll feel we need from other people. Which I don't really believe that we look for validation from others.
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By: lam on 3/03/2011 6:05PM
girlking --- I agree! Why do we keep complaining about them excluding us! I can't figure that out???? Let's have our own awards program. That's something Oprah could "fund" and it will draw more viewers to her OWN show --- the numbers are low!
AMEN, AMEN, and AMEN!
lam
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By: ooozzzzz on 3/03/2011 2:01PM
Black Hollywood Needs to Let Go of the Academy Awards.......and do what exactly......Get a regular job?
You're looking at the statue (the Ocsar award itself) and not looking at the machine behind the awards: The major hollywood movie studios behind it.
DreamWorks SKG, 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists Entertainment, American International Pictures, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures etc..... when you go to see a movie or before that DVD movie starts, you will see one of these names before the movie starts and these people control Hollywood: and all these movie studios along with many others belong to the American Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
In Hollywood, the nominating and selecting for the Oscars are done by the writers, actors, directors, animators, art directors and executives. The only requirement is that each participant be a part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. However, membership in the American Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) does not come easy and is only accomplished after being nominated and confirmed.
"Nominated and confirmed"...The problem here is that you have very few (if any at all) or no African Americans who are members of the AMPAS to politic, make decisions or select what movies are awarded an Oscar.
Is Spike Lee a member of the AMPAS? John Singleton? Tyler Perry? I don't think so and in order for these and other African American writers nd directors to get their the green light and get make the big screen, you have to go through their process and they totally control what movies are made and who gets an Oscar.
So "letting go" is damn near impossible especially if you want to retain a viable career in Hollywood.
Just do like Samuel L. Jackson: Damn whatever the part you get in whatever movie, just get paid because we all know that he won't win one.
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By: girlking on 3/03/2011 3:05PM
ooozzzzz, acting is a real job.
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By: hilroy on 3/03/2011 3:55PM
ooozzzzz,
We could not belive with you more. We need someone like you to tell these numbskulls over and over again.Hollywood has always been a racist place and continue to be. With a balck president, it has gotten worse.
The same people who control the banks, wall street and the media are the ones who are the screw turners.
If a president who they did not want elected in the first place appears to be a tiny drop pro Palestinian, the cabal where ever in the world they are located tightens the screw.
To all blacks who care to listen these are the final days. Stay away from the cesspool called Hollywood bfore your judgement day.
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