The Academy’s Effort To Improve Diversity And How Selma Director Reacted

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Credit: The Academy Awards
Credit: The Academy of Motions Picture Arts and Sciences

Since the Oscar nominations were revealed for this year, the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite has taken over social media for the second year running. This time, it was not in vain!

On Friday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its “Goal to double number of women and diverse members by 2020.”

Alongside this, they promise ‘Lifetime voting rights reframed; new governor seats added and committees restructured.“

“The Academy is going to lead and not wait for the industry to catch up,” said Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs. “These new measures regarding governance and voting will have an immediate impact and begin the process of significantly changing our membership composition.”

Some would argue that the industry is the one that’s been waiting for the Academy to catch up, with a number of brilliant actors of colour being snubbed this year.

“The Academy will also take immediate action to increase diversity by adding new members who are not Governors to its executive and board committees where key decisions about membership and governance are made. This will allow new members an opportunity to become more active in Academy decision-making and help the organization identify and nurture future leaders.”

You can read the full statement from the Academy with all the details here.

After this statement statement was released, Ava DuVernay, who directed Selma, responded in a series of tweets.

 

Straight Outta Compton producer Ice Cube provided a different outlook on the matter on The Graham Norton Show.

What do you think? Is this move from the Academy too little too late, or welcome progress? Will you be boycotting the Oscars this year? Let us know in the comments below!

Sneh Rupra
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