This Sunday, nearly 40 million people are likely to tune in to see who captures an Oscar at the annual Academy Awards ceremonies. Winning the award can add millions to a film's box office and supercharge the career of an actor, director, screenwriter or editor. According to the Academy's 2009-10 fiscal year tax filing, the Oscars generated $81.3 million in revenue. This is a big deal.
It is avidly watched by the moviegoing population of this sprawling and diverse nation of more than 300 million people, and by millions more around the world. Hollywood sets styles, captures imaginations, touches dreams. Worldwide, movies provide people with much of what they think about America.
Yet, the 5,765 voting members of the Academy are far from representative of the moviegoing public. They are more akin to the old packed juries of the segregated South. A remarkable investigation by Los Angeles Times reporters pierced the screen of secrecy to reveal that the voting members are a stunning 94 percent Caucasian and 77 percent male. Only 2 percent are African-American, and less than 2 percent are Latino. Their median age is 62, and only 14 percent are younger than 50.
The Academy's leaders say the organization is trying to do better, but it is hard to see any evidence of that. Since 2004, the names of 1,000 invitees have been published: 89 percent white, and 73 percent male. The 43 member Academy Board of Governors has all of six women, one of whom is the sole person of color. The Academy's executive branch is 98 percent white, as is its writers branch. Corporate boardrooms do better than that.
Defenders of the Academy say its membership reflects a combination of legacy (memberships are for life) and achievement. But the sad reality is that the membership reflects hiring patterns that are equally skewed. The Times story quotes writer/editor Phil Alden Robinson, who concludes: "If the industry as a whole is not doing a great job in opening up its ranks, it's very hard for us to diversify our membership."
Not surprisingly, the voting tends to reflect the composition of the voters. In the 83 years of the Academy, the Times reports, only 4 percent of Oscars have been awarded to an African-American. Only one woman has received the award for directing.
In 2011, not a single minority person was among the 45 nominees for the major awards: best actor, best actress, best supporting actor, best supporting actress, director, original and adapted screenplay. More astounding, the Academy failed to identify even one black male presenter for the awards. African-American actors were not only shut out of the awards; they were shut out of the attention that comes from presenting them.
This year, at least, minorities will not be shut out. Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer and Mexican-born Demian Bichir will contend for major acting awards.
It is long past time for the industry to open up and for the Academy to reach out. It was long past time back in 1996 when the Rainbow Coalition organized a nationwide protest over the lack of minority Oscar nominees. Women and minorities dream of becoming directors, producers, writers, cinematographers and editors just as white men do. Young talent drives Hollywood and our popular culture more than the established older generation. And Hollywood's audience across the country and around the world is young and diverse.
Hollywood defines what is hip. But when it comes to diversity, the Academy is about 50 years behind the times.
Follow Rev. Jesse Jackson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revjjackson
In response to Buffalo1966, you should take another look at your comment. Just because one African-American actor wins an Oscar, doesn’t make racism diminish entirely. And on the same note, ‘terrible’ actors don’t just win awards because of their color. He had to have won on some sort of merit.
Last year one of India’s famous sons, Rabindranath Tagore had his 150th Birth Anniversary celebrated at the Kennedy Centre, and around the World.
Very concerned in his time, Tagore spoke up about Race & Racism. Colonialism. Imperialism.
He was right on just about everything he addressed. Back then!!
Today, 2012, Race and other Colour and Class -isms are alive and well. More subtle. More sophisticated. Benign. And tolerated.
One hellofa sensitive topic..... With Hollywood one of the worst offenders.
But those old timers are no more.
So it became your job. Whether you wanted it or not. Dont know if you had a say....
But it’‘s yours now. Yours and other decent peoples’. People like your self who care and are concerned, in general or just because. For their own kids and their communities. Or for the World. All compelled to speak up, make things right.
Your work is a good thing, not only for African Americans but all Non Whites facing Racial Issues anywhere.
Your work helps people handle such things properly. Rise above it. Then live assertive, happy, and fulfilled lives.
One would think that after Tagore and 150 years on, we’d be doing better, but here we are, eh.....??!!
Thank you,
Some Moms
http://mankabros.com/blogs/chairman/2012/01/24/the-academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences-can-f-itself/
"voting members are a stunning 94 percent Caucasian and 77 percent male"
shocking. Silly me.
Guys like Jesse keep Black people poor and angry so they vote for him and feel they need him.
No one keeps the poor poor like those who pretend to care for them.
Some of us may not like to have to see the Truth..... But we can hardly expect to not have it put up, where it can be seen and pointed at, again and again and again.
Like a road sign at the corner.
Your response is that ol Schopenhauer thing about Truth.
Don't pick on Jesse Jackson. He is'nt the one who started this.