Oscars 2017: #OscarsNotSoWhite But Still Lacking Diversity

With the Oscar nominations sweeping up media spaces yesterday, there was one narrative that every major news outlet seemed intent on promoting.

#Oscarsnotsowhite, a throwback to the two-year long dearth of any actors of colour being nominated in any of the four acting categories. For those two years, many people of colour adopted the hashtag, #oscarssowhite in order to highlight the problem of diversity within the Oscars, but also within Hollywood itself.

There’s no doubt that this year’s Oscar nominations certainly combat this two-year dearth of actors of colour. Out of 20 nominated actors, 7 are people of colour. Black filmmakers also found themselves nominated in other categories, with Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, and Bradford Young, among others, being nominated in non-acting categories.

While my first reaction to seeing so much representation for people of colour within the Oscar nominations was to celebrate, my second instinct was to take a step back and watch major media outlets in their pretty problematic celebration. Media outlets which are suddenly announcing an end to the drought of Oscars diversity. Or announcing that diversity is making a comeback.

It’s problematic to announce that the problem of diversity is over within Hollywood simply because 7 out of 20 nomination consist of actors of colour. It showcases diversity, in that this year the Oscars has moved away from films dominated by white people both in front of, and behind, the screen. Yet, one year of actually representing more than white actors and directors does not make up for the decades of racism that the Oscars, and in particular Hollywood, has perpetuated, and actually continues to perpetuate as we speak. To pretend that it does is to bury your head in the sand. To take 7 out of 20 nominations as a celebratory event that ends the lack of diversity is celebrating diversity crumbs in a Hollywood that is flooded with a lack of nominations, lack of recognition, and a lack of opportunity.

Nominations are one thing. Actually scoring an Academy Award win is another ball game in itself. While having a diverse range of nominations is all well and good, actors and directors of colour are still making history being the ‘first of’ in various categories. Even in this nomination round, Bradford Young is the first African-American man to be nominated in the best cinematography category. There are, unfortunately, still many milestones that both actors, and filmmakers, of colour have to achieve. And while being nominated is definitely a step in the right direction, it’s unfortunate that people of colour in the film industry rarely get a chance to celebrate with a win.

The celebration of the wonderful work that black people have been doing in the film industry has been a long time coming. Viola Davis being the first black woman to be nominated for three Oscars is fantastic (we’re still waiting for her win). But the celebration of Oscars that largely represents black and white people is certainly not the be-all end-all of diversity. Not even close. Especially when there’s still a huge lack of roles that are even accessible for many actors of colour. Historically, roles that should go to actors of colour are whitewashed, and even films that are representative of non-white cultures are often led by white actors.

Now, I’m not trying to burst anybody’s bubbles. I’m aware it might be coming off as such. Of course, this round of Oscar nominations is a step forward compared to the last two years which was hailed with criticism and disdain by many people of colour, including major actors and directors of colour. But that’s all it is. It is a step forward. It is not the end of Hollywood’s racism. It is not the end to the lack of diversity that Hollywood suffers from.

While I appreciate that we should celebrate that this might be the most racially diverse Oscars to date (which in itself is pretty goddamn sad), we should simultaneously add to the continuing discussion on the lack of opportunities for actors and filmmakers of colour within the industry, not ignore it. To sit back and celebrate a year of Oscar nominations (not even wins) which celebrate racial ‘diversity,’ while still managing to squeeze only a minimal amount of actual diversity, means that we become complacent. And complacency is something we can’t afford when there’s still a very visible lack of opportunities for people of colour within the film industry.