Is She Serious? Stacey Dash’s Comment on the Oscars
By now you’ve all heard of Stacey Dash’s comments about the Oscars Boycott. According to ET Online, Dash stated, “If we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET, and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black. If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It’s a double standard.” To the blinded eye, Dash may have a point. The lack of recognition of black actors and actresses at these award shows says otherwise.
People of African descent are hardly recognized at the Oscars or the Emmys, aside from being awarded for playing stereotypical roles. According to Essence Magazine, Halle Berry was the first African American woman to win an Oscar for Best Actress in 2001. She won it for her role in “Monsters Ball.” Berry played a widow who started dating an officer that was involved in the execution of her husband. Denzel Washington was the first to win Best Actor in 2002 for his role in “Training Day.” Essentially, his character was a corrupt detective that terrorized everyone around him.
These were great movies, but it seems that when a leading role is positive and played by a person of color, it doesn’t get much recognition. The movie “Creed” is a perfect example. This movie broke box offices and was only nominated for one Oscar. An Oscar that completely dismissed Michael B. Jordan and the director’s hard work. According to the Oscars nominee website, the nomination was for Sylvester Stallone for best actor in a supporting role. Another movie was the “Straight Outta Compton” film. This movie is the most successful biopic thus far. It only received one nomination for Writing (Original Screenplay), and the actors were not even invited to the Award show.
According to Essence Magazine, since 2000 only sixteen Oscars have been awarded to African Americans. If twenty-five Oscars have been awarded each year since then, then three hundred and seventy five awards have been given out since 2000. Only sixteen out of three hundred and seventy five have been awarded to African Americans and/or people of African Descent.
If People of Color had a fairer shot, if we had equal opportunities to cast ourselves and have a more dominant presence in the film industry, I’d understand Dash’s point. Since Black people make up such a small percentage of actors and actresses in Hollywood, I don’t.
Networks like BET, which is actually owned by Viacom — a white company, are one of the only channels people of color can watch African American films. Award shows like the BET Awards and NAACP Image Awards, are the only places where they get recognition. Think about this, if all films were treated equally, BET, the BET Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards wouldn’t have been created. Since People of Color took it upon themselves to recognize each other for their hard work, they are now the problem. Way to go Dash.
For more information you can refer to these websites:
http://www.etonline.com/news/180458_stacey_dash_speaks_out_on_2016_oscars_boycott_its_ludicrous/
http://photos.essence.com/galleries/way-too-short-list-black-oscar-winners#114691_114682
http://oscar.go.com/news/nominations/oscar-nominations-2016-the-complete-list-of-nominees
